2026 OCAP State of the Child Report

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM REMAINS ELEVATED IN RIVERSIDE COUNTY WITH ATTENDANCE DISPARITIES ACROSS DISTRICTS AND

DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS DESCRIPTION OF INDICATOR

This indicator measures the percentage of students who are chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of instructional days during a school year.

Why is this indicator important?

Findings 1 • Riverside County’s chronic absenteeism reached 22.1% in 2024-2025, lower than the pandemic period but almost twice as high as 2016-2017, when it was 11.8%. • Riverside County’s absenteeism exceeds California, with chronic absenteeism higher • Higher absenteeism was observed among American Indian or Alaska Native, Pacific Islander, African American, and Hispanic/ Latino students. • Significant absenteeism was also identified among socioeconomically disadvantaged students, students with disabilities, while students experiencing homelessness and youth in foster care experienced the greatest absenteeism at 37% and higher. • Chronic absenteeism varied considerably across school districts, indicating differences in local conditions and resource capacity. among students in secondary grades compared to early elementary grades.

Regular school attendance is essential to student learning and academic success. Students who are chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more instructional days in a school year for any reason, are at increased risk of falling behind academically, disengaging from school, and experiencing long-term educational challenges. Chronic absenteeism can disrupt learning continuity, weaken connections to school, and contribute to achievement gaps over time. Monitoring chronic absenteeism helps identify students and groups who may benefit from targeted support and early interventions.

1 California Department of Education. (2025). Chronic absenteeism rate. DataQuest. https://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/

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