About one in four students is chronically absent, according to the latest data from 39 states and Washington, D.C. This issue persists despite improvements in some states, highlighting the need for schools to implement policies that encourage regular attendance.
The data shows that 23% of students were categorized as chronically absent during the 2024-25 school year, which is still above pre-pandemic levels. While most states improved their rates compared to the previous school year, the gains were smaller than before.
High rates of absenteeism remained unchanged in nine states, including Washington and Ohio, and increased in New Mexico, Mississippi, and Arkansas. In contrast, Alabama and Delaware reduced their chronic absenteeism rates to within one percentage point of pre-pandemic levels.
Chronic absenteeism is a significant issue that affects not only individual students but also the overall academic environment of a school.
"When students miss significant time from school, they are at higher risk of falling behind in coursework and dropping out. For example, chronically absent elementary students have a harder time reading at grade level than their peers.
School administrators need to get back to basics and start holding students accountable for missing school, and end any residual pandemic-era policies that allow students to miss homework or exams without consequences. Additionally, schools may need to implement new policies to encourage students to attend school more regularly.
To address chronic absenteeism, schools must implement policies that encourage regular attendance and hold students accountable for missing school. By doing so, we can help ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed academically and reach their full potential. Learn more about how Learning Success can help
