Chronic absenteeism in U.S. schools surged during the pandemic and remains alarmingly high, with millions of students continuing to miss weeks of class each year. Despite efforts to reverse the trend, the problem shows no sign of going away quickly.
Key Facts:
- Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school in a year.
- The rate peaked at 31% in 2021–22 and has only dropped to 19.3% by 2025.
- Washington, D.C., Oregon, Hawaii, and New Mexico report the worst attendance rates, some nearing 50%.
- Low-income students, English learners, and students with disabilities are disproportionately affected.
- Some districts are paying students to attend school or adjusting schedules and tech use to address the issue.
The Rest of The Story:
Despite falling from pandemic highs, chronic absenteeism remains about 50% higher than it was before COVID-19.
A recent study from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) found that students continue to miss school more often and for longer stretches.
As of March 2025, the national average sits at 19.3%. Efforts to curb the trend vary. Districts like Detroit spend up to $1,000 per student annually to boost attendance.
Others tie attendance to grades or restrict online assignment flexibility. In some areas, schools delay start times or try disabling district devices at night to improve sleep and reduce distractions.
“We can pour all the money into schools and teachers, but if kids aren’t showing up, it’s not helping,” pediatrician Mary Beth Miotto told the Boston Globe, calling for school attendance to be treated like a “vital sign” by doctors.
Commentary:
The current levels of school absenteeism should alarm anyone who cares about the country’s future. Nearly one in five students is missing so much school that their academic progress is at risk—and in some districts, it’s nearly half.
Something is broken. Kids aren’t just staying home because they’re sick. Many are disconnected, disinterested, and often entirely unmotivated to attend.
With smartphones in their hands and endless digital distractions, the classroom is no longer a draw—it’s an interruption. We’re seeing a generation raised not on curiosity but on instant answers.
Learning, once a pursuit of knowledge, now competes with dopamine-fueled scrolling. Some students even use AI apps as stand-ins for conversations, replacing real relationships with robotic feedback.
The incentives for attending school just aren’t there anymore. When students can stream videos until 2 a.m., sleep through the morning, and still complete assignments online, it’s no surprise they skip class.
Paying them to attend or docking their grades for skipping is just a band-aid. Educators are trying, but they’re fighting a cultural shift.
Discipline is soft. Expectations are lower. And kids know it.
If we don’t restore a sense of purpose, challenge, and structure in education, we risk raising a generation ill-prepared for life and work.
More screen time and less real-world engagement will only deepen the crisis. We need to teach kids that showing up matters—not just for school, but for life.
If that message fails to land, our future workforce, economy, and civic society will pay the price.
The Bottom Line:
Chronic absenteeism is no longer a temporary pandemic problem—it’s an enduring crisis.
Kids are missing school at unsustainable levels, driven by disengagement and easy distractions.
Without restoring structure, discipline, and purpose to the classroom, the long-term consequences could be devastating for the country.
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