LEXINGTON, Ky. — Fayette County Public Schools (FCPS) set a goal for students to graduate amid national attendance month. 

A brand new class of students recently started at Frederick Douglass High School. While September marks the start of school for most students, it also marks Attendance Awareness Month.  

According to the University of Kentucky, 28% of Kentucky students were chronically absent during the 2021-22 school year. 

Devine Carama is a youth anti-gun violence activist and serves as the director of ONE Lexington. Carama encouraged incoming Frederick Douglass High School students to commit to graduating and staying in school.

Carama said ONE Lexington is committed to help students keep their attendance up. ONE Lexington helps FCPS by providing mentorships within the school system. ONE Lexington also holds special events focused on providing incentives for kids who work hard. 

Carama said the first year of high school is a critical time to emphasize the importance of school for students' social and emotional development. 

“You know the stakes are higher but you don’t understand the gravity of completing now and getting that high school diploma — how it prepares you for the next level," Carama said. "How that just one little piece of paper — all the experiences and knowledge of people impact your life moving forward.”

Many Frederick Douglass High School freshmen said there are a lot of opportunities they are looking forward to over the next four years. They signed their name on a 2027 banner as a sign of their commitment to graduating on time. 

“Just, you know, how to be a good student and prepare me for college... and just life skills in general," freshman Havyn Lowery said. “I feel like I'm gonna meet a lot of great people and have a lot of great opportunities to go places and do a lot of fun things.”

Students in the class of 2027 said they hope to be the first to achieve a 100% graduation attendance record at Frederick Douglass High School.