If you think the pandemic's grip on school attendance is over, think again. Our deep dive into the latest chronic absenteeism data from the California Department of Education shows progress—but also some alarming spikes that demand attention.
We analyzed district-level chronic absenteeism rates for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, filtering the data to include only all students at the district level. The results paint a complex picture of recovery and ongoing challenges.
Statewide Progress: Fewer Students Missing School
The statewide chronic absenteeism rate fell from 24.3% in 2023 to 18.6% in 2024. That's roughly one in five students chronically absent, down from nearly one in four the year before—a significant improvement that represents hundreds of thousands of students back in the classroom.
Statewide Chronic Absenteeism Rate
Source: California Department of Education Chronic Absenteeism Data
Most Districts Are Improving—But Not All
Across 922 districts, 85% saw their chronic absenteeism rates drop, about 10% worsened, and a handful stayed the same. On average, chronic absenteeism fell by 5.7 percentage points. This represents genuine progress across most of the state.
Distribution of District Chronic Absenteeism Rate Changes
2024 - 2023 (Number of Districts)
Districts with Big Jumps in Absenteeism
However, a small group of districts saw startling increases in chronic absenteeism. Rural or county-run programs dominated the top of the list, raising questions about the unique challenges facing these communities.
Districts with the Largest Increases
Loleta Union Elementary in Humboldt County had the largest jump, up more than 38 percentage points, followed by Blake Elementary (+35 points), the Santa Clara County Office of Education (+32 points), and San Luis Obispo County Office of Education (+31 points).
Top 10 Districts with Increase in Chronic Absenteeism Rate
2023 to 2024
Districts with the Biggest Turnarounds
On the positive side, some districts achieved remarkable turnarounds. Shoreline Unified in Marin County reduced its chronic absenteeism rate by 71 percentage points, while Fort Ross Elementary in Sonoma dropped by 52 points. These success stories offer hope and potential models for other struggling districts.
Top 10 Districts with Decrease in Chronic Absenteeism Rate
2023 to 2024
"The data reveals both progress and persistent challenges. While the statewide improvement is encouraging, the dramatic increases in some districts suggest that the recovery is uneven."
The Path Forward
Addressing chronic absenteeism requires a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond simply tracking numbers. Districts need resources to:
- Address root causes like housing instability, mental health challenges, and family economic stress
- Provide targeted support for students and families facing barriers to attendance
- Build community partnerships that can help address the underlying issues affecting school attendance
- Share best practices between districts to replicate successful interventions
The pandemic's impact on school attendance is far from resolved. While we're seeing progress in many places, the data shows we can't afford to be complacent. Every student who misses school is a student whose future is at risk.
Explore the Data
Want to conduct your own analysis? Access the complete datasets used in this article: