Los Padillas Elementary improved reading and math achievement and cut chronic absence by 50% between 2021 and 2024 after adopting community schools¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · qualitative r1 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? After adopting the community schools strategy in 2018 following a More Rigorous Intervention designation, Los Padillas Elementary saw marked reading and math improvements and a 50% chronic absence reduction from 2021 to 2024. → Germain 2025

Evidence¶

Germain 2025¶

Germain, E., Maier, A., & Espinoza, D. (2025). New Mexico community schools: Improving student opportunities and outcomes. Learning Policy Institute. https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/new-mexico-community-schools-outcomes-brief

q2 · i? · qualitative · r1

Case study profile of Los Padillas Elementary (about 200 students, Albuquerque Public Schools), based on interviews, observations, and document review. The brief reports "a 50% reduction in the rate of chronic absence between 2021 and 2024"; no test statistics are printed.

"the school underwent a remarkable transformation driven by a shared vision grounded in authentic community and family engagement, leading to marked improvements in reading and math achievement and a 50% reduction in the rate of chronic absence between 2021 and 2024"

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Academic and Critical Literacy — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• Los Padillas reduced chronic absenteeism by more than half, from 65.5% in 2021–22 to 31.3% in 2023–24, a rate below other APS community schools — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Los Padillas kindergartners increased year-over-year performance on a local formative assessment in both ELA and math since 2021–22 — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Los Padillas 3rd-graders in 2023–24 outperformed peers in other APS community schools in both ELA and math — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• The Los Padillas 4th-grade cohort improved markedly in ELA from 3rd to 4th grade (13% to 34% proficient) and outperformed APS community school peers — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Los Padillas shifted away from exclusionary discipline, with no in- or out-of-school suspensions in 2023–24, and retained nearly all its teachers over 5 years — related
• 66% of Los Padillas students reported a sense of belonging in 2023–24, well above the 44% for students in the rest of the district — related
• LAUSD CCSPP community schools reduced chronic absence by approximately 9% more and improved math proficiency by approximately 10% more than comparable non-CCSPP high-need schools — related
• Profiled New Mexico community schools showed improvement across attendance, graduation, achievement, climate, health access, and family engagement indicators — a broader claim this one bears on
• An evaluation of the New York City community schools initiative found increased graduation rates, increased elementary and middle school mathematics achievement, and reductions in chronic absenteeism. — related