Overview

• New state data show more than 244,600 students were chronically absent last year, with average daily attendance edging down to 91.4% from 91.5%, reversing part of recent improvement.
• Education Commissioner Susana Córdova said results are moving in the wrong direction, and the 2024–25 rate ranks among the highest since Colorado began tracking in 2016.
• Denver and Jeffco both saw increases, with Denver Public Schools citing school closures and immigration enforcement activity as factors, though 82 DPS schools reported attendance gains.
• Gaps persisted across student groups as Hispanic students saw the largest increase, early grades showed declines in chronic absenteeism, and officials said stepped-up immigration enforcement may have kept some families from school.
• Colorado’s Every School Day Matters initiative continues, and targeted school efforts such as York International’s “attendance refocus” and Loveland’s Lincoln Elementary show reductions that require significant staff time and support.