Carson City School District Sees Slight Dip in Chronic Absenteeism
Carson City School District’s chronic absenteeism rate decreased slightly to 26% last school year, according to district data released today, though challenges remain particularly at the secondary school level.
The overall rate is down from 27.6% in the previous year, placing Carson City just below the statewide average of 26.6%. While elementary schools demonstrated positive trends, with all schools reporting rates below 20%, secondary schools experienced an increase to around 30%. Carson High School’s rate, including its Carson Silver campus, rose to 33.8%, a figure officials attribute to the inclusion of the newly rebranded campus and a higher rate of online student absences. Chronic absenteeism is a key indicator of student disengagement and can significantly impact academic outcomes.
District officials point to community-led initiatives as a driving force behind the improvement at the elementary level. Mayor Lori Bagwell launched the “Mayor’s Attendance Hall of Fame” in 2024, recognizing students with consistent attendance and offering incentives like bikes and pizza. “We’ve had a lot of businesses focus on…fun events to make it known this is fun to go to school and to support schools regularly,” said Christie Perkins, director of Multi-Tiered System of Supports, Student Wellness and Engagement. Efforts to address chronic absenteeism are increasingly common across the nation; the Attendance Works organization provides resources and data on the issue nationwide. Chief Academic Officer Brandon Bringhurst added, “I think we are headed in the right direction.”
Looking ahead, the district aims to reduce the chronic absenteeism rate to 13.8% by the 2028-29 school year, focusing on mentorship programs, career exploration, and creating more engaging learning environments for older students. Officials emphasized the importance of fostering positive relationships between students and school staff, noting that students who are absent for a year between eighth and twelfth grade are seven times more likely to drop out of high school. Carson City School District plans to shift incentives for older students from bikes to scooters, laptops, and shopping sprees.
