Overview

California's public school attendance has shown a notable recovery, nearing pre-pandemic levels. While enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year has seen a slight decline, the average daily attendance has increased significantly compared to the previous year.

The state Legislative Analyst's Office reported a 1.2% drop in enrollment, reflecting a continuing trend of decreasing student numbers over the past decade. However, attendance rates are on the rise, indicating a positive shift in student engagement.

Key details

  • Enrollment in California's public schools fell by 1.2%, equating to a loss of 72,000 students from the previous year.
  • This decline aligns with a broader trend of decreasing enrollment over the last ten years.
  • Since the 2016-2017 school year, total school district enrollment has decreased by 11%, or 608,000 students.
  • Public charter school enrollment has also dropped by 21%, or 124,000 students.
  • Prior to the pandemic, statewide attendance averaged about 95% from 2013 to 2020.
  • Attendance data was not collected during the 2020-2021 school year.
  • In the 2021-2022 school year, attendance fell to 90% but has since improved.
  • Current attendance stands at 94.5% for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • The increase in attendance is not attributed to a new attendance recovery program initiated in the 2024-2025 budget.
  • Less than 0.1% of total statewide attendance this year was generated through the new attendance recovery program.
  • Governor Gavin Newsom had projected a statewide attendance increase of 0.58% and Transitional Kindergarten enrollment of 200,000 students.
  • Actual Transitional Kindergarten enrollment was approximately 196,000, falling short of projections.

Context

The fluctuations in enrollment and attendance are critical as they directly impact state funding for educational programs, including special education and the Local Control Funding Formula, which supports low-income students, English learners, and foster youth.

What happens next

As attendance continues to improve, California's education authorities may need to reassess funding allocations based on the latest data, potentially allowing for increased investment in educational and community college priorities.

What we don't know yet

Details regarding the specific reasons behind the decline in enrollment and the effectiveness of the attendance recovery program remain unconfirmed.