Two major school districts in El Paso, Texas, have launched coordinated door-to-door campaigns to locate hundreds of students who did not return for the 2025-2026 academic year. Staff from the El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) and the Socorro Independent School District (SISD) are conducting home visits to understand why these students are absent and offer resources to help them re-engage with their education.
Key Takeaways
- EPISD and SISD are conducting home visits to find students who have not re-enrolled.
- EPISD identified 654 unenrolled students, while SISD identified 550.
- The initiatives, named "Operation Search" (EPISD) and "Walk for Success" (SISD), aim to provide support and resources to families.
- Educators are focused on addressing the root causes of absenteeism, such as credit deficiencies or the need for alternative school settings.
A Proactive Approach to Student Enrollment
On Saturday, September 20, educators from both districts took to the streets in a significant outreach effort. Teams composed of administrators, teachers, and counselors visited the last known addresses of students who were enrolled last year but have not appeared on this year's rosters. The goal is not merely to enforce attendance but to open a dialogue with families.
The initiatives represent a hands-on strategy to combat chronic absenteeism and prevent students from dropping out. By meeting families where they are, officials hope to identify and overcome the specific barriers preventing students from attending school.
Operation Search and Walk for Success
EPISD's program, called "Operation Search," targets a specific list of students who have become disconnected from the district. SISD's parallel effort is known as "Walk for Success." Though operating under different names, both share the fundamental mission of reconnecting with their communities.
Michael Najera, president of the SISD Board of Trustees, emphasized the supportive nature of the visits.
"We’re not here just to tell students, ‘Hey, make sure you come back to school.’ When they do open the door for us, we take the opportunity to ask them, ‘What can we do to accommodate your needs?’"
By the Numbers
- 654 students: Identified by EPISD as "leavers" who did not re-enroll this year.
- 550 students: Identified by SISD as not having re-enrolled for the current school year.
- 123 students: Successfully re-enrolled by SISD through prior phone outreach before the home visits began.
Understanding the Reasons for Absence
District leaders acknowledge that students miss school for a wide variety of reasons. Many families may have moved out of the area without formally unenrolling their children. Others may have chosen alternative educational paths, such as private school or homeschooling.
However, the outreach focuses on students who may have fallen through the cracks due to more complex issues. These can include personal or family challenges, a lack of necessary resources, or academic discouragement.
The Impact of Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic absenteeism, often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, is a strong predictor of lower academic achievement and higher dropout rates. These outreach programs are designed to intervene early before absenteeism becomes a long-term problem.
SISD Superintendent James Vasquez noted that sometimes a student's needs are not met by their current school environment. "Maybe, the school they were at wasn’t for them. Maybe, they wanted a smaller setting, like Options High School or a dropout recovery school? Sometimes they just need a change of setting," he said.
This sentiment highlights a key part of the strategy: directing students to alternative programs that might be a better fit for their learning style or personal circumstances.
Providing Solutions and Support
The core of both initiatives is to offer tangible solutions. For students who have fallen behind academically, the districts are prepared to provide support services to help them catch up.
Martha Aguirre, interim superintendent for EPISD, stressed that every single student matters. "If we only bring back one student, if we connect with one student, that’s a success already," Aguirre stated. She also reassured families that help is available regardless of a student's situation.
"There is always an opportunity or a resource available to students, regardless of at what point or stage of their educational career they are. If they have fallen behind in credits, we have services and opportunities for those as well."
Overcoming Discouragement
A significant challenge for students with high absenteeism is the feeling of being too far behind to recover. Superintendent Vasquez addressed this directly.
"The more days they miss, the more difficult it is to catch up. And I think that’s why a lot of students get discouraged," he explained. "They’ve missed so much school that they feel it’s impossible to ever catch up. But there are ways that we can help them."
By connecting with these students personally, educators hope to show them a clear path forward, whether through credit recovery programs, tutoring, or counseling services. The home visits serve as a critical first step in rebuilding confidence and re-establishing a connection to the school system.
Both districts see these outreach efforts as an essential part of their commitment to ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed. The results of these campaigns will help shape future strategies for student retention and support across El Paso.