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KIRKSVILLE -- They're held annually to give parents a chance to check up on their kids at school. It's the time of year for parent-teacher conferences.

We wondered what attendance has been at this year’s conferences, so we put our Fact Finder team to work. We learned that as students get older, parents are less likely to attend parent-teacher conferences.

This year in Kirksville R-III schools, 98% of  primary school parents attended conferences.

At Ray Miller Upper Elementary, the number dropped to 89%.

Less than 50% of middle school parents and less than 20% of high school parents attended.

Kirksville School District Superintendent Pat Williams told Fact Finder that part of the reason for the decrease in parent attendance at the conferences is that students are expected to be more responsible as they get older. Also, the Kirksville school district allows parents to stay involved without having to leave their home because parents can check their child’s progress online.