A Rand and CRPE analysis found that approximately one in 10 school districts had chronic absenteeism levels of 30% or more during the 2023-24 school year. Two in 10 school districts reported 20% to 30% chronic absenteeism rates. Students who are chronically absent are generally those missing at least 10% of the school year, or about 18 days.
The survey, mirroring other state and local data, shows student attendance is improving compared to peaks of chronic absenteeism in previous years. Nationally, chronic absenteeism was at 15% in 2018 but jumped to 28% in 2022, according to the Return 2 Learn Tracker from the American Enterprise Institute. During the 2023-24 school year, an estimated 19% — or about 9.4 million students — were chronically absent, according to Rand and CRPE.
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