When it comes to student success, showing up every day truly matters. Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic achievement, social-emotional growth, and future success. Even missing just two days a month, about 10% of the school year, can add up to a student being considered chronically absent, putting them at risk of falling behind academically and socially.
At the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, attendance is more than a number, it’s a reflection of engagement, belonging, and opportunity. That’s why the district continues to make attendance a top priority through its #ShowUpMPUSD campaign and year-round support systems for students and families.
Celebrating Progress During Attendance Awareness Month
During September 2025’s Attendance Awareness Month, MPUSD schools launched creative, campuswide efforts to celebrate showing up and to build habits that lead to success. From spirit days and classroom competitions to regular communication with families, check-ins with students struggling to attend, and a focus on creating welcoming, positive school cultures, the focus was on helping every student feel connected and supported in coming to school each day.
And the results were powerful districtwide:
- 82% of schools (excluding alternative education) saw a decrease in chronic absenteeism, averaging a 5.9% improvement.
- 71% of schools experienced an increase in Average Daily Attendance (ADA), with an average gain of 0.69%.
- Districtwide, MPUSD achieved a 4.17% drop in chronic absenteeism and a 0.56% increase in ADA compared to September 2024.
These gains represent real students showing up for their learning, their peers, and their futures.
Below each table highlights schools that increased average daily attendance and decreased chronic absenteeism.
Average Daily Attendance (ADA) and Chronic Absenteeism are related but measure attendance in very different ways. ADA looks at how many students are present every single day, so even a few students missing here and there can lower the overall average making it harder to move quickly. Chronic Absenteeism, on the other hand, tracks how many students have missed 10% or more of the school year. As the number of school days grows, students can improve their attendance and “recover” from earlier absences, which can make the chronic absenteeism rate go down even if ADA stays relatively flat.
Looking Ahead: Goals for the 2025 - 2026 School Year
Building on this momentum, MPUSD continues to move toward achieving its goals to ensure continued progress:
- Chronic Absenteeism Rate: Under 10% by June 2026
- Average Daily Attendance: Increase by 1% by June 2026
- Extreme and Severe Absenteeism: Decrease by 20% (June 2025 to June 2026)
Achieving these goals will take a collective effort from students, families, teachers, and community partners working together to remove barriers to attendance and celebrate every success along the way.
Showing Up for the Future
Attendance is more than a statistic. It’s a story of connection, consistency, and care. When students show up, they build confidence, relationships, and the foundation for lifelong learning. MPUSD is proud to continue leading the way in attendance awareness, ensuring that every student is supported in showing up because their future is here.