Immigration enforcement concerns cause mixed attendance trends in North Central WA schools
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Schools across North Central Washington are seeing mixed attendance trends as families navigate concerns over immigration enforcement. While the Quincy and Wenatchee school districts report steady attendance, the Eastmont School District in East Wenatchee has seen a noticeable drop among migrant students since the start of the school year.
“There’s a lot of fear of leaving home, so some students are just staying inside,” said Spencer Taylor, the interim superintendent of Eastmont School District.
The changes come after the Trump administration removed a federal policy in January that protected certain areas — including churches, schools and health care facilities — from immigration enforcement actions. Under the previous policy, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were largely barred from making arrests, searches or surveillance in these locations.
Now, federal law enforcement must have a judicial warrant, or a court order to enter a school.
A ‘Day Without Immigrants’
In response to the changing policies, school officials at all three districts said they have been closely monitoring attendance trends. While concerns were raised about a potential long-term drop, both the Wenatchee and Quincy school districts report their overall attendance remains stable.
In January, Wenatchee’s average daily attendance rate was about 88%. In February, the average daily attendance rate was about 86% in Wenatchee.
The Quincy School District reports that 58.3% of students attend school at least 90% of the time.
However, both districts saw a significant dip in attendance on Feb. 3, coinciding with the national protest movement a “Day Without Immigrants.” On that day, immigrants and their allies stayed home from work, school and shopping to highlight their economic and social contributions.
At the Wenatchee School District, overall attendance plummeted to 63.89% on Feb. 3. Quincy’s absentee rate, which typically hovers around 7%, spiked to 42% that day.
“The day was a wake-up call. When you see attendance drop to 63%, you realize just how many of our students and staff are connected to this issue,” said Kory Kalahar, the superintendent of the Wenatchee School District.
Migrant student attendance in Eastmont
The Eastmont School District has seen a different result with student attendance. The district reports a sharp decline in attendance among migrant students, with fewer than 50% attending school daily in February 2025.
Migrant students are children whose families work in agriculture or fisheries and often relocate across school districts or state lines to follow seasonal employment. Many of these students are U.S. citizens, but their families may include undocumented members, adding to concerns about potential family separation.
According to Taylor, the Eastmont School District has 552 migrant students.
Taylor said some families have begun taking precautionary measures, including having children carry birth certificates in their backpacks or making contingency plans with relatives or friends in case of deportation.
“There’s a lot of fear of leaving home. This is interfering with learning, and we are worried that high school students may not earn the credits they need to graduate” Taylor said. “Elementary students are missing out on foundational skills in reading and math.”
The district said they are working to reassure families that schools remain safe spaces. However, the fear is still palpable. According to Taylor, some parents are choosing to not send their children to school.
Statewide impact and response
State officials are also monitoring attendance data to determine whether the changes in immigration policy enforcement are having a broader impact on Washington schools.
Chris Reykdal, Washington’s superintendent of public instruction, said his office has been tracking attendance trends compared to previous years. So far, he said, there have been no statistically significant statewide changes, though concerns remain high.
“We don’t have a lot of grant money anymore to track attendance like we used to, and a level of protection has gone away,” Reykdal said. “Schools, hospitals, and churches were once off-limits. Now, simultaneously, there are efforts to go after birthright citizenship, which adds another layer of fear. The nervousness levels are very high right now. We’re looking at the data as closely as we can.”
Despite the lack of conclusive statewide data, Reykdal acknowledged that the fear surrounding immigration enforcement is real. He said their office will continue to highlight the importance of maintaining communication with families and ensuring that students continue their education without disruption.
Community outreach efforts
In response to these concerns, school districts are increasing outreach efforts to reassure families.
The Quincy School District recently saw its Migrant Parent Advisory Council meeting more than double in attendance as families sought guidance and support. The district is also planning a large family festival in April.
“Our migrant PAC meeting attendance jumped from 40 to 106, showing families want accurate information,” said Maria Valle, the family and community outreach coordinator at the Quincy School District.
Wenatchee School District has continued to host multilingual family engagement events and has offered resources. The district is working with local nonprofits and advocacy groups to provide families with accurate information about their rights. That’s according to Alfonso Lopez, the director of Hispanic/Latino Relations at the Wenatchee School District.
Meanwhile, the Eastmont School District has monthly events tied to parent engagement with information both available in English and in Spanish.
Taylor said the district is trying to improve attendance through its Migrant Education Program, which offers flexible learning options, support services and home visits to help bring students back to class.
Local districts said they will continue monitoring attendance, providing resources, and working to ensure that students — regardless of their immigration status — feel safe attending school.
“We are doing everything we can to support our students and families,” Kalahar said. “Schools should be places of learning, not fear.”
Reneé Diaz may be contacted at renee.diaz@wenatcheeworld.com. Collaborative reporting by The Wenatchee World, NWPB and WSU’s Murrow College of Communication Newsroom Fellowship.
