Attendance Down on Friday at County Public Schools

After a week filled with grieving over the Newtown tragedy, rumors about , worries about the "end of the world" and power outages, nearly one-third of students in Anne Arundel County didn't attend school on Friday.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) spokesman Bob Mosier said that across the school system, 27.7 percent of students were absent—primarily in middle and high schools. He also added that there were no unusual incidents at schools on Friday to report.

While some absences can be attributed to students taking the day off to travel before winter break, Mosier acknowledged there were other factors this week that accounted for the number of absences more than tripling from 6.8 percent last year on the final day prior to winter break. Attendance was highest at elementary schools, where no threats were made regarding shooting plots and many classes had holiday activities planned for the day.

On Wednesday, officials held a press conference to respond to shooting plot rumors at several schools—including Old Mill High School in Millersville, North County High School in Glen Burnie, Arundel High School in Gambrills, and Northeast High School and George Fox Middle School in Pasadena. At these schools, rumors reportedly circulated that there are shootings planned for Friday but administrators sent letters to parents that there is no indication that a real threat exists.

Earlier in the week, a Broadneck High student was suspended for making a gun threat and a Southern Middle student set off a firecracker.

See more:

• Police Call School Shooting Threats Unfounded
• Nearly 500 Guns Surrendered in Baltimore After Newtown Shooting
• Anne Arundel Police Heighten School Security After Connecticut Shooting
• County Forum Will Discuss Mental Health