What your school's chronic absenteeism rate means
A school's rate is the share of its students who missed 10% or more of their school days. In 2021-22 the middle U.S. public school had 25.7% chronically absent; a quarter of schools were at 15.6% or less and a quarter at 39.3% or more. Compare a school with others of its level, and read the year: these are the latest school-level federal figures.
Written from EDFacts 2021-22, schools open in 2024-25 · published · reviewed · editorial process
Where a rate falls among schools of the same level
| Schools | Lowest quarter up to | Middle school | Highest quarter from | Highest tenth from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All schools (82,825) | 15.6% | 25.7% | 39.3% | 55.0% |
| Elementary (48,645) | 14.3% | 24.0% | 37.6% | 52.9% |
| Middle (14,852) | 16.6% | 26.3% | 38.8% | 53.2% |
| High (16,762) | 19.6% | 29.9% | 43.6% | 60.5% |
Source: EDFacts 2021-22 school rates; schools open in 2024-25 with 50 or more students, level from the 2024-25 directory.
So an elementary school with 14.3% of students chronically absent is among the lowest quarter of elementary schools, and one at 52.9% is among the highest tenth. 13.7% of schools had half or more of their students chronically absent.
Reading a school's record
- Find the rate and its year on the school's record ("Chronically absent, 2021-22").
- Compare it with schools of the same level in the table above, and with the state's figure on the state ranking.
- Read it with the free-meal share: schools serving more low-income families have higher rates on average, so the same rate means different things in different places.
- Ask the school for this year's rate and what it is doing about attendance; a falling rate matters more than a single year.
Using it to choose a school
Chronic absenteeism is one of the few measures available for every school, and it moves before grades do. A high rate is a question to ask, not a verdict: ask what drives it (transportation, health, a hard transition year) and what the school does about it. Pair it with the school's counselor ratio and discipline counts on the same record.
Questions
What percentage of absences counts as chronic absenteeism?
Missing 10% or more of the school days a student was enrolled, for any reason, excused, unexcused or suspended. In a 180-day year that is 18 days.
How does PlainSchools show a school's rate?
The share of the school's students who were chronically absent in 2021-22, as the state reported it to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts).
What is a good chronic absenteeism rate?
There is no official line. In 2021-22 the middle U.S. school had 25.7% of students chronically absent; a quarter of schools were at 15.6% or less and a quarter at 39.3% or more. Compare a school with others of its level: high schools run higher than elementary schools.
Does chronic absenteeism affect students who attend regularly?
It can. When many students are missing, teachers reteach more and classes move more slowly, so a high rate describes the whole school's learning time, not only the absent students'.
Where can I check chronic absenteeism for a specific school?
Search the school by name on PlainSchools; its record shows the rate and the year. For the current year, ask the school or read the state's school report card.
Related
- Chronic absenteeism explained
The definition and the causes
- Chronic absenteeism by state
And the highest-rate schools
- School finder
Filter by state and level
Sources
Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts Chronic absenteeism by school · 2021-22