L.A. charter school nearly eradicates chronic absenteeism among homeless pupils

Scholarship Prep South Bay, a public charter in Wilmington serving transitional kindergarten through eighth grade, enrolled 421 students last year, including 54 who were homeless. Through a network of more than 50 community partners, the school offers breakfast, lunch, before- and after-school care, uniforms, hygiene kits, Metro GoPass cards, on-site health services and laundry facilities. Staff are trained in trauma-informed practices and provide counseling, social-emotional learning and calming spaces within classrooms.

These comprehensive supports resulted in zero chronic absenteeism among the homeless cohort, a stark contrast to the state’s roughly 35% rate for homeless students. Academic performance remains below state averages, though gaps narrow when results are filtered for low-income learners. Administrators credit the sense of belonging and family-centered approach for the attendance success.