In today’s post-pandemic education landscape, chronic absenteeism has become one of the most pressing challenges for K-12 schools nationwide. What was once a 13% national average has skyrocketed to 28%—an 89% increase that continues to impact student outcomes across the country.

The Alarming State of Student Attendance (And Why It Matters Now)

The numbers tell a sobering story:

• Chronic absenteeism rates remain 78% above pre-pandemic baselines
• High-poverty districts face rates as high as 36%
• Even low-poverty districts have seen rates double from 10% to 21%

But beyond these statistics lies an even more concerning reality: attendance issues account for 67% of course failures, far outweighing factors like demographics (7%) or test scores (5%).

Why Attendance Data Deserves Your Attention

Research from the University of Chicago has confirmed what many educators already suspected—attendance has emerged as the single strongest predictor of whether a student will graduate or drop out. This makes addressing absenteeism not just an administrative task but a critical mission with far-reaching implications.

The cost of inaction is substantial:

• Students who drop out earn $10,000 less annually than high school graduates
• Over a lifetime, dropouts earn more than $1 million less than college graduates
• Each cohort of dropouts costs the U.S. economy approximately $272,000 per student in lost tax revenue and increased social services

For districts themselves, the financial impact is immediate. With most state funding formulas tied directly to attendance, chronic absenteeism can drain hundreds of thousands in annual revenue.

Moving From Manual Tracking to Data-Driven Solutions

Despite the scale of this challenge, many districts continue to rely on outdated, manual processes to track and address attendance issues. These approaches simply cannot keep pace with today’s absenteeism crisis.

Forward-thinking districts are transforming their approach by:

1. Establishing clean attendance data foundations – Creating clear definitions for attendance codes and implementing weekly audit processes
2. Implementing early warning systems – Setting up specific triggers for interventions based on absence patterns
3. Conducting regular data reviews – Scheduling dedicated time to analyze patterns and evaluate interventions

Success Stories: Data Driving Results

Districts that have embraced data-driven approaches are seeing remarkable improvements:

• Grand Prairie ISD identified significant Monday and Friday attendance dips through data analysis. By strategically scheduling engaging events on these days, they achieved measurable attendance improvements.
  
• Roseville City School District faced a post-pandemic jump from 6% to 26% chronic absenteeism. Their systematic data tracking approach led to targeted interventions, resulting in a 62% reduction over two years.
  
• Sheldon ISD’s data analysis revealed that morning check-ins with trusted staff members were twice as effective as form letters for chronically absent students, allowing them to restructure their entire intervention strategy.
  

Starting Your Data-Driven Attendance Journey

The path to improved attendance doesn’t require overhauling your entire system at once. Successful districts typically start with:

• A single grade level or building as a pilot program
• Focus on progress rather than perfection
• Systematic documentation of what works and what doesn’t
• Regular celebration of concrete improvements

Don’t let chronic absenteeism continue draining your district’s resources and student potential.

We’ve created the ultimate resource for school leaders ready to take action: Leading with Data: A K-12 Guide to Attendance Success

What you’ll discover inside:

• A proven three-phase framework for building effective attendance data systems
• Step-by-step processes for turning attendance data into immediate action
• Specific early warning triggers that successful districts are using right now
• Strategies for making your attendance initiatives sustainable despite staff turnover
• Real-world case studies with concrete, replicable success strategies

The strategies in this guide have helped districts achieve up to 62% reduction in chronic absenteeism—even in today’s challenging environment.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE GUIDE and join the districts that are reversing the post-pandemic attendance crisis.

Sacramento, CA—May 7, 2025—As California schools face an urgent attendance crisis, SchoolStatus is standing alongside district leaders as a trusted and proven partner. With over two decades of expertise in developing impactful education technology and a deep understanding of California’s legal and regulatory landscape, SchoolStatus supports over 50% of school districts—more than 3.6 million students—in California alone.

“What sets SchoolStatus apart isn’t just our technology—it’s our comprehensive partnership approach. We’re providing California districts with a complete ecosystem: actionable data analytics, automated positive messaging that celebrates progress, and professional development that builds capacity within attendance teams,” said Dr. Kara Stern, Director of Education & Engagement at SchoolStatus. “Instead of just flagging absences, we’re helping educators strengthen family relationships through personalized, respectful communication that meets families where they are—ultimately getting students back in the classroom and keeping them there.”

Proven Results from District Partners

SchoolStatus recently analyzed attendance data from 122 California districts and 800,000 students. It demonstrated a 21% drop in chronic absenteeism over three years, SchoolStatus partners compared to non-partner averages. These partner districts now average 93.45% daily attendance, closing in on pre-pandemic norms. 

Partner Highlights Include:

• Roseville City School District, where chronic absenteeism has fallen 43% in two years, with chronic rates among English Language Learners dropping from 13% to 7%.
• Los Nietos School District, where chronic absenteeism has been reduced by 51% in two years, with chronic rates among Special Education students dropping from 29% to 17%, and English Language Learners from 16% to 12%.

“SchoolStatus’ support has been instrumental in helping us significantly improve our attendance rates and decrease chronic absenteeism,” said Dr. Ramiro Rubalcaba, Superintendent of Los Nietos SD. “As a result of this partnership, our students are not only attending school more consistently, they are also showing remarkable growth academically and demonstrating greater engagement overall.”

Leadership Beyond Technology

SchoolStatus is a central voice in California’s family engagement and attendance recovery efforts. As a strategic partner of the California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance (CASCWA) for over 15 years, SchoolStatus helps shape the conversation through statewide conferences, media, and thought leadership. Experts in data analytics, education policy, and school communications have recently:

• Co-presented with Redondo Beach USD at ACSA’s Every Child Counts Symposium
• Been spotlighted at CASCWA by Garden Grove USD and Roseville City SD
• Authored a widely-read EdSource op-ed on targeted approaches to address chronic absenteeism by grade level
• Published new attendance research cited by NPR and Yahoo News for data showing California partner districts bucking national trends

“Our data reveals that progress comes from combining early-warning systems with authentic family engagement,” Dr. Stern noted. “While we’ve seen major gains in elementary grades, we’re now helping districts address the more complex attendance challenges facing today’s high school students—where social factors, mental health concerns, and economic pressures create unique barriers to consistent attendance.”

As we anticipate the challenges and opportunities ahead in the 2025-2026 school year, SchoolStatus remains committed to supporting the dedicated educators and administrators across California’s K-12 schools who work tirelessly to help students succeed. By continuing to provide the tools, insights, and partnership that districts need, we stand ready to help make every school day count. Our 360° approach recognizes that when family engagement, teacher satisfaction, and attendance all improve together, we’re not just changing today’s classrooms—we’re building a stronger future for California’s students and communities for generations to come.

If you’re struggling with chronic absenteeism, download SchoolStatus’s free attendance tracker and other quick-start attendance resources in the Resource Library.olStatus can help reverse chronic absenteeism in your district, visit schoolstatus.com. 

Media Contact:

Annmarie Ely
Zer0 to 5ive for SchoolStatus
schoolstatus@0to5.com
267.454.4686

Choosing the right school attendance management system is a critical decision for district leaders and school administrators. The right platform can significantly improve how you monitor attendance, identify at-risk students, and intervene early to boost student success. But not all systems are built the same. If you’re evaluating student attendance tracking software for your district, here are the top 10 must-have features to look for:

1. Attendance Tracking

A high-quality attendance system for school staff should provide real-time data through tools like SchoolStatus Attend, so educators can act quickly when students miss class or approach chronic absenteeism.

2. Early Warning Indicators for At-Risk Students

Your student attendance management software should use predictive analytics to flag students who need support, giving your team time to intervene and re-engage them. Learn how to spot at-risk students early.

3. Seamless SIS Integration

Choose a platform that integrates effortlessly with your Student Information System (SIS). This ensures data accuracy and reduces manual effort across platforms.

4. Mobile-Friendly Dashboards

Today’s educators need flexible tools. A mobile-responsive interface helps teachers and administrators track attendance and access student data anytime, anywhere.

5. Multi-Tiered Intervention Management

Support your MTSS framework with a system that makes it easy to assign and monitor tiered interventions, ensuring no student slips through the cracks.

6. Parent and Guardian Notifications

Family engagement is key to improving attendance. Platforms like SchoolStatus Connect offer built-in two-way communication to notify caregivers of absences and encourage dialogue. For more on engaging families, check out The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide to a Consolidated School-Home Communications Solution.

7. Customizable Reporting and Analytics

Look for detailed reporting options to break down attendance trends by grade, subgroup, or school site. These insights can guide decisions at both school and district levels.

8. User-Friendly Interface

An intuitive design is essential. Your team should be able to use the software with minimal training, reducing barriers to adoption.

9. Compliance Support

State and federal reporting can be complex. Your student attendance tracking software should make compliance easy, with automated reports and built-in policy alignment.

10. Data Security and FERPA Compliance

Protecting student data is non-negotiable. Make sure the system you choose is fully compliant with FERPA and follows industry best practices for data security.

Choosing the Right Attendance and Engagement Tools

Investing in a comprehensive school attendance management system is one of the most effective ways to reduce chronic absenteeism and improve academic outcomes. SchoolStatus Attend makes attendance tracking seamless, while SchoolStatus Connect ensures meaningful communication with families to drive re-engagement.

Looking to improve attendance and boost engagement? Schedule a personalized demo to see SchoolStatus in action, and download our free Buyer’s Guide to compare features and find the right solution for your district.

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Related Resources:

• How to Spot At-Risk Students Early
• 5 Steps to Better Attendance
• Calculating the ROI of SchoolStatus for Your School District

When Dylan Jones, Director of Federal Programs and Data at Sunflower County Consolidated School District, looked at his district’s family engagement efforts, he saw a fragmented approach that wasn’t reaching all families. Fast forward to today, and Sunflower County has achieved a 5x increase in family engagement with 92% of surveyed families reporting improved school communication.

How did they do it? In a recent SchoolStatus webinar, “The New Rules of Family Engagement: Research-Backed Strategies that Actually Work,” Jones shared the district’s transformation journey and the practical strategies that made it possible.

The Challenge: Disconnected Communication in a Diverse District

Like many districts nationwide, Sunflower County faced significant communication challenges:

• Reactive communication: Reaching out primarily when problems arose rather than building ongoing relationships
• Inconsistent approaches: Each school had its own communication methods, creating confusion for families with children in multiple schools
• Language barriers: A significant multilingual population wasn’t consistently receiving accessible information
• Limited measurement: Without data on outreach effectiveness, improvement was difficult

These challenges reflected a broader trend in education. According to SchoolStatus research:

• Only 27% of families report feeling “very well informed” about their child’s academic progress
• Meanwhile, 81% of educators believe targeted engagement strategies could reduce chronic absenteeism

The disconnect was clear: despite educators’ best intentions, families weren’t feeling adequately informed about their children’s education.

Why Solving This Matters: The Impact on Student Success

For Sunflower County, improving family engagement wasn’t just about better communication—it was directly tied to student outcomes:

Jones shared how his district evolved from inconsistent communication practices to a cohesive, data-driven approach. Their journey addressed several common challenges:

• Reactive rather than proactive communication
• Inconsistency across different schools
• Language barriers with multilingual families
• Limited visibility into communication effectiveness

The transformation focused on four key elements:

1. Implementing a two-way communication philosophy that treated families as partners
2. Ensuring multilingual accessibility for all communications
3. Using data to inform decision-making around engagement efforts
4. Establishing consistent standards across all schools

Sunflower County’s Transformation: A Framework for Success

Jones and his team implemented a systematic approach to family engagement that focused on four key elements:

1. Shifting to Two-Way Communication

Rather than sending one-way announcements, Sunflower County embraced a philosophical shift toward treating families as partners in education: “We were reaching out when there were problems, but not consistently building relationships during positive times,” explained Jones. “We needed to change that fundamental approach.”

What they did:

• Moved from centralized communication to an empowered school-based approach
• Created opportunities for families to respond, ask questions, and share insights
• Scheduled regular touchpoints before problems arose
• Implemented a “positive first” policy where teachers initiated contact with good news

2. Breaking Down Communication Barriers

Recognizing their diverse community, Sunflower County prioritized accessibility in all communications.

What they did:

• Ensured all communications could be easily translated for their multilingual families
• Offered multiple communication channels based on family preferences
• Used visual, mobile-friendly formats that busy parents could easily consume
• Standardized communication approaches across schools for families with multiple children

3. Embracing Data-Informed Decision Making

Perhaps most importantly, Sunflower County implemented tracking systems to measure engagement effectiveness.

What they did:

• Documented who they were reaching—and who they weren’t
• Tracked engagement metrics to identify patterns and gaps
• Made regular adjustments based on what the data revealed
• Created accountability for outreach efforts

The Results: Measurable Improvement Across the Board

Sunflower County’s strategic approach yielded impressive results:

• 95% of students contacted at least once per term
• 5x increase in family engagement since initial rollout
• 92% of surveyed families reporting improved school communication
• 88% of families feeling more connected to their child’s academic progress
• 100% of principals and counselors using the system weekly
• Over 85% of teachers regularly initiating contact

Beyond the numbers, Jones noted significant improvements in student outcomes:

How Your District Can Implement These Strategies

Effective family engagement doesn’t happen overnight, but implementing these three research-backed strategies can create meaningful change in your district:

1. Shift to two-way, proactive communication
2. Use inclusive approaches to reach all families
3. Let data guide your strategy and continuous improvement

As districts nationwide have discovered, when family engagement improves, so do student outcomes—from attendance and homework completion to academic achievement and graduation rates.

Ready to transform family engagement in your district? Check out our Guide, “5 Steps for Effective Family-School Communications.“

Attendance isn’t just a metric—it’s the foundation for learning, relationships, and long-term student success. But when districts rely on manual processes or outdated systems, they miss key opportunities to act early. That’s why more educators are replacing spreadsheets and disconnected systems with purpose-built, attendance tracking software for schools.

Whether you’re still using an attendance tracker in Excel or exploring a smarter attendance dashboard for teachers, here’s what sets effective solutions apart (and how the right platform can drive districtwide impact).

1. Real-Time Data That Drives Decisions

The best student attendance software doesn’t just track, it enables timely action. With real-time data, educators can quickly identify trends, uncover barriers, and support students before issues escalate. Real-time visibility is especially important in identifying chronic absenteeism early and coordinating quick interventions across departments.

See national chronic absenteeism data from the U.S. Department of Education.

With platforms like SchoolStatus Attend, educators can easily view daily absence patterns, compare historical attendance trends, and receive automated flagging for students who may need extra support. This makes every data point a trigger for positive action.

2. Built for Educators, Not Engineers

Great school attendance software fits seamlessly into the school day. Platforms should be intuitive, easy to navigate, and require little training—empowering educators to focus on students, not systems. If a system takes weeks to understand, it’s already lost its value.

Educators need tools that are easy to learn, with user-friendly dashboards, smart automation, and clean reporting. Systems like SchoolStatus prioritize accessibility and simplicity, ensuring school staff can confidently use the platform from day one.

3. Works Where Learning Happens

A reliable attendance app for teachers should work across devices, from classroom desktops to mobile hall passes. With more learning happening in flexible spaces (think pullout groups, intervention rooms, or field-based programs) mobile-friendly attendance tracking is a must.

Mobile access also empowers staff to take attendance in real time, no matter the location. That means fewer missed entries, more accurate records, and easier interventions.

4. Connects with Your SIS & Gradebooks

Your attendance system shouldn’t exist in a vacuum. Look for solutions that integrate directly with your SIS, learning management system (LMS), and gradebooks. This keeps data consistent and reduces administrative overhead.

SchoolStatus connects to your core systems to ensure that attendance records, interventions, and communications are aligned across platforms. That integration helps your teams work smarter, not harder.

5. Automates the Right Alerts at the Right Time

It’s not enough to notice a problem, schools need to act before patterns become chronic. A great system helps by triggering alerts for concerning trends: students who’ve missed three consecutive days, reached a specific absence threshold, or shifted from “on track” to “at risk.”

By connecting alerts with family engagement tools like SchoolStatus Connect, your teams can follow up quickly through phone, text, or email—in the caregiver’s preferred language.

6. Provides Clear, Actionable Insights

Leadership teams need data that tells a story. Your student attendance software should offer customizable reports and visual dashboards that support school improvement planning, MTSS interventions, compliance reporting, and funding applications.

Whether you’re reporting to the board, preparing for audits, or guiding team decisions, access to the right information—in the right format—makes all the difference.

7. Scales with Your Strategy

Districts are constantly evolving. Whether you’re expanding programming, adjusting to state requirements, or taking a more personalized approach to family engagement, your tools need to grow with you.

Look for platforms that support customization, multi-campus structures, and evolving workflows, without requiring a new rollout every time your needs change.

8. Supports a Culture of Showing Up

More than just tracking attendance, a great platform promotes awareness and accountability. With proactive communication and insight into root causes, schools can shift from reacting to absences to preventing them.

SchoolStatus Attend works in tandem with SchoolStatus Connect to streamline interventions, drive equitable systems, and build trust with families. When educators, families, and administrators all see the same data—and can act on it together—everyone is more invested in helping students show up and succeed.

From Tracking to Transforming

At its core, attendance tracking is about building trust, identifying needs early, and keeping every student engaged. The right solution makes this easier, more efficient, and impactful.

With SchoolStatus, districts across the country are:

• Reducing chronic absenteeism by 10–30%
• Improving family response rates
• Saving time through automation
• Strengthening equity and compliance

Ready to move from tracking attendance to transforming outcomes? Download our Attendance Buyer’s Guide or schedule a demo today.

Related Resources

• The Ultimate Buyer’s Guide to a Consolidated School-Home Communications Solution
• How to Spot At-Risk Students Early
• 5 Steps to Improve Student Attendance

Spring Attendance Drops (and Why It Matters)

Spring break may be over, but for many districts, a new attendance challenge is just beginning. The weeks between spring break and summer often bring a noticeable drop in daily attendance—and for students already at risk of chronic absenteeism, those missed days quickly add up.

As districts work to close out the school year strong, improving student attendance is one of the most effective ways to support academic success. With the right data and outreach strategies, district leaders can re-engage students, partner with families, and ensure every day counts leading up to the final bell.

1. Use Attendance Data to Identify At-Risk Students

Reducing chronic absenteeism in the spring starts with knowing who needs support.

With tools like SchoolStatus Attend, district leaders can quickly identify which students are trending toward chronic absenteeism and act before year-end learning gaps set in.

• Monitor students with 10–17% absenteeism—just under the chronic threshold
  
• Look for spikes in absences—following school breaks or on Mondays and Fridays
  
• Segment data by campus, grade, or demographic groups to target interventions
  

2. Empower Educators With Real-Time Attendance Insights

Attendance is a team effort. Be sure everyone in the school community has access to the right information.

Ensure that principals, attendance teams, and classroom teachers have up-to-date visibility into student attendance trends. With clear dashboards and weekly reports, school staff can take timely action when patterns emerge.

• Set up automated alerts for campus- or student-level attendance dips
  
• Provide weekly summaries to help schools stay proactive
  
• Track which interventions are most effective to refine your approach
  

3. Strengthen Family Engagement With Personalized Messaging

Improving spring attendance also means deepening relationships with families.

Using SchoolStatus Connect, districts can send personalized texts, emails, or phone calls that encourage attendance without creating defensiveness. The key is to reinforce that schools and families are on the same team.

• Use student-specific messages to highlight progress and encourage consistency
  
• Avoid punitive language—focus on support, opportunity, and connection
  
• Reinforce shared goals for student success

4. Reset Routines and Reinforce Expectations

After a break, students often need help getting back into the rhythm of school.

Spring is a great time for a “routine reset.” Whether it’s through morning announcements, classroom goal-setting, or a brief SEL lesson, re-establishing expectations can help students stay focused and engaged through the end of the year.

• Celebrate classroom wins tied to showing up
  
• Encourage teachers to set short-term goals leading into summer
  
• Use school-wide messaging to promote attendance as a shared value
  

5. Connect the Dots Between Attendance and End-of-Year Milestones

From field trips and awards to graduation and promotion ceremonies, the spring semester is full of meaningful moments.

Make sure students and families understand that every day of instruction matters and that showing up is the best way to be part of the celebration.

• Promote upcoming events across all communication channels
  
• Share stories of student growth that link back to consistent attendance
  
• Recognize students who’ve improved their attendance since the beginning of the year
  

Closing the Year Strong Starts With Showing Up

The last few weeks of school offer powerful opportunities to reinforce learning, celebrate progress, and build momentum into the summer. By using real-time data, personalized family communication, and consistent expectations, district leaders can improve spring attendance and help every student finish the year strong.

“I thought we were going to have 115% attendance when we came back after the pandemic. And it was actually the opposite.” 

This candid observation from Jessica Bull, Executive Director of Communication at Roseville City School District, captures what districts nationwide discovered as schools reopened: attendance challenges weren’t going away—they were intensifying.

The data confirms this reality. Chronic absenteeism rates still hover at 26% in the 2022-23 school year, nearly double pre-pandemic levels. This means one in four students is missing enough school to significantly impact their academic future.

Despite universal concern about this issue, our 2024 Educator Report uncovered a troubling disconnect: while 77% of educators consider school-home communication “critical” for improving outcomes, only 25% find it “very easy” to connect with families. 

This gap between intention and implementation helps explain why attendance problems persist.

Key Challenges in Attendance & Family Engagement

Our research with educators reveals a concerning pattern: most schools address attendance only after it becomes a problem. 

In fact, just 37% of schools regularly communicate with families about the importance of attendance, while the majority—58%—reach out only after absences accumulate. This reactive approach misses crucial opportunities for prevention. Further complicating matters, educators often struggle to confirm whether their communications even reach families. Nearly half (43%) report uncertainty about message reception, and almost a third contend with language barriers that make meaningful engagement difficult. 

Meanwhile, YouthTruth data shows only 42% of students feel connected to their school community, creating a perfect storm for attendance problems: when students don’t feel they belong, showing up becomes much less important to them.

District Success Stories:
Data-Driven Solutions that Work

Districts that have successfully reversed attendance trends share three common strategies:

1. Real-Time Data to Drive Early Intervention

Roseville City USD transformed their paper-based processes into a digital system providing immediate visibility into attendance patterns. “We had no way to quickly see who hasn’t been at school,” explained Attendance Supervisor Kim Peterson. “Now we can identify who those students are, who are the outliers, who are the groups that are right on that edge.” 

Results: Chronic absenteeism dropped from 18% to 10% in two years. 

2. Streamlined, Consistent Family Communication

Grand Prairie ISD eliminated their “time-consuming and cumbersome” manual processes by implementing automated but personalized communication systems. 

Results: 32% “save rate” for students at risk of chronic absenteeism and 23% improvement in conference effectiveness. 

3. Multilingual, Accessible Outreach

Prince William County Public Schools addressed communication barriers with diverse families through automated translation features and multiple communication channels.

Results: 97% of teachers feel better equipped to meet student needs, and 75% of students who received one attendance letter showed immediate improvement. 

The ROI of Improved Attendance

A 2023 study found that schools with strong family engagement before the pandemic experienced significantly better outcomes after, including:

• 39% smaller rise in chronic absenteeism
• 37% smaller decline in math proficiency
• 27% smaller decline in ELA proficiency 

While the national chronic absence rate improved by just 8.54% from 2021-22 to 2022-23, districts using integrated data and communication platforms saw improvements of 22.23%. 

Taking Action: Next Steps for District Leaders

Districts looking to improve attendance and family engagement should focus on:

1. Implementing real-time data systems that flag attendance concerns early
2. Automating routine communications while personalizing follow-up
3. Ensuring accessibility for all families through translation and multiple channels

These aren’t just theories—they’re practical approaches that real districts have used to turn around concerning attendance trends. Leaders considering technology to support attendance efforts could look to tools that solve actual day-to-day challenges, and  systems that provide real-time visibility so no one is working with last month’s data. Consider whether the platform integrates communication capabilities

Lastly, pay attention to whether the solution can help identify emerging attendance issues before they become chronic problems, as early awareness is often the key to successful intervention.

Choosing the Right Attendance & Engagement Technology

Selecting the right technology helps districts improve attendance while saving time and resources. Key features to look for include:

• Real-time Attendance Tracking: Provides instant data to prevent delayed interventions
• Integrated Communication Tools: Combines multiple communication methods into one platform
• Predictive Analytics: Identifies at-risk students early for proactive support
• Two-way Communication: Enables direct family engagement without extra apps
• Translation Capabilities: Ensures messages reach all families
• Customizable Dashboards: Offers clear insights into district-wide trends

Next Steps for District Leaders:

The data is clear: improving attendance isn’t just about tracking absences—it’s about strengthening family connections and identifying challenges early. Districts that take a proactive, data-driven approach are seeing measurable improvements, from lower absenteeism rates to better academic outcomes.

Addressing attendance challenges doesn’t require starting from scratch. Proven strategies—real-time data, consistent outreach, and accessible communication—are already working in schools nationwide. The key is taking that first step.

To help your district move forward, we’ve developed several practical resources:

• Attendance Goal-Setting Worksheet – Set clear, data-backed attendance targets
• On-Demand Webinar Series – Hear directly from district leaders who have successfully improved attendance
• ROI Calculator – See the potential impact of better attendance tracking and family engagement on your district’s resources

These tools can help you assess where you are today—and take meaningful action to improve student outcomes as soon as tomorrow.

Chronic absenteeism is on the rise across schools and districts, making it one of the biggest challenges educators face today. When students miss class, they fall behind academically, disengage from learning, and risk not graduating on time. The good news? Schools can turn attendance data into action with a strategic, research-backed approach.

To help districts tackle attendance challenges head-on, we hosted a free on-demand webinar: “5 Steps to Better Attendance.” In this expert-led session, we break down the key strategies that schools can use to improve student attendance, engage families, and drive long-term success.

Why Attendance Matters More Than Ever

The latest data shows that 1 in 3 students is chronically absent, meaning they miss 10% or more of the school year. Absenteeism is linked to:

• Lower academic achievement (especially in early grades)
• Higher dropout rates in middle and high school
• Decreased student engagement and school connectedness
• Equity gaps, as marginalized students often face the biggest attendance barriers

But with the right strategies, schools can reverse these trends and boost student participation. Our webinar explores five critical steps that help districts move from reactive to proactive attendance management.

Watch the full webinar on demand: Access the webinar here

The 5 Steps to Better Attendance

In this webinar, our attendance experts outline five proven steps for improving student attendance. Here’s a preview of what you’ll learn:

1. Leverage Attendance Data to Identify At-Risk Students

The first step to improving attendance is understanding who is missing school and why. Schools need to:

• Use real-time attendance data to spot trends
•  Identify students who are at risk of chronic absenteeism
• Analyze patterns across grade levels, demographics, and time periods

With data-driven decision-making, districts can move beyond just tracking attendance to preventing absences before they become a problem.

2. Strengthen Communication with Families

Family engagement is a key driver of attendance. When parents and caregivers understand the importance of daily attendance, they are more likely to prioritize it.

This webinar covers best practices for proactive communication, including:

• Using text messages and calls instead of just emails
• Sending personalized attendance notifications
• Providing family resources and support for attendance challenges

Building strong school-home connections helps create a culture of attendance and keeps families involved.

3. Implement Tiered Attendance Interventions

Not all absences are the same. That’s why effective attendance management requires a tiered approach:

• Tier 1: School-wide attendance incentives & awareness campaigns
• Tier 2: Targeted outreach for students with moderate absenteeism
• Tier 3: Intensive interventions for chronically absent students

By matching interventions to student needs, schools can increase engagement and reduce chronic absenteeism.

4. Engage School Staff to Build a Culture of Attendance

Teachers, counselors, and administrators all play a role in supporting attendance. This webinar covers how schools can:

Train staff on early warning signs of absenteeism
Encourage teachers to build strong student relationships
Develop school-wide attendance initiatives that foster accountability

When attendance becomes a shared priority, schools create a supportive learning environment that students want to be part of.

5. Use Technology to Simplify Attendance Tracking

With the right attendance tools and automation, schools can streamline processes and reduce manual work.

In the webinar, we explore:

• Automated attendance alerts to flag at-risk students
• Dashboards and reporting tools for real-time tracking
• Parent communication tools to send personalized messages

By using technology-driven solutions, schools can gain valuable insights and act quickly to improve attendance rates.

Take Action: Watch the Full Webinar On Demand

Improving student attendance requires a proactive, data-driven strategy. By implementing the five steps outlined in this webinar, schools can increase attendance, reduce absenteeism, and create a culture of engagement.

Watch the full webinar now and start making an impact today!

Identifying which students are at risk of falling behind should not require digging through spreadsheets or complicated reports. Yet for many educators, that is often the case.

By the time attendance data is reviewed, weeks or even months may have passed. Students who needed support early on are now facing greater challenges.

SchoolStatus helps schools and districts act quickly. With attendance insights through SchoolStatus Attend, teams can spot early warning signs and take action before small issues become larger problems. Combined with SchoolStatus Connect, staff can communicate directly with families to help support students and keep them on track.

Why Early Warning Indicators Matter for Student Success

The earlier schools can identify students who are struggling, the better they can intervene and provide support. Attendance is one of the most reliable early warning indicators. A student who begins missing more days than usual may be showing signs of disengagement or facing challenges at home.

According to our 2024-25 Mid-Year Attendance Snapshot, attendance challenges continue to impact schools across the country. Students who are chronically absent are significantly more likely to fall behind academically.

By acting on early attendance trends, schools can provide students with timely support and potentially prevent long-term consequences.

Why Schools Struggle to Identify At-Risk Students

Many educators understand the importance of early intervention, but identifying which students need attention can still be difficult.

Here are some of the reasons:

• Data is often scattered across multiple systems, making it difficult to build a full picture of a student’s needs
• Reports may be outdated by the time they are reviewed
• Staff may lack the time or capacity to manually analyze data patterns

Because of these barriers, students who need help might go unnoticed until more serious issues arise. That’s why having a centralized, real-time view of attendance trends is so critical.

How SchoolStatus Makes Early Intervention Simple and Actionable

One Place for Attendance Trends

SchoolStatus Attend gives district staff and attendance admin a clear view of student attendance patterns. The platform highlights when a student’s attendance is trending downward, helping teams take proactive steps before chronic absenteeism sets in.

Communication That Drives Action

With SchoolStatus Attend, schools can automate official communications, such as sending physical letters or digital notifications, to alert families when specific attendance thresholds are met.

When more personal, two-way outreach is needed, SchoolStatus Connect allows educators to call, text, or email families directly. All communication is logged automatically, making it easy to keep everyone aligned and informed.

Designed for Efficiency

SchoolStatus Attend is built for the staff responsible for monitoring and responding to attendance trends. It ensures the right people have access to the information they need to support students effectively.

A Step-by-Step Approach to Using SchoolStatus for Early Intervention

1. Connect Your Data Systems

Integrate your SIS and attendance data to centralize student attendance information within SchoolStatus Attend.

2. Set Up Early Warning Indicators

Define thresholds that indicate when a student might be at risk, such as missed days or consistent declines in attendance.

3. Train Staff to Use the Platform

Provide training so administrators can interpret attendance trends and respond with appropriate actions.

4. Communicate with Families

Use structured messages in the platform or personalized outreach through SchoolStatus Connect to notify families and build collaboration around solutions.

5. Monitor Progress and Adjust Support

Track whether interventions are improving attendance and continue communication to ensure ongoing support.

Why Early Action Changes Outcomes

Schools that act early based on real-time data are better equipped to help students stay on track. One district using SchoolStatus reduced chronic absenteeism by reaching out to families when attendance began to decline. Timely outreach helped prevent long-term disengagement.

When schools have the right tools in place, they can build stronger relationships with families and ensure that students receive support before problems escalate.

Bringing It All Together

Supporting at-risk students starts with knowing who needs help and when to step in. SchoolStatus Attend helps districts track attendance trends in real-time, while SchoolStatus Connect enables effective family communication. Together, these tools give educators what they need to intervene early and make a difference.

To learn how SchoolStatus can help your district identify and support at-risk students earlier, book a demo.

Related Resources

• 5 Key School Communication Tips for At-Risk Students
• 2024-25 Mid-Year Attendance Snapshot
• The District Leader’s Guide to Data-Driven Attendance Strategies

When school districts invest in new technology, they need proof that it delivers real value. For district leaders tackling chronic absenteeism, SchoolStatus offers a data-driven approach that improves attendance and maximizes funding. But how can you measure the financial impact of better attendance?

Enter the Attendance Impact Calculator—a powerful tool that quantifies how increased attendance translates into student success and district revenue.

The Financial Impact of Attendance on Your District

Chronic absenteeism is one of the biggest challenges facing K-12 education today. Students who miss school regularly are less likely to succeed academically, and in many states, school funding is directly tied to Average Daily Attendance (ADA) or similar models. Every absent student represents a potential loss in funding, making attendance management a critical financial priority.

For more insights on how chronic absenteeism affects learning outcomes, check out our blog on understanding and addressing chronic absenteeism. 

How the Attendance Impact Calculator Works

The Attendance Impact Calculator from SchoolStatus gives district leaders a clear, data-backed projection of how improved attendance can increase funding. By inputting key variables—such as student population, current attendance rates, and funding models—the tool generates actionable insights, helping districts:

• Identify trends in attendance and funding gaps
• Quantify potential revenue gains from attendance improvements
• Develop data-driven strategies to engage students and families

Want to understand how ADA-based funding works? Learn more from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) about school finance policies in your state.

Why Districts Choose SchoolStatus for Attendance Management

The best way to boost attendance isn’t just tracking absences, it’s proactive intervention. SchoolStatus equips districts with real-time student data, automated attendance alerts, and communication tools that empower educators to connect with families before attendance issues escalate.

Key benefits include:

• Early Intervention Strategies – Identify at-risk students and take action before absences become chronic
• Seamless Parent Communication – Personalized, real-time messaging helps address attendance barriers
• Maximized Funding Potential – Optimize ADA-based funding by keeping students in school
• Data-Driven Decision-Making – Leverage powerful analytics to refine attendance policies

Read how data-driven strategies are transforming districts in our latest post on The Power of Data to Drive Student Outcomes.

Take the First Step Toward Improving Attendance

Attendance isn’t just about showing up—it’s about engagement, access, and opportunity. Addressing chronic absenteeism requires proactive strategies backed by data. Learn more in our in-depth guide: Leading with Data: A K-12 Guide to Attendance Success. 

Use the Attendance Impact Calculator today to see how boosting attendance can enhance student outcomes and maximize district funding.

Try the Attendance Impact Calculator Now and start making data-driven decisions that drive real results for your district.

Is your student attendance slipping as the school year progresses? If so, you’re not alone. In our recent webinar, education leaders from Lakeside Union School District shared how they transformed their attendance rates using three powerful strategies that any district can implement.

A District-Wide Approach with School-Level Flexibility

Dr. Rhonda Taylor, Superintendent at Lakeside Union SD, emphasized the importance of unified district standards while allowing schools the flexibility to adapt to their unique needs. By implementing attendance as part of principal evaluations and fostering an “it takes a village approach” through community partnerships, Lakeside created accountability at every level while respecting each school’s individual challenges.

Data-Driven Early Intervention

The webinar revealed impressive results from Lakeside’s strategic use of attendance data. Their approach allowed them to identify at-risk students before patterns became problematic. Dr. Patricia Fernández, Director of Student Support Services, demonstrated how their data analysis led to a remarkable decrease in chronic absenteeism across all student groups, including a significant reduction for English Language Learners.

Multi-Tiered Family Engagement

Perhaps most compelling was Lakeside’s focus on meaningful family partnerships. Dr. Leslie Hardiman, Principal at Tierra del Sol Middle School, shared how her team implemented an “All Hands on Deck” approach, including:

• Student-led ASB Attendance Teams planning activities for historically high-absence days
• Personal phone calls directly to students
• Weekly email updates to parents about attendance progress

The results speak for themselves: attendance conferences showed a 49.8% improvement rate, with chronic absenteeism declining across all grade levels and demographic groups.

Research-Backed Strategies

SchoolStatus research findings validate Lakeside’s approach, revealing that while 81% of educators want targeted attendance strategies, only 37% regularly communicate about attendance. This communication gap represents a significant opportunity for improvement that Lakeside successfully addressed.

Want to learn more about implementing these proven strategies in your own district? Watch the complete webinar recording for detailed implementation tips, data insights, and practical examples from Lakeside’s success story.

SchoolStatus’ mid-year attendance snapshot analyzes data and trends from more than one million students over three years. While younger students approach pre-pandemic attendance levels, high schoolers remain at risk of chronic absenteeism.

Ridgeland, MS—March 5, 2025—SchoolStatus, the leading provider of K-12 attendance and family engagement solutions, today released a 2024-25 Mid-Year K-12 Student Attendance Snapshot, examining student attendance trends from September 2024 through January 2025. The findings analyze data from over one million students in 143 districts across seven states that have used proactive attendance management strategies for three consecutive years (2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-2025 to date).

For the first half of the 2024-25 school year, overall attendance rates have improved in grades PK-12, continuing the progress seen over the past two years. However, the rate of improvement has slowed considerably, signaling a need for continued and expanded intervention strategies—particularly for older students, who remain the most affected by pandemic-related disruptions.

Key Insights into Student Attendance in 2024-25:

• The overall daily attendance rate for grades PK-12 this year is 93.45%—close to pre-pandemic norms

• While overall attendance rates have improved by 0.31% this year, the growth rate has lost momentum compared to the 1.16% increase from 2022-23 to 2023-24

• Grades 10–12 show a regression in the first half of the school year with attendance rates between .04% and .16% lower than last year—and an increase in chronic absenteeism of 1.90% compared to last year

• Younger students (PK–4) are nearing pre-pandemic attendance levels, with a 93.82% attendance rate and an improvement rate of .56%—showing the strongest recovery

• Seventh grade emerges as a ‘tipping point,’ where attendance rates begin to drop and chronic absenteeism starts rising, echoing national trends of growing middle school disengagement

Over the past three years, attendance in U.S. schools has significantly declined with only gradual improvements nationwide. Before COVID-19, national attendance rates for PK-12 averaged 94%, but most recently dropped to 90%, according to NCES. In contrast, SchoolStatus reports a mid-year 2024-25 daily attendance rate of 93.45%, demonstrating that districts using proactive attendance interventions and strategies are seeing more sustained improvements compared to the national average despite signs of potential regression for older students.

This snapshot follows new research from NCES’ NAEP Report and the Education Recovery Scorecard that underscores the continued delay in academic recovery and highlights chronic absenteeism as a key driver of stalled progress. 

“The national conversation on chronic absenteeism has largely focused on the long-term consequences of learning loss, but what’s equally important is work to get students back into classrooms and engaged,” said Dr. Joy Smithson, Data Scientist at SchoolStatus. “Districts using proactive strategies—like family engagement and proactive, positive outreach—are seeing the biggest attendance gains. Our mid-year data confirms that while younger students are on track, older students need renewed focus and support. This data trend underscores the need for sustained and tailored strategies to support consistent student attendance across all grade levels.”

Recommendations for the Remainder of the 2024-25 School Year

Districts that shift their focus to positive engagement strategies, compared to traditional punitive measures, are more likely to see significant gains in student attendance. As a trusted leader in attendance management, SchoolStatus provides the following four key recommendations for districts to implement throughout the remaining school year and beyond:

• Prevention initiatives and family engagement to strengthen school-home relationships
• Early warning systems to identify at-risk students before they reach chronic absenteeism levels
• Targeted outreach and intervention strategies to proactively address attendance concerns
• Direct service coordination to support students facing barriers to consistent attendance

Read the full Mid-Year K-12 Attendance Snapshot here.

Media Contact:
Sydney Schultice
sstressman@0to5.com
609-238-6663

When Roseville City School District faced rising chronic absenteeism rates following the pandemic, they knew traditional approaches wouldn’t be enough. Through a strategic partnership with SchoolStatus Attend, they achieved what many consider impossible: reducing chronic absenteeism to 7.75% district-wide, with improvements across all demographic groups.

In a recent webinar, Erin Peterson, Director of Educational Services at Roseville City School District, shared how they transformed their attendance rates through systematic data analysis and strategic family communication. Their journey offers valuable insights for districts facing similar challenges.

The Challenge: Moving Beyond Traditional Attendance Tracking

The attendance crisis facing schools today runs deeper than most realize. “Our latest research reveals that only 37% of districts regularly communicate with families about attendance. Most take a reactive approach, reaching out only after absences occur,” explains Dr. Kara Stern, Director of Education and Engagement at SchoolStatus. “While 81% of educators believe targeted family engagement strategies could significantly reduce chronic absenteeism, many lack the tools to implement these strategies effectively.”

Like many districts nationwide, Roseville City struggled with this disconnect. Their team spent countless hours manually generating attendance letters, often with inconsistent results. Without real-time data access, they couldn’t effectively identify trends or monitor intervention success. Most importantly, they lacked the tools to build meaningful partnerships with families around attendance.

The Solution: Data-Driven Family Communication

The transformation began when Roseville implemented SchoolStatus Attend, establishing a comprehensive system that changed how they approach attendance. Instead of relying on manual processes and reactive measures, they created a proactive, data-driven approach to family communication.

Real-Time Insights Drive Early Action

The impact of real-time data access was immediate. Principals and teachers could now monitor attendance patterns daily, identifying concerns before they became chronic issues. This early warning system—combined with automated communication tools—enabled the district to reach out to families at the first sign of attendance challenges.

Building District-Wide Coherence

One of the most powerful changes came from establishing district-wide coherence in attendance practices. All 21 school sites now follow consistent protocols for tracking attendance and communicating with families. This systematic approach ensures every family receives timely, relevant communication about their child’s attendance.

The Power of Strategic Communication

Perhaps the most significant shift came in how the district approaches family communication. Rather than simply sending automated absence notifications, they developed a comprehensive communication strategy. The “Every Day Matters” campaign creates consistent, positive messaging about attendance across all channels, from social media to parent conferences.

Measurable Impact Across All Demographics

The results speak for themselves. As Peterson shares, 

“Our coherent and focused messaging, conferences to partner with families, community and proactive outreach, and targeted campaign is showing its effectiveness to support students and families with coming to school.”

These improvements weren’t limited to a few successful schools—all 21 sites in the district showed significant progress, demonstrating the scalability of their approach. Particularly noteworthy are the gains among English Language Learners, where chronic absenteeism dropped from 13% to 7%. 

Key Components of Success

The foundation of Roseville’s success lies in their strategic use of SchoolStatus Attend’s comprehensive toolset. The platform’s automated letter generation ensures timely, consistent communication, while real-time dashboards enable proactive intervention. Most importantly, the integrated communication tools help build stronger family partnerships.

The impact of this approach is particularly evident in their family conferences, which show a 49.6% improvement in attendance following these data-informed discussions. By combining clear data insights with structured communication protocols, these conferences transformed from potentially challenging conversations into productive partnerships with families.

Building Your Own Success Story

Roseville’s transformation demonstrates that with the right tools and strategies, significant attendance improvements are possible. SchoolStatus Attend provides the comprehensive solution districts need to monitor attendance patterns in real time, automate communication workflows, track intervention effectiveness, and build stronger family partnerships.

Learn More

Ready to transform attendance in your district? Watch our on-demand webinar featuring Erin Peterson from Roseville City School District to learn more about their systematic approach to improving attendance through data-driven family communication.

Want to see how SchoolStatus Attend can help your district achieve similar results? Schedule a demo today.

RIDGELAND, Miss.—January 7, 2025—SchoolStatus, a leading provider of K-12 family engagement and student success solutions, today announced that SchoolStatus Attend was awarded District Administration’s Top EdTech Products Award in the Administrative & Management Systems Technology category. This recognition highlights the platform’s innovative approach to combating chronic absenteeism and revolutionizing attendance management in K-12 schools nationwide.

SchoolStatus Attend combines cutting-edge technology with proven communication strategies to drive significant improvements in student attendance while reducing administrative workload by up to 75%. The platform’s automated intervention system generates and sends school-branded, multilingual communications directly to families, ensuring critical messages reach their intended recipients across diverse communities.

“This recognition from District Administration validates our commitment to developing solutions that make a real difference in education,” said Russ Davis, founder and CEO of SchoolStatus. “SchoolStatus Attend isn’t just about tracking attendance—it’s about creating stronger connections between schools and families to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed.”

The platform’s impact is demonstrated through impressive metrics:

• 54% of students return to school after initial contact
• 46% improvement in attendance following intervention conferences
• Up to 75% reduction in staff time spent on attendance management

As Candice McGhee, Director of Preventions and Interventions for Troup County School System (TCSS) in Georgia shared, “The biggest piece is the organizational aspect. Everything is in one location. You can see everything.” Through strategic interventions enabled by SchoolStatus Attend, TCSS reduced chronic absenteeism by 25% over the last two school years, from 16.6% in 2022-23 to 12.2% in 2024-25.

What sets SchoolStatus Attend apart is its holistic approach to attendance management, featuring:

• Data-driven insights for proactive intervention
• Granular learning time loss tracking across classes, teachers, and individual students
• Seamless integration with existing Student Information Systems
• Automated, customizable intervention systems
• Positive reinforcement through celebratory communications

This is the second year in a row SchoolStatus has won a District Administration and Future of Education Technology® Conference (FETC®) Top EdTech Products of the Year Award. Last year the comprehensive platform was named the top midsize Information Technology solution.

About District Administration’s Top EdTech Products of the Year Awards

District Administration and Future of Education Technology® Conference (FETC®) Top EdTech Products of the Year Awards showcase the latest innovations in educational technology, with a focus on solutions that break new ground in the EdTech market. Winners are selected based on their ability to solve real-world problems in education and demonstrate measurable impact in schools. 

This annual competition spotlights the most innovative new solutions on the market that are helping leaders meet the ever-evolving education technology needs of their districts and schools. The editors of District Administration conducted a comprehensive evaluation of more than 200 submissions, with input from a panel of superintendents, industry experts, and analysts.

About SchoolStatus

SchoolStatus provides a comprehensive suite of communication and attendance solutions that enhance educator-to-family connectedness and support student success. Instant insight into student information and district attendance trends gives educators and administrators full visibility into all levels of the education ecosystem. Data-informed, multi-touch communications include calling, texting, video, and print materials centered around proactive intervention that improves student outcomes and family engagement. With millions of successful school-home interactions, SchoolStatus is improving student outcomes by facilitating meaningful engagement between educators, districts, and families across the US.

Media Contact

Sydney Stressman
Zer0 to 5ive for SchoolStatus
sstressman@0to5.com
609.238.6663

The top PreK-20 companies, products, and leaders with clear contributions to equity and access were identified across 29 unique award categories.

Ridgeland, Mississippi, December 17, 2024 — SchoolStatus, SchoolStatus, a leader in K-12 EdTech, was recognized today as one of the top Family Engagement Solutions in the 2024 Excellence in Equity—Industry Impact Awards. This important recognition celebrates SchoolStatus’s innovative approach to advancing educational equity through meaningful family-school connections.

The Excellence in Equity Awards highlight organizations making significant contributions to educational equity and access across the PreK-20 spectrum. This year’s program recognized 44 outstanding companies, leaders, and products across 29 categories, showcasing the breadth and depth of innovation in educational equity.

“Congratulations to all the deserving winners of the Industry Impact Awards, and a heartfelt thank you for the work you do to support educators and students,” said Maia Appleby, Communications and Editorial Director for the American Consortium for Equity in Education. “It’s a joy to announce these winners, highlight their meaningful contributions to education, and it will be just as exciting to see what they do next.”

“At SchoolStatus, we believe that when schools and families come together, there’s no limit to what students can achieve,” said Russ Davis, CEO of SchoolStatus. “This recognition validates our mission of breaking down barriers and building relationships between school and home so that every student is known by name and by need. By making communication equitable and accessible, we’re not just connecting schools and homes—we’re bridging opportunity gaps.”

Nominees for the Industry Impact Awards were asked to provide information about their relevant work supporting equity and access, evidence of their impact, testimonials, and supporting materials. SchoolStatus’s family engagement platform stands out for its comprehensive approach to school-home communication, featuring:

• Multilingual communication capabilities that respect and accommodate family preferences
• Multi-channel outreach options including voice, text, video, and print
• Data-driven insights that enable proactive and meaningful engagement
• Seamless integration with existing school systems
• Tools that help eliminate communication barriers and promote equity

The impact of SchoolStatus’s approach is evident in the company’s results. A 2024 report analyzing approximately one million students across more than 100 partner districts revealed significant improvements in chronic absenteeism, particularly among historically underserved populations. While national chronic absence rates improved by 8.54%, SchoolStatus partner districts saw notably better outcomes. For instance, chronic absenteeism rates for Hispanic students dropped by 16.68%—double the national improvement rate.

The 2024 Excellence in Equity Awards shine a spotlight on solutions that are making tangible improvements in educational access and outcomes. SchoolStatus’s recognition in the Family Engagement category underscores the critical role that effective school-home communication plays in advancing educational equity.

About the Excellence in Equity Awards

The annual Excellence in Equity Awards program recognizes the companies, nonprofits, leaders, and educators whose work contributes to the critical goal of ensuring access and equity for every learner. Learn more at www.ace-ed.org/awards.

About SchoolStatus

SchoolStatus is a unified K-12 family engagement platform that improves student outcomes through school communications, attendance, and educator growth solutions. Serving over 22 million students across all 50 states, SchoolStatus provides data-backed insights that break down barriers and build relationships between school and home. For more information, visit schoolstatus.com.

Media Contact:
Sydney Stressman
Zer0 to 5ive for SchoolStatus
sstressman@0to5.com
609.238.6663

Ridgeland, Mississippi, December 16, 2024 — SchoolStatus, a leader in K-12 attendance, communications, and data analytics, today announced they have been included in the 2025 GSV 150, a prestigious list recognizing the world’s most transformational private companies in digital learning and workforce skills.

SchoolStatus was chosen from over 2,500 venture capital and private equity-backed companies evaluated by GSV using their proprietary assessment methodology. The 2025 GSV 150 represents a dynamic group of companies collectively generating over $25 billion in annual revenue and reaching more than 3 billion learners globally. 

“Being named to the GSV 150 validates our mission to transform education through meaningful family engagement and actionable data,” said Russ Davis, CEO of SchoolStatus. “As we continue to innovate and expand our platform, this recognition reinforces the impact we’re making in helping educators tackle chronic absenteeism, build stronger relationships with families, and improve student outcomes.”

The selection process analyzed key factors including revenue scale, revenue growth, user reach, geographic diversification, and margin profile. This year’s cohort notably features generative AI integration across many offerings, alongside a significant shift toward profitability.

Key highlights of the 2025 GSV 150 include:

• Strong representation from the K-12 sector (48% of companies)
• Significant presence in workforce learning (46% of companies)
• Broad geographic diversity with companies from North America, India, Europe, and China
• Companies spanning multiple “PreK to Gray” education sectors

SchoolStatus continues to expand its comprehensive family engagement platform that combines attendance management, parent communications, student data analytics, and educator growth to help educators drive student success through enhanced family engagement.

About GSV

Founded in 2011, GSV is a global platform that drives education and workforce skills innovation. Our mission is that ALL people have equal access to the future, and we believe that scaled innovations in “PreK to Gray” learning and skills are crucial to achieving this goal. The GSV platform includes the ASU+GSV Summit, hosted annually in San Diego with 7,000+ attendees; the India-based ASU+GSV & Emeritus Summit, now entering its third year; and The AI Show @ ASU+GSV, an immersive exploration of the AI Revolution in education, which welcomed 10,000+ attendees this year. GSV Ventures, GSV’s investment arm founded in 2015, is a multi-stage venture fund investing in the most transformational companies across the global “PreK to Gray” landscape.

About SchoolStatus

SchoolStatus is a unified K-12 platform that leverages family engagement to drive greater impact for students through school communications, attendance, and educator growth solutions. Serving over 22 million students across all 50 states, SchoolStatus provides data-backed insights that break down barriers and build relationships between school and home. For more information, visit schoolstatus.com.

Media Contact:
Sydney Stressman
Zer0 to 5ive for SchoolStatus
sstressman@0to5.com
609.238.6663

Time and Fragmented Systems Are Key Barriers to Using Data Effectively to Engage Families and Support Students

Ridgeland, Mississippi, October 24, 2024 — SchoolStatus, a leading provider of K-12 family engagement, school communications, and attendance solutions, today released findings from a national survey of 1,020 K-12 educators and administrators. The survey revealed that half of respondents struggle to access necessary student data, with 86% noting that data gaps limit their ability to support academic success and attendance. 

The majority of respondents (90%) believe school-family communication is important for achieving student success, but many struggle with issues like inconsistent communication tools, data access gaps, and family disengagement. To address these issues, educators advocate for translation services or tools (42%) and AI-driven solutions (26%) to enhance communication and reduce absenteeism.

“These findings underscore the importance of timely, comprehensive student information in helping educators provide the support students need,” said Juan Duenas, M.Ed., Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Sheldon Independent School District. “With the right tools and unified systems, we can better understand each student’s needs, collaborate more closely with families, and make data-driven decisions that truly impact student success.”

Key insights from the 2024 Educator Report: The Critical Role of School-Home Alignment include*:

Family Engagement Remains a Priority, but Challenges Persist

• 77% of educators surveyed believe school-home communication is essential for improving student outcomes.
• 43% report uncertainty about whether families receive school messages, and 32% face language barriers; time constraints (38%) and incomplete student data (34%) were also cited as challenges.
• Only 32% use student information and insights for data-driven discussions with families, revealing an opportunity for schools to better leverage data to engage families.

Supportive Interventions and Family Engagement Are Key to Tackling Chronic Absenteeism 

• 73% of educators identify attendance as crucial for academic success, yet 46% say they struggle to get families to prioritize student attendance.
• Only 27% report having highly effective tools for identifying at-risk students, with many relying on outdated, manual, or inconsistent processes.
• 67% of respondents believe schools focus too much on punitive measures rather than supportive interventions to address absenteeism.
• 82% believe that targeted strategies to engage families could significantly reduce chronic absenteeism, highlighting the importance of family involvement.

Data Gaps and Access Challenges Hinder Student Support

• Only 37% of educators surveyed feel they have all the necessary information to address student needs; 86% feel these gaps impact their ability to support students.
• 37% are still using spreadsheets and manual methods to track student data, highlighting inefficiencies in current processes.
• Insufficient time to analyze and apply data (38%), lack of training on how to use data (32%), and fragmented data across multiple systems (31%) are the biggest obstacles to using data to improve student outcomes.

“This survey highlights the critical need for unified data systems that not only support individual classrooms but address broader, systemic challenges in education,” said SchoolStatus founder and CEO Russ Davis. “The fragmented and inaccessible data that many educators struggle with isn’t just an isolated issue—it impacts family involvement, student attendance, and ultimately, academic outcomes across entire schools and districts. These findings underscore the importance of closing these data gaps to create a more connected, informed approach to student support that can drive meaningful, long-term improvement in education.”

About the Survey

Conducted by SchoolStatus in September 2024, the survey gathered insights from 1,020 K-12 educators and school administrators. The survey aimed to explore challenges and opportunities related to family engagement, data use, and strategies for improving student outcomes. SurveyMonkey was the data collection platform. Full findings are available here.

About SchoolStatus

SchoolStatus is a unified K-12 platform that leverages family engagement to drive greater impact for students through school communications, attendance, and educator growth solutions. Serving over 22 million students across all 50 states, SchoolStatus provides data-backed insights that break down barriers and build relationships between school and home. For more information, visit schoolstatus.com.

*Survey findings shared in this press release are rounded to the nearest whole number.

Media Contact:
Sydney Stressman
Zer0 to 5ive for SchoolStatus
sstressman@0to5.com
609.238.6663