From 9% to 48%: One school’s path to better reading and attendance

Four years ago, those numbers felt out of reach for Hamilton Elementary. Reading scores were critically low. Absenteeism was high. And most families—many of whom spoke languages other than English—felt disconnected from what was happening inside the classroom.

“We had a trust gap,” says Brittany Daley, principal of Hamilton. “Families didn’t feel seen, heard, or welcomed. And without that connection, it was hard for kids to thrive.”

Daley knew that if things were going to change, families had to feel like true partners—not just participants. That meant opening doors, shifting mindsets, and finding tools that made communication easy and inclusive.

Translating trust

Hamilton adopted ClassDojo to help teachers and staff communicate with families across languages and literacy levels. Messages were automatically translated. Photos and videos from class created an open window into learning. And families had a simple way to message back without fear of misunderstanding or needing a translator.

“ClassDojo made it easy to communicate clearly and respectfully with every family,” says Daley. “It was the foundation for trust.”

That trust turned into participation. And participation turned into partnership.

Joy first, learning second

Daley’s team didn’t start with academic asks. They focused first on bringing families into the building first, without pressure or expectations.

There were after-school art classes. Monthly Family Fridays. A Halloween costume drive with games and candy. A Read Across America celebration where teachers handed out Play-Doh.

“These events weren’t about teaching,” says Daley. “They were about joy. And once you build joy and trust, families start showing up for more.”

And show up they did. Over time, 10 families became 200. Many began running their own initiatives—like a clothing boutique, a food distribution center, and a family book club.

Tying it back to learning

With relationships in place, the school began adding academic layers to family engagement. When the schoolwide focus was phonics, teachers sent home personalized activities based on each student’s assessment results.

At conferences, students taught those activities to their caregivers.

“It was a huge mindset shift,” Daley explains. “We weren’t just asking families to help—we were equipping them to feel confident doing it. And that changed everything.”

Results that matter

Today, nearly half of Hamilton students are reading on grade level—up from just 9% a few years ago. Chronic absenteeism has dropped by more than 20 percentage points. And family involvement is not only consistent, it’s self-sustaining.

“Families don’t just attend—they lead,” says Daley. “That’s the difference.”

Nearly half of Hamilton students are reading on grade level—up from just 9% a few years ago.

Built into the system

Daley believes these results didn’t come from one program or one product—they came from making family engagement a schoolwide priority.

“If something matters, you embed it into every system: your attendance meetings, your literacy plans, your staff huddles. For us, that meant family engagement wasn’t a department—it was a lens we applied to everything.”

ClassDojo remains the hub for that work. Teachers use it daily. Families rely on it. And it’s a constant reminder that connection is at the heart of learning.

The bottom line

“When families are engaged, kids succeed,” Daley says. “We treat those things like they’re separate. But they’re not. They’re completely connected.”

At Hamilton Elementary, connection started with a chair. It grew with ClassDojo. And it continues to transform what’s possible for kids, every single day.