LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — There’s good news when it comes to student attendance in Lake County schools.

The California Department of Education has released the 2024 California School Dashboard, providing educators and families with insights into school and district progress.

An initial dashboard review shows that schools across Lake County have increased student attendance rates, a key factor linked to academic success.

“Getting into the habit of daily attendance is more important now than ever. When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating,” said Lake County Superintendent of Schools Brock Falkenberg.

Data for the 2023/24 school year highlights reductions in average days missed by students in every Lake County district is as follows:

• Lucerne Elementary: Reduced from 16.6 to 14.0 (15.7% improvement).

• Konocti Unified: Reduced from 24.5 to 21.8 (11.0% improvement).

• Middletown Unified: Reduced from 15.9 to 14.3 (10.1% improvement).

• Upper Lake Unified: Reduced from 18.2 to 16.2 (10.1% improvement).

• Lakeport Unified: Reduced from 18.4 to 17.4 (5.4% improvement).

• Kelseyville Unified: Reduced from 15.2 to 14.7 (3.3% improvement).

The most dramatic improvements came from Konocti Unified and Lucerne Elementary, with reductions of 2.7 and 2.6 days, respectively.

These improvements reflect a collective effort to tackle chronic absenteeism, which is defined as missing two or more days of school per month, excused or unexcused.

Amid these encouraging trends, the Garcia family from Konocti Unified School District stands out.

Facing significant challenges, the family initially reported an average attendance rate of just 25 percent.

With the dedicated support of the Healthy Start Attendance Team, the family achieved a remarkable turnaround, increasing their attendance rate to 82 percent.

This success story illustrates how targeted support and commitment to student well-being can create transformative change.

The Healthy Start Attendance Team was able to help improve attendance due to the Communities for School Success program, a partnership between the Lake County Office of Education and local school districts.

Funded by the California Department of Education, the initiative is led by Roxanne Morris, attendance supervisor for Healthy Start, who oversees a team of youth advocates.

“The program focuses on addressing barriers to consistent attendance, providing families with resources, and fostering a sense of belonging for every student,” Morris said. “I am proud of the Attendance staff and the work they have done to help Lake County students return to school.”

By working collaboratively with families, educators, and community partners, the Communities for School Success program is creating lasting change and brighter futures for Lake County students.

The release of the 2024 California School Dashboard and the progress in attendance underscore Lake County’s dedication to fostering academic success and community engagement.

For more information on the Dashboard, the Communities for School Success program, or other LCOE initiatives, visit https://www.lakecoe.org/.