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Attendance report: district average 86.5%, officials say chronic absenteeism is improving
Summary
Central Consolidated Schools attendance coordinator Tia Johnson told the board the district average attendance was 86.5% for 2025–26 and described steps — including a renewed attendance grant and a two-way texting platform — intended to reduce chronic absenteeism, which the presentation placed near 45%.
Tia Johnson, the district attendance coordinator, told the Central Consolidated Schools Board that the district’s average attendance for 2025–26 was 86.5% and that chronic absenteeism remains a priority.
“We want our students in class learning every single day,” Johnson said, and reported a chronic absenteeism rate that the presentation described as 45% with staff later noting a reduction from 45.7% to about 40.5% over the past year. She highlighted school-level variation: Judy Nelson Elementary reached 90.5%, Nashidi Elementary reached 90%, and Career Prep High School trailed at about 75.3%.
The presentation outlined targeted interventions the district plans to continue next year: renewal of an attendance grant for 2026–27 at the full amount; an updated parent resource page at ccsdnm.org/attendance; a two-way texting platform (Edia AI) to simplify reporting absences; and community incentives, including an April attendance challenge sponsored by Snow Delicious. Johnson also said the district has worked to align building attendance practices and PowerSchool processes so teachers and secretaries take and update attendance consistently.
Board members asked questions about the causes behind higher high-school absenteeism and about measurement practices. Board member Miss Hasky asked for specific barriers affecting high-school students; Johnson pointed to low engagement and said the district is using career and technical education programs to boost secondary engagement. Another member asked whether tardies still converted to absences; Johnson said the policy had been updated and the attendance procedure document is being revised and will be made clearer to families.
The presentation concluded with an invitation for questions and a pledge to continue tracking metrics; Johnson said the district expects the renewed grant and the communication tools to support further reductions in chronic absenteeism next school year.
