Mackenzie George, or Mack to her friends, has a passion for makeup, sports and childcare.

Key points: Jordan River Learning Federation Senior School and Cosgrove High School have Tasmania's worst attendance rates, at 65 per cent and 75 per cent respectively

Jordan River Learning Federation Senior School and Cosgrove High School have Tasmania's worst attendance rates, at 65 per cent and 75 per cent respectively Principals say there are a range of reasons students aren't attending class

Principals say there are a range of reasons students aren't attending class Both schools have introduced new initiatives aimed at getting people into class, including free breakfast and lunch programs

The 17-year-old has not always had a passion for school, but at Jordan River Learning Federation Senior School, in Bridgewater, north of Hobart, she's thriving.

"They just give you all these opportunities to come back," the Year 11 student said.

"They supply you with anything you need and they'll always offer you work placement."

The Jordan River Learning Federation Senior School — formerly Bridgewater High School — has Tasmania's worst attendance rate at 65 per cent, according to Education Department data.

MySchool data shows of the 325 students at the school last year, 87 per cent were counted in the bottom quarter for socio-educational advantage and none were counted in the top.

Principal Heather Bessell said it was not easy getting everyone through the school gate.

"There are many challenges for our community," Ms Bessell said.

"Even though they live locally and they can walk things like anxiety, poverty, crime, the demographics of the area comes into play — trauma, intergenerational trauma."

Students feel 'postcode stigma'

The challenges in student's personal lives mean the Jordan River Learning Federation has implemented unorthodox programs.

It has a strong focus on vocational education, offers part-time enrolments to students who struggle with mainstream education and partners with community organisations like the PCYC to offer an extra layer of support.

Hospitality students prepare a school-wide free lunch every day — a move that has seen an improvement in students' performance in afternoon lessons.

Students with a particular interest in construction, hospitality or agriculture can enrol in what the department calls 'packages of learning', meaning they are taught the Australian curriculum through their chosen lens.

"We need to ensure the students have the literacy skills they need to go into employment, the numeracy skills they need to go into employment, that they've got the social and emotional skills to self-manage and regulate in a workplace, and they've got the confidence to step outside what the students will name as the stigma associated with the postcode," Ms Bessell said.

"They feel it, they know it, they name it. Our role, as much as anything, is to break that down."

'Safe environment' key

It is a similar story at Cosgrove High School, in the northern Hobart suburb of Glenorchy.

There the attendance rate at the end of term three in 2018 was just 75 per cent, well below the state average of 90 per cent. That rate has improved this year.

Of the 178 students enrolled last year, 80 per cent were in the bottom quarter for socio-educational advantage, and just 1 per cent in the top

Cosgrove High School Principal Andrew Woodham and assistant principal Emma Aorangi have made attendance a priority. ( ABC News: Emily Baker )

Principal Andrew Woodham has been leading the school for about 18 months and has made improving attendance a priority.

"One of the main things for us here is providing a safe and orderly learning environment where students feel safe and where learning is a strong focus for our students," he said.

"We put a great emphasis on relationships here at Cosgrove High School, and building those relationships so that we know them each as individuals so we can best meet their needs."

Cosgrove High School has a breakfast club, helps students set their own goals and tracks individual class attendance figures.

Beyond telling students the importance of attending school, helping them set their own goals, running a breakfast club and tracking individual classes' attendance figures, Mr Woodham said the school aimed to be a supportive and welcoming environment.

Students who don't do well 'tend to go to school less'

Tasmania has the second worst year 12 completion rate in Australia behind the Northern Territory with data from the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority showing just 73 per cent of students went on from Year 10 to finish Year 12 in 2018.

The Smith Family state general manager Lesley Mackay there was a range of reasons some Tasmanian students struggled to get to school.

"They might not have transport, there might be a parent within that family who has an illness or a disability, or they might have a brother or sister who has an illness or disability," Ms Mackay said.

"We also know there's a strong relationship between achievement and attendance, and that gets stronger through the school years.

"For children who aren't doing well at school ... they tend to go to school less."

The principal of the Jordan River Learning Federation school in Hobart's northern suburbs says students appreciate the extra support. ( ABC News: Mitchell Woolnough )

Tasmania's Education Department introduced compulsory conciliation conferences involving parents, school staff and non-attending students in 2017.

The meetings aim to figure out why a student is not attending school and what can be done to get them into the classroom.

The group may sign an agreement at the end of the meeting on how each party will work towards ensuring the student attends school.

This may escalate to a compulsory schooling order; if that is ignored, the issue may be referred to the Magistrates Court.

"[The] process aims to resolve issues and barriers preventing regular attendance, giving all of those involved a way to participate in coming to a resolution," a department spokesperson said.

"These conferences have been very successful to date, with the vast majority resulting in a positive outcome."

As well, this year's Year 10 cohort is the first who must meet new standards under the Education Act requiring students to either complete Year 12, complete a Certificate III or remain in school until they are 18.

"It is widely acknowledged that young people who remain in education and training for longer, have improved career and life options," the Education Department spokeswoman said.

For Ms George, the Jordan River Learning Federation way is working.

She said she hoped to graduate from Year 12 next year and get a full-time job in childcare.

"They've supported me with my dyslexia and [dyscalculia], and always helped me and gave me opportunities," she said.

"They supply you with anything you need and always offer you work placement … I love this school, and I like coming back here."