Four weeks into the new semester, the nation’s second-largest school district is seeing an improvement in student attendance and COVID-19 test-positivity rates, which isn’t surprising given the overall improving conditions throughout Los Angeles County.
In-person student attendance rose to 87% on Friday, Feb. 4, according to preliminary data, the Los Angeles Unified School District reported. It was about 66% the first week back after winter break, 75% the second week and nearly 80% on Jan. 24. The figures do not include students in City of Angels, the district’s online independent study program.
The district’s cumulative student attendance rate, which is a weighted average, typically is about 90%.
COVID-19 test-positivity rates are also improving, with a seven-day positivity rate of 3.2% among staff and students as of Thursday, according to the district’s COVID-19 dashboard. The week before second semester began on Jan. 11, when students and staff underwent baseline testing, the percentage testing positive was 16.5%. That dropped to 9.8% the first week of school and has been steadily declining.
“Los Angeles Unified’s attendance rate is steadily increasing while COVID-19 positivity rates continue to decline, resulting from the heightened safety measures and continued community partnership,” the district tweeted on Friday.
Countywide, the rolling average test-positivity rate – which has consistently been higher than LAUSD’s – fell to 6.9% on Friday, down from 7.9% the day before.
Although local pandemic conditions seem to be improving overall, and the county’s public health director said last week that this winter’s surge peak had likely passed, health officials continue to stress the importance of wearing masks and taking other safety precautions to continue the downward trend in case transmissions.
