District staff presented an attendance report covering the period Aug. 6–Sept. 4, describing overall attendance rates, chronic‑absenteeism counts by school and districtwide efforts to reduce missed school days.

The report showed a districtwide average daily attendance of about 92.2 percent for the period and an overall chronic absenteeism rate of roughly 20 percent (chronic absenteeism is the standard metric for students missing 10 percent or more of school days in a year). Site‑level figures varied: the presenter reported 78.3 percent attendance for Career Prep High, mid‑90s for several elementary and middle schools, and chronic‑absenteeism levels at some schools above 20 percent. Mesa Elementary and Judy Nelson Elementary were identified with about 25 percent chronic absenteeism; the districtwide chronic‑absenteeism figure was reported at 20 percent.

District data staff said the high‑school attendance figures use a simple average across schools in the presenter’s slide deck and agreed to revisit weighting by student enrollment to produce an enrollment‑weighted district average. Board members requested a recalculation weighted by each school’s student population because larger high schools (for example Kirtland Central and Shiprock) have a larger effect on the true district average.

District staff explained the layered approach to attendance intervention: school liaisons and social‑service partners perform home outreach and follow a multi‑tier intervention model, including referrals to Project Safety Net, counseling, home visits and attendance improvement plans that each school must file by the district’s 40th day. Staff said the district has sought additional funding for attendance liaisons through a grant proposal (approximately $600,000 over three years was discussed) to increase community “boots on the ground.”

During board discussion, members asked for comparative context versus state numbers and for school‑by‑school enrollment and facility condition information as background for future decisions, including potential consolidation discussions. District staff said 2022–23 statewide chronic absenteeism numbers were higher (state figures presented showed 29.8 percent in 2022–23 and higher during the pandemic years), and that district numbers have improved from roughly 23.7 percent districtwide last year.

Why it matters: Chronic absenteeism is a widely used predictor of student achievement; district staff described a multi‑pronged response that includes outreach from teachers, liaisons and community partners, and noted funding constraints that limit how many families staff can reach.