Redlands Unified struggles with high absenteeism

REDLANDS, Calif. — The latest California School Dashboard results show that Redlands Unified’s chronic absenteeism rate has barely shifted, revealing ongoing challenges in getting students, particularly the most vulnerable, to school consistently.

Why it matters: Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, is strongly linked to long-term academic struggles. 

According to the U.S. Department of Education, students chronically absent between preschool and second grade are much less likely to read at grade level by third grade, and students who fall behind here are four times more likely not to graduate high school.

This year’s Dashboard results highlight that many of the student groups most in need—such as students with disabilities, English learners, homeless students, and several racial and ethnic groups—continue to face the steepest barriers to consistent attendance. 

Details: The California School Dashboard is the state’s accountability tool, reporting performance across several indicators including absenteeism, academics, graduation rates, and college and career readiness. For chronic absenteeism, lower numbers mean better outcomes.

Redlands Unified serves 19,310 students, with 62.8% identified as socioeconomically disadvantaged and 7.5% as English learners.

Chronic absenteeism: In 2025, the district’s chronic absenteeism rate rose slightly from 20.1% to 20.4%, a minimal change but still nearly double the 11% seen in 2019 before the pandemic. The rate also remains higher than the state’s 17.1% average. California as a whole saw a 1.5% decline this year. 

The burden of absenteeism is not shared equally across student groups. Pacific Islander students recorded the highest rate at 35.1%, averaging 15.9 days missed and marking an 8.6% increase from last year. African American students reached 29.3%, increasing by 1.1%, while Hispanic and Latino students rose to 24.2%, a 0.5% increase. 

Students with disabilities saw one of the steepest rises, climbing 2.4 percentage points to 30.4%. Homeless students also experienced a 4.1% jump from prior years, reaching 36.8%. 

Long-term English learners continue to be heavily impacted as well, with a 30.2% chronically absent rate. According to the Department of Education, English learners are 20% more likely to be chronically absent compared to non-English learners. 

District's response: "RUSD staff work diligently to implement a comprehensive Multi-Tiered System of Supports to address the root causes of student absences and promote regular school attendance," said district spokesperson Christine Stephens in a statement.

Despite challenges in attendance, Redlands’ graduation rate is well above the state average.

"Redlands Unified School District has a strong commitment to increasing graduation rates and ensuring students are prepared for life after high school—whether they choose college, career, or both. According to the 2025 California School Dashboard, 92.2% of RUSD students graduated, marking steady progress with a 1.3% increase from 2024 and a 6% increase since 2023."

About 62.8% of graduates were considered “prepared” for college or a career, marking an 8.8% improvement from 2024.

Academics: New data released last month show Redlands Unified students overall have yet to regain the achievement levels seen in 2019 test scores.

According to the 2024–25 Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, the share of students meeting or exceeding state standards in English language arts and math has regained some ground but remains below 2019 levels.

The Dashboard breaks down test scores across 14 student groups based on race, English language proficiency, disability, and economic and housing status.

Statewide trends show gradual recovery from the sharp post-pandemic spikes in absences and academic setbacks, but progress remains slow. Redlands mirrors this pattern with steady graduation rates and some academic gains while attendance challenges persist among the most at-risk students.

To learn more about RUSD test scores, check out our article here.