Chronic absence rates have skyrocketed and high school readiness has dropped in San Francisco, according to data released this week by the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).
SFUSD has historically had “chronic absence” rates of around 12-14% for elementary and secondary school students, but in the 2021-2022 academic year, 28.4% of students were chronically absent, defined by missing more than 10% of classes, the data showed. This corresponded with a marked downtick in high school readiness for the 2021-2022 academic year; SFUSD students’ high school readiness rate has been approximately 60% for each of the last three years, but in 2021-2022, just 47% were prepared, another report showed.
Astounding numbers just dropped from the San Francisco Board of Education.
See “ready for high school” vs “chronically absent” and graduation rate. pic.twitter.com/ezYn2aK9zU
— Michelle Tandler (@michelletandler) July 19, 2022
Both statistics varied greatly by demographic. The chronic absence rate for African American and “Latinx” students were 63.4% and 46.4%, respectively, whereas only 19.5% and 8% of White and Asian students missed more than 10% of classes.
For high school preparedness, just 15% of African American eighth-graders were deemed ready for secondary education whereas 71% of their Asian classmates were considered prepared. (RELATED: ‘Another Day In San Francisco’: Video Shows Chillest Smash And Grab Ever)
SFUSD had some of the longest school closures in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting parents to protest to get their children back in classrooms. While schools remained closed, SFUSD attempted to rename 44 schools that were allegedly linked to racism, including schools named after former Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, as well as Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
In February 2022, San Francisco residents overwhelmingly voted to recall SFUSD Board President Gabriela Lopez, Vice President Faauuga Moliga and Commissioner Alison Collins.
San Francisco is one of the wealthiest and most innovative cities in the world, and we turn a blind eye to our crumbling education system.
We cannot blame Republicans for this failure. There are none in elected local office.
— Michelle Tandler (@michelletandler) July 19, 2022
SFUSD Board President Jenny Lam did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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