Union City Schools' Truancy Rate Higher Than State Average

Slightly more than a third of Union City public school students were reported as truant at least once during the past school year, according to information released by the state superintendent's office.

The district's 36 percent truancy rate is higher than the state average and just above the county average.

Truancy is defined as any student who misses 30 minutes or more of class time without a valid excuse at least three times in one school year.

James Logan High is listed as having a 53 percent truancy rate.

Alvarado Middle School has a 19 percent rate while Cesar Chavez Middle School has a 42.6 percent rate.

The elementary schools in the district are all between 18 and 36 percent.

John Mattos, who supervises the district's School Attendance Review Board process, said New Haven Unified has shown a slight increase in truancy in recent years.

Mattos said the attendance review boards meet with students who are having absenteeism issues. If the problem continues, letters are sent to family members and the board draws up a plan to improve attendance. If that doesn't work, the case can be referred to the Alameda County District Attorney's office.

Mattos also noted that truant students not only miss valuable class time, they also cost the district money from the state's Average Daily Attendance funds.

Below is a table from data gleaned from the state superintendent's website. You can view data on suspensions, expulsions and truancy for each individual school here.

School Enrollment Truants Truancy Rate Alternative Learning Academy 22 12 54.5 Alvarado Elementary School 898 164 18.3 Alvarado Middle School 1,481 289 19.5 Cabello Student Support Center 91 0 0 Cesar Chavez Middle School 1,569 668 42.6 Core Learning Academy 268 168 62.7 Delaine Eastin Elementary 974 162 16.6 Guy Jr. Emanuele Elementary 784 284 36.2 Hillview Crest Elementary 718 249 34.7 James Logan High 4,342 2,334 53.8 New Haven Community Day 19 0 0 Pioneer Elementary 905 174 19.2 Searles Elementary 799 198 24.8 Tom Kitayama Elementary 915 184 20.1 New Haven Unified District Total 13,574 4,886 36 Alameda County Total 33.9 California Total 28.5