Aubrey schools reopened to students Tuesday as district officials reported that attendance is up.

The district closed its campuses to students Oct. 6 because of high absentee rates due to illness. Teachers returned to schools Monday for an in-service day.

Superintendent James Monaco said that the first two days back were a good start, with the district showing a 95 percent attendance rate throughout its four campuses — a 19 percentage point increase from the close of school on Oct. 6.

Monaco said that while some may have questioned the decision to close schools, it has proven successful in other districts.

“Based on our attendance, it was the correct thing to do, because we were in a vicious cycle,” he said. “I’m praying that this good news continues and [that] we broke the cycle.”

According to a letter posted on the district’s Web site, attendance was at 82 percent at the Oct. 6 school day’s start and had dropped to 76 percent by day’s end because of students going home sick, some with flu-like symptoms. Monaco said the district closed the schools to prevent the spread of germs.

When school was closed, district custodians sanitized desks, chairs and other “high-touch areas” at each campus.

Students in Aubrey will have to make up two missed school days on designated weather days — April 2 and May 28. The district will petition the Texas Education Agency requesting a waiver for the third day school was closed, Monaco said.

Students of the Winfree Academy Charter Schools system, which has a campus in Denton, had a four-day weekend, as schools were closed Tuesday following Monday in-service.

Classes resumed Wednesday at the system’s six campuses. Superintendent Melody Chalkley said that schools were closed after seeing numerous students and staff out sick with flu and other illnesses last week.

Schools were closed Tuesday to sanitize the campuses, Chalkley said, and to give the sick time to recuperate.

“I think it [the day off] was a well-deserved rest for the people that were out sick,” she said.

Attendance rates were not readily available Wednesday.

A decision has not been made on whether Tuesday will be made up by students at the charter schools, Chalkley said.

BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com.