Sanchez, Monika. John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities. Palo Alto, Calif. April 2012.A study of chronic absenteeism in the Redwood City School District found the highest rates in kindergarten and 12th grade. The study also found that the largest, statistically significant factor in whether a student was chronically absent was their chronic absence status in the prior year. Missing school also played a role in student academic outcomes. After controlling for background factors, the number of days a student was absent had a significant negative effect on California Standards Test percentiles in both math and English Language Arts for students in grades 3 through 8, as well as on Grade Point Average in high school students. Middle and higher achieving students were found to be at greatest risk of academic decline due to chronic absence. The study also found that 18 percent of students in the child welfare system were chronically absent, in contrast to 8 percent of students who were not in the system.