What is chronic absenteeism?

A student is considered chronically absent when they miss 15 or more school days (about 10% of the school year). Schools with high chronic absenteeism rates face significant academic achievement challenges.

What is the national average for chronic absenteeism?

Based on 2021-22 EDFacts data covering 83,951 schools, the national average chronic absenteeism rate is 29.5%. Post-COVID rates are significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels of approximately 15%.

National ranking · EDFacts 2021-22

Chronic Absenteeism Rankings

Schools and states ranked by chronic absenteeism, the share of students missing 15 or more school days a year. Rates remain far above pre-pandemic levels.

Compiled from official source data by PlainSchools. · Updated August 2026

US chronic absenteeism averages 29.5% - about double the pre-COVID ~15% norm

According to EDFacts SY 2021-22 covering 83,951 schools, PlainSchools ranks campuses by the share of students missing 15+ days. The national average is 29.5%, and 20,400 schools still exceed 40%. Rates measure attendance burden, not academic quality.

29.5% national average
20,400 schools above 40%
50 states covered

The picture in one line

Chronic absenteeism has not recovered from the pandemic: the average school still sees 29.5% of students miss 15 or more days a year, roughly double the pre-COVID norm of about 15%, and 20,400 schools remain above the 40% line.

29.5%
national average: 20,400
schools above 40%: 24%
share of tracked schools above 40%: 55.2%
highest state average (Alaska)

Low (<15%)

20,052
Moderate (15-30%)

30,267
High (30-50%)

23,489
Critical (50%+)

12,333

What this shows Most schools now sit in the moderate band that used to be the national worst case. The 100 schools ranked below are the extreme tail, where a majority of students miss three or more weeks of class.

Schools with Highest Chronic Absenteeism

The 100 schools (100+ students) with the highest reported share of chronically absent students. The shaded bar shows magnitude. According to the NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) as of August 2026.

#	School	State	Enrollment	Absent %
1	Henderson AcademyDetroit, MI	MI	558	99.8%
2	Irvington Community SchoolIndianapolis, IN	IN	326	99.7%
3	Moler Elementary SchoolColumbus, OH	OH	287	99.7%
4	The Seed Pcs of Washington DcWashington, DC	DC	245	99.6%
5	Thurgood Marshall Elementary SchoolDetroit, MI	MI	451	99.6%
6	School 4-George Mather ForbesRochester, NY	NY	265	99.6%
7	Oyler SchoolCincinnati, OH	OH	512	99.6%
8	Vigo Virtual School AcademyTerre Haute, IN	IN	206	99.5%
9	Pershing High SchoolDetroit, MI	MI	415	99.5%
10	Beacon AlpBloomington, MN	MN	183	99.5%
11	Nathan Hale SchoolCleveland, OH	OH	364	99.5%
12	Evolution Academy BeaumontBeaumont, TX	TX	202	99.5%
13	Van Corlaer Elementary SchoolSchenectady, NY	NY	311	99.4%
14	Ps 256 Benjamin BannekerBrooklyn, NY	NY	178	99.4%
15	Garfield Heights Middle SchoolGarfield Heights, OH	OH	541	99.4%
16	Windsor Stem Academy (K-6)Columbus, OH	OH	345	99.4%
17	Champion Middle SchoolColumbus, OH	OH	338	99.4%
18	Susie E. Tolbert Elementary SchoolJacksonville, FL	FL	245	99.2%
19	Ps 105 Bay School (the)Far Rockaway, NY	NY	600	99.2%
20	The Valley School of Southern OregonMedford, OR	OR	127	99.2%
21	Jerstad-Agerholm SchoolRacine, WI	WI	870	99.2%
22	Sierra HighAzusa, CA	CA	119	99.2%
23	Clark Acad Prep Magnet High SchlChicago, IL	IL	453	99.1%
24	Martin Luther King Jr ElementaryBenton Harbor, MI	MI	229	99.1%
25	Theatre Arts Production Company SchoolBronx, NY	NY	427	99.1%
26	Lincoln Park Elementary SchoolColumbus, OH	OH	232	99.1%
27	Connellsville Area ShsConnellsville, PA	PA	667	99.1%
28	Dingess Elementary SchoolDingess, WV	WV	110	99.1%
29	Federal Terrace ElementaryVallejo, CA	CA	228	99.1%
30	Vista Continuation HighBakersfield, CA	CA	221	99.1%
31	Mary Ann Winterling Elementary at BentalouBaltimore, MD	MD	296	99.0%
32	Gwynns Falls ElementaryBaltimore, MD	MD	201	99.0%
33	Pittsfield Public Virtual AcademyPittsfield, MA	MA	104	99.0%
34	Keidan Special Education CenterDetroit, MI	MI	105	99.0%
35	Constantine Alternative EducationConstantine, MI	MI	104	99.0%
36	Chaney HighYoungstown, OH	OH	536	98.9%
37	Franklin D. RooseveltCleveland, OH	OH	371	98.9%
38	Umo N Ho N Nation High SchoolMacy, NE	NE	170	98.8%
39	Southside Elementary SchoolBuffalo, NY	NY	772	98.8%
40	The AcademyPort Charlotte, FL	FL	298	98.7%
41	Jcfa-EastJefferson, LA	LA	154	98.7%
42	Traphagen SchoolMount Vernon, NY	NY	316	98.7%
43	The Academy for Urban ScholarsColumbus, OH	OH	386	98.7%
44	Tegeler Career CenterPasadena, TX	TX	150	98.7%
45	Helen Keeling Elementary SchoolTucson, AZ	AZ	230	98.7%
46	Feitshans Elem SchSpringfield, IL	IL	288	98.6%
47	Lyons Community SchoolBrooklyn, NY	NY	362	98.6%
48	Youthbuild Charter School of CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA	CA	880	98.6%
49	Main Avenue ElementarySacramento, CA	CA	361	98.6%
50	Calla HighManteca, CA	CA	140	98.6%
51	Bridge Gate Community SchoolColumbus, OH	OH	199	98.5%
52	Pearl-Cohn HighNashville, TN	TN	526	98.5%
53	Window Rock High SchoolFort Defiance, AZ	AZ	548	98.5%
54	Cecil Shamley SchoolTempe, AZ	AZ	411	98.5%
55	Hamilton Stem Academy (K-6)Columbus, OH	OH	369	98.4%
56	West Auburn Senior High SchoolAuburn, WA	WA	190	98.4%
57	Paul Robeson Malcolm X AcademyDetroit, MI	MI	303	98.3%
58	Samuel G Love Elementary SchoolJamestown, NY	NY	289	98.3%
59	Reuther Central HighKenosha, WI	WI	358	98.3%
60	Jacksonolin High SchoolBirmingham, AL	AL	713	98.3%
61	Fulton Academy of Virtual ExcellenceAtlanta, GA	GA	393	98.2%
62	Hamady Community High SchoolFlint, MI	MI	397	98.2%
63	Durant Tuuri Mott SchoolFlint, MI	MI	385	98.2%
64	Pan American International High School at MonroeBronx, NY	NY	339	98.2%
65	Ps 287 Bailey K AshfordBrooklyn, NY	NY	112	98.2%
66	Revilla Jr/Sr High SchoolKetchikan, AK	AK	110	98.2%
67	Kayenta Middle SchoolKayenta, AZ	AZ	447	98.2%
68	Park West High (Continuation)Pomona, CA	CA	225	98.2%
69	Ascend Career AcademyMargate, FL	FL	215	98.1%
70	University of Illinois High SchUrbana, IL	IL	319	98.1%
71	Merrill Park Elementary SchoolSaginaw, MI	MI	267	98.1%
72	Lower Manhattan Arts AcademyNew York, NY	NY	262	98.1%
73	Ortega HighLake Elsinore, CA	CA	463	98.1%
74	Oakland International HighOakland, CA	CA	270	98.1%
75	Valley Los Banos CommunityLos Banos, CA	CA	160	98.1%
76	Thurgood Marshall High SchoolDayton, OH	OH	548	98.0%
77	Chase Stem AcademyToledo, OH	OH	245	98.0%
78	Phoenix AcademyLancaster, PA	PA	305	98.0%
79	Kotzebue Middle/High SchoolKotzebue, AK	AK	299	98.0%
80	South Park High SchoolBuffalo, NY	NY	801	97.9%
81	Ps 188 Michael E BerdyBrooklyn, NY	NY	236	97.9%
82	John F Kennedy High SchoolCleveland, OH	OH	652	97.9%
83	Ps 18 John G WhittierStaten Island, NY	NY	315	97.8%
84	Desert Knolls ElementaryApple Valley, CA	CA	582	97.8%
85	Phoenix Alternative High SchoolKalamazoo, MI	MI	219	97.7%
86	Lodge Grass High SchoolLodge Grass, MT	MT	174	97.7%
87	Frank a Sedita School #30Buffalo, NY	NY	614	97.7%
88	Harlem Link Charter SchoolNew York, NY	NY	309	97.7%
89	Ps 3 Bedford Village (the)Brooklyn, NY	NY	174	97.7%
90	Livingston Elementary SchoolColumbus, OH	OH	298	97.7%
91	Monument Valley High SchoolKayenta, AZ	AZ	618	97.7%
92	Burgard High SchoolBuffalo, NY	NY	502	97.6%
93	Hilltonia Middle SchoolColumbus, OH	OH	420	97.6%
94	Wade ParkCleveland, OH	OH	339	97.6%
95	Adlai Stevenson SchoolCleveland, OH	OH	295	97.6%
96	Academy With Community PartnersMesa, AZ	AZ	170	97.6%
97	Sonoma County Special EducationSanta Rosa, CA	CA	169	97.6%
98	Millcreek HighSt George, UT	UT	118	97.5%
99	Carver AcademyMilwaukee, WI	WI	324	97.5%
100	Coronado High (Continuation)West Covina, CA	CA	120	97.5%

Chronic Absenteeism by State

Average chronic absenteeism rate across all schools with 50+ enrollment. Higher rates indicate more students missing 15+ days per year.

Alaska 55.2%

273 schools above 40%

353 schools tracked

Arizona 49.8%

956 schools above 40%

1,396 schools tracked

Hawaii 45.3%

157 schools above 40%

278 schools tracked

Michigan 41.4%

1368 schools above 40%

2,924 schools tracked

Oregon 41.2%

587 schools above 40%

1,155 schools tracked

District of Columbia 40.6%

95 schools above 40%

215 schools tracked

New Mexico 40.3%

370 schools above 40%

771 schools tracked

New York 39.0%

1838 schools above 40%

4,467 schools tracked

Montana 38.3%

192 schools above 40%

481 schools tracked

Nevada 37.6%

272 schools above 40%

615 schools tracked

Vermont 37.6%

107 schools above 40%

274 schools tracked

West Virginia 36.8%

210 schools above 40%

113 schools above 40%

300 schools tracked

New Hampshire 35.3%

169 schools above 40%

454 schools tracked

Colorado 35.2%

438 schools above 40%

1,181 schools tracked

California 34.7%

3184 schools above 40%

8,815 schools tracked

Florida 33.7%

1071 schools above 40%

3,390 schools tracked

Ohio 33.4%

981 schools above 40%

3,227 schools tracked

Maine 33.0%

164 schools above 40%

518 schools tracked

Utah 32.7%

233 schools above 40%

910 schools tracked

North Carolina 32.4%

761 schools above 40%

2,558 schools tracked

Maryland 31.8%

322 schools above 40%

1,305 schools tracked

Mississippi 31.0%

198 schools above 40%

854 schools tracked

Illinois 29.0%

827 schools above 40%

3,626 schools tracked

Minnesota 28.2%

322 schools above 40%

1,679 schools tracked

369 schools above 40%

2,217 schools tracked

South Carolina 27.0%

207 schools above 40%

1,141 schools tracked

Massachusetts 26.6%

274 schools above 40%

1,690 schools tracked

Arkansas 26.2%

170 schools above 40%

1,026 schools tracked

Kentucky 25.6%

178 schools above 40%

1,189 schools tracked

Pennsylvania 25.6%

534 schools above 40%

2,819 schools tracked

Texas 25.6%

1068 schools above 40%

7,973 schools tracked

Kansas 25.3%

178 schools above 40%

1,229 schools tracked

Iowa 24.4%

162 schools above 40%

1,247 schools tracked

Wisconsin 24.0%

291 schools above 40%

1,911 schools tracked

Alabama 23.4%

146 schools above 40%

1,324 schools tracked

Indiana 23.3%

233 schools above 40%

1,759 schools tracked

Tennessee 23.0%

217 schools above 40%

1,721 schools tracked

Connecticut 21.6%

101 schools above 40%

978 schools tracked

Oklahoma 21.1%

151 schools above 40%

1,680 schools tracked

159 schools above 40%

2,003 schools tracked

1,813 schools tracked

Washington 19.0%

182 schools above 40%

2,009 schools tracked

135 schools above 40%

1,277 schools tracked

New Jersey 16.3%

104 schools above 40%

2,341 schools tracked

About Chronic Absenteeism

A student is chronically absent when they miss 15 or more school days in a year (approximately 10% of the school year), regardless of reason, illness, suspension, family issues, or truancy.

The 2021-22 data reflects the first full in-person school year after COVID-19. Chronic absenteeism rates are significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels (~15% nationally) due to ongoing health concerns, mental health challenges, and disrupted attendance habits.

<15% - Low (pre-pandemic norm)
15-30% - Moderate
30-50% - High
>50% - Critical

← All Rankings Browse by State →

Source: U.S. Department of Education, EDFacts, Chronic Absenteeism Data (SY 2021-22, File Spec 195). Schools with fewer than 50 students excluded from rankings

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.