What McComb Elementary’s Data Reveals About Relationships and Results
What if you could start your day knowing that student behavior is calmer, safer, and more self-directed than it was a year or two ago? That’s the story unfolding at McComb Elementary in Caro Community Schools, a three-time Capturing Kids’ Hearts ® National Showcase School.
Over the past three years, McComb has woven Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) practices into the fabric of daily life: CKH Social Contracts in every classroom, regular affirmations, school-wide positive behavior celebrations, and structured character education lessons that align with CKH themes. At the same time, the campus has strengthened behavioral tracking and support systems so staff can see patterns, intervene early, and measure growth.
The impact is showing up clearly in the data. Between the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years, McComb saw a 94% reduction in behaviors involving imminent risk of harm to self or others. There have been no safety care interventions reported so far for 2025–26. Behavioral incidents have decreased by 29.5%. Staff are also getting ahead of dysregulation sooner, with a 92% increase in early intervention success and a 145% increase in student-initiated regulation, such as self-directed breaks and independent use of calm spaces.
Support systems have grown stronger alongside student skills. Total support interactions increased by 25% (from 1,438 to 1,796), while the percentage of students needing high-intensity behavior and emotional support continues to decline. Character development has expanded from the use of 55 lessons in 2023–24 to 138 lessons in 2024–25, along with schoolwide positive behavior celebrations and intentional, small-group activities for students with higher needs.
School climate and attendance trends are shifting as well. In 2023–24, the State of Michigan’s average rate of chronic absenteeism was 29.5%. At McComb, the percentage of chronically absent students dropped from 34% in the first trimester of 2024–25 to 5% in the first trimester of 2025–26. In bullying and suspension data, the number of students involved is small, six students out of a population of 383 for bullying in 2024–25, and the number of students with one or more suspensions has moved from dozens per month during the 2024–25 school year to one student in August 2025.
For McComb’s staff and families, these numbers are more than data points. They reflect quieter hallways, calmer classrooms, students who return to learning more quickly, and adults who feel equipped to respond with consistency, care, and confidence.
Taken together, these shifts tell a clear story: when adults lead with relationships, teach skills clearly, and respond proactively instead of reactively, students rise to meet the expectation. McComb Elementary’s experience illustrates how the Capturing Kids’ Hearts® Process can help schools move from managing behavior to building emotionally safe, connected learning communities.
If you’d like to see how this could look on your campus or across your district, we invite you and your team to join us for the Capturing Kids’ Hearts Flagship Training in Detroit, Michigan, March 17–18.