COLUMBIA -- Press Release - Sixty-six South Carolina high school seniors in this year's graduating class have gone to school through their entire academic careers without missing a single day.
The students are among more than 44,000 seniors who are being honored at commencement ceremonies across the state as the 2009-10 school year winds down.
"This achievement never ceases to amaze me," said State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex. "Twelve years, 2,160 consecutive days, and not a single absence. That's really something."
Rex credited the students' determination and hard work, but also the support they received from their families. "This doesn't happen by accident," he said.
Since 1979, seniors with 12 years of perfect school attendance have been recognized by the South Carolina Department of Education. They receive certificates and congratulatory letters from Dr. Rex's office.
This year's 66 "perfect" students are from districts and high schools both large and small. Greenville, the state's largest district, had the most students graduating with perfect attendance with 10, including four at Mauldin High School. Spartanburg District Six's Dorman High also had four "perfect" students. Three schools - Dreher High in Richland One, Landrum High in Spartanburg One and Woodruff High in Spartanburg Four - had three students apiece who never missed a day.
