Scholarship Prep South Bay in Wilmington used a wraparound model — meals, transit assistance, hygiene supplies, trauma-informed classrooms and 50+ community partners — to ensure none of its 54 students experiencing homelessness were chronically absent. The TK–8 charter serves 421 students (about 93% low-income) and combines practical supports with daily social-emotional learning. While attendance improved dramatically, Spring 2025 state tests show continued academic challenges, especially in math.
Meals, Transit and Trust: How One California Charter Cut Chronic Absence Among Unhoused Students
Photo Credit: iStock
At Scholarship Prep South Bay in Wilmington, California, a focused attendance strategy centered on basic needs, trauma-informed care, and community partnerships helped ensure that none of the school’s 54 students experiencing homelessness were classified as chronically absent — a striking result in a state where housing instability often drives repeated missed school days.
The TK–8 charter enrolls 421 students, nearly 93% of whom come from low-income families. School leaders say the approach is simple but comprehensive: remove barriers to attendance, build trusting relationships, and offer consistent, dignity-centered supports.
Wraparound Services That Meet Practical Needs
Support at Scholarship Prep goes well beyond academics. On campus students receive free meals, before- and after-school care, uniforms, hygiene supplies, on-site health and wellness services, and access to washers and dryers. Families can pick up weekly food boxes, receive grocery or hotel assistance when needed, and students who rely on public transit are given Metro GoPass TAP cards to ensure they can get to school.
“We create a school where everyone is welcome, cares about students and families, has incredible wraparound services, gives students what they need — and they stay.”
— Jason Watts, Chief Executive and Co-Founder, Scholarship Prep
Trauma-Informed Classrooms and Social-Emotional Supports
Staff receive training to support children who have experienced trauma, and social-emotional learning is embedded in daily lessons. Each classroom has a "rainbow cart" stocked with essentials such as deodorant, toothbrushes, hair-care items, and school supplies. Teachers begin each morning with a brief meeting to check in on students’ emotional and academic needs.
Classrooms also include calming corners with breathing-exercise guides, fidgets, stress balls, and noise-canceling headphones. Students who need a short reset can use a mental health room for up to 10 minutes to decompress.
“We lead with love and respect.”
— Kristen Crowe, Chief Community Officer, describing a family resource center focused on belonging rather than judgment.
Community Partnerships and Outcomes
Scholarship Prep South Bay collaborates with more than 50 community organizations that provide food, hygiene kits, counseling, and other services to reduce barriers to attendance. While the school’s attendance improvements are notable, Spring 2025 state test scores indicate ongoing challenges in academics — particularly math — a reality leaders attribute in part to the high share of low-income and unhoused students and frequent student mobility.
Statewide, roughly 35% of students experiencing homelessness are chronically absent compared with about 19% of students overall. Research from the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools also documents a sharp rise in unhoused students in Los Angeles County, from 47,689 in 2022–23 to 61,249 in 2023–24.
School leaders say the core lesson is that addressing basic needs — reliable transit, food, hygiene, and stable relationships — lays the foundation for consistent attendance and student engagement. Scholarship Prep South Bay’s results underscore how coordinated, dignity-centered supports can reduce chronic absence among students experiencing homelessness while also highlighting ongoing academic work ahead.
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