How to Spot At-Risk Students Early

Identifying which students are at risk of falling behind should not require digging through spreadsheets or complicated reports. Yet for many educators, that is often the case.

By the time attendance data is reviewed, weeks or even months may have passed. Students who needed support early on are now facing greater challenges.

SchoolStatus helps schools and districts act quickly. With attendance insights through SchoolStatus Attend, teams can spot early warning signs and take action before small issues become larger problems. Combined with SchoolStatus Connect, staff can communicate directly with families to help support students and keep them on track.

Why Early Warning Indicators Matter for Student Success

The earlier schools can identify students who are struggling, the better they can intervene and provide support. Attendance is one of the most reliable early warning indicators. A student who begins missing more days than usual may be showing signs of disengagement or facing challenges at home.

According to our 2024-25 Mid-Year Attendance Snapshot, attendance challenges continue to impact schools across the country. Students who are chronically absent are significantly more likely to fall behind academically.

By acting on early attendance trends, schools can provide students with timely support and potentially prevent long-term consequences.

Why Schools Struggle to Identify At-Risk Students

Many educators understand the importance of early intervention, but identifying which students need attention can still be difficult.

Here are some of the reasons:

• Data is often scattered across multiple systems, making it difficult to build a full picture of a student’s needs
• Reports may be outdated by the time they are reviewed
• Staff may lack the time or capacity to manually analyze data patterns

Because of these barriers, students who need help might go unnoticed until more serious issues arise. That’s why having a centralized, real-time view of attendance trends is so critical.

How SchoolStatus Makes Early Intervention Simple and Actionable

One Place for Attendance Trends

SchoolStatus Attend gives district staff and attendance admin a clear view of student attendance patterns. The product highlights when a student’s attendance is trending downward, helping teams take proactive steps before chronic absenteeism sets in.

Communication That Drives Action

With SchoolStatus Attend, schools can automate official communications, such as sending physical letters or digital notifications, to alert families when specific attendance thresholds are met.

When more personal, two-way outreach is needed, SchoolStatus Connect allows educators to call, text, or email families directly. All communication is logged automatically, making it easy to keep everyone aligned and informed.

Designed for Efficiency

SchoolStatus Attend is built for the staff responsible for monitoring and responding to attendance trends. It ensures the right people have access to the information they need to support students effectively.

A Step-by-Step Approach to Using SchoolStatus for Early Intervention

1. Connect Your Data Systems

Integrate your SIS and attendance data to centralize student attendance information within SchoolStatus Attend.

2. Set Up Early Warning Indicators

Define thresholds that indicate when a student might be at risk, such as missed days or consistent declines in attendance.

3. Train Staff to Use the Tools

Provide training so administrators can interpret attendance trends and respond with appropriate actions.

4. Communicate with Families

Use structured messages or personalized outreach through SchoolStatus Connect to notify families and build collaboration around solutions.

5. Monitor Progress and Adjust Support

Track whether interventions are improving attendance and continue communication to ensure ongoing support.

Why Early Action Changes Outcomes

Schools that act early based on real-time data are better equipped to help students stay on track. One district using SchoolStatus reduced chronic absenteeism by reaching out to families when attendance began to decline. Timely outreach helped prevent long-term disengagement.

When schools have the right tools in place, they can build stronger relationships with families and ensure that students receive support before problems escalate.

Bringing It All Together

Supporting at-risk students starts with knowing who needs help and when to step in. SchoolStatus Attend helps districts track attendance trends in real-time, while SchoolStatus Connect enables effective family communication. Together, these tools give educators what they need to intervene early and make a difference.

To learn how SchoolStatus can help your district identify and support at-risk students earlier, book a demo.

Related Resources

• 5 Key School Communication Tips for At-Risk Students
• 2024-25 Mid-Year Attendance Snapshot
• The District Leader’s Guide to Data-Driven Attendance Strategies