Our yearly ‘A Parent’s Guide to San Diego Schools,’ is a reliable resource for parents trying to navigate the confusing world of education. Here’s a breakdown of what our latest guide offers.
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The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting school closures pulled down grades and increased chronic absenteeism in San Diego Unified schools, according to statistics district leaders revealed this week.
New data presented during a board workshop Tuesday show about 14 percent of district students were chronically absent from school this year, when most students were learning online during the pandemic. That’s up from 8 percent last school year and 12 percent the year before.
Students are considered chronically absent if they miss at least 10 percent of the school days in a year. Chronic absenteeism is associated with lower grades and graduation rates.
About 45 percent of San Diego Unified’s middle and high school students have received a D or F in at least one class this school year, up from 36 percent last school year.
almost back to normal for Ann Hoeffer and her family in rural Lake County.
“The younger ones are doing great. It’s the older ones,” said Hoeffer, who’s helping raise her six grandchildren. “They’re only going to school two days a week, and it’s not enough.”
The youngest three children Esmerelda, 4, Gabriel, 5, and Jesse, 6 have been going to in-person school five days a week for several months. Gabriel and Jesse, who both have autism, have made significant leaps forward thanks to their teachers and therapists, and the stable routine. Jesse can write his name, Gabriel can get himself dressed, and their social skills have improved.