More than 1000 WA students 'missing'

The number of students whose whereabouts were unknown by the WA education department has increased by 241 in the past year.

School attendance figures show the whereabouts of more than 1000 West Australian students was unknown in the past year.

The education department's annual report reveals the figure increased from 835 at June 2014 to 1076 at June 2015, usually because families moved and did not advise their former public and private schools.

The statewide school attendance rate for 2014 was 90.5 per cent, but the rate for Aboriginal students was 76.4 per cent.

State opposition spokeswoman on education Sue Ellery said more needed to be done to boost attendance because students not regularly going to school were often the same people responsible for anti-social behaviour in the community.