The county is launching a coordinated effort to boost family engagement and tell the public why it is not just an educational issue - but a public health issue, impacting everything from emotional well-being to future job opportunities and life expectancy.
In Pomona, there was an air of nervousness during the first week of school.
"Once the parents are going to pick up the kids, I know ICE will be there," said Patty Campos, a mother of two elementary children.
Her two kids are attending their second day, but it's not without fear.
"I'm a parent. I think about the little ones," she said.
"Imagine leaving your home in the morning, not knowing if you're going to go home," said Darren Knowles, Superintendent of Pomona Unified School District.
L.A. County school superintendents and health officials addressed the wave of fear and its effect on a problem that's been festering for years, chronic absenteeism.
"We know if students miss just two days a month of school, that loss of learning leads to them not getting to graduation," said Debra Duardo, Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools
It's not just academics, schools also provide structure, routine and fosters community.
The L.A. County Office of Education (LACOE) released a first-of-its-kind study where they partnered with the department of public health and families to examine why it's been so hard to get kids back in the classroom.
"Students are saying No. 1, they're not motivated, they're bored. They also talk about lack of sleep and they also mention mental health issues," said Kristal Green with LACOE.
An absenteeism rate of 10% means students are missing about a month of school.
While L.A. County's rate reached a significant peak at 31% during the pandemic, outreach and targeted attendance programs helped drop it to 22%.
Despite this win, school officials say the latest data reveals that more and more school districts are going to be facing declining attendance.
Kids also said it was tough to connect to a trusted adult at their school. This research is helping school districts formulate a rebooted school attendance playbook.
"We are launching an attendance campaign and we have a toolkit to boost engagement that's been sent to all 80 of our districts," said Duardo.
Next month, school officials will visit students' homes to address their concerns and explain every district's plan to keep kids safe, like making sure drop-offs and pick-ups happen on school property.
"We have a single point of entry, which makes it very clear that there's only one way in and one way out, so we can monitor that very closely," said Gary Gonzales, superintendent of the South Whittier School District.
Although federal immigration actions continue, administrators stress it's imperative that parents trust and partner with schools. Campos said attendance is central to her kids' well-being.
"They have to go to school. I have to go to work. Life has to go on," she said.