Hello SCUSD Community,

October brought real momentum. Schools across the district pushed attendance forward and made big strides in reducing chronic absence. Your hard work shows up in the data — and we’re here for it.

🏆 Championship Belt Winner: Bret Harte Elementary

Two Months in a Row!

Bret Harte has done it again! They’ve earned the In It to Win It Championship Belt for the second month straight, posting the largest attendance increase in the district… up 2.5% compared to last October.

This kind of growth doesn’t happen by accident. Under the leadership of Principal Jones, Bret Harte has built a strong MTSS Attendance Team that meets regularly to monitor data, coordinate outreach, and problem-solve in real time. Their schoolwide focus on daily engagement and student connection is paying off.

📈 Top 5 Schools for Attendance Rate Improvement

• Bret Harte Elementary: +2.5%
• Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions: +1.5%
• Bowling Green Chacon: +1.4%
• Theodore Judah Elementary: +1.4%
• David Lubin Elementary: +1.3%

📉 Top 5 Reductions in Chronic Absence

• Arthur A. Benjamin Health Professions: -12.3%
• Bret Harte Elementary: -12.3%
• Bowling Green Chacon: -10.2%
• John D. Sloat Elementary: -8.9%
• John H. Still K-8: -5.7%

These shifts reflect meaningful progress with students who’ve faced the greatest barriers to consistent attendance.

Why Both Metrics Matter

• Improved attendance rate: Means more students are showing up every day.
• Reduced chronic absence: Means we’re re-engaging students who’ve missed the most time.

Together, they tell the story of stronger systems, deeper relationships, and more students getting the time they need in class.

California School Dashboard Results Are Out

The state just released updated data for the 2024–25 school year. School-by-school attendance and chronic absence indicators are now live on the California School Dashboard.
Spoiler: Chronic Absence is down for the 4th straight year!!!

📊 Visit care.scusd.edu to explore our work, download attendance challenge tools, and access outreach materials for your site.

The Race for December

The belt stays with Bret Harte through November, but the race for December is on. Every school has a chance to take the top spot. Let’s keep the momentum going.

Reminder: Each school can win the belt for up to two consecutive months — so December opens the door for a new winner. Bret Harte now joins the “Two-Timer Club” and has set the bar high.

We see you. We appreciate you. Let’s keep showing up.

The CARE Team
We Matter. We Show Up. We Care.