Key factors:
For the primary half of the 2024-25 college yr, total Ok-12 scholar attendance charges have improved, persevering with the progress seen over the previous two years, in accordance with a brand new evaluation from SchoolStatus.
Nonetheless, the speed of enchancment has slowed significantly, signaling a necessity for continued and expanded intervention methods–notably for older college students, who stay essentially the most affected by pandemic-related disruptions.
The 2024-25 Mid-Yr Ok-12 Scholar Attendance Snapshot examines scholar attendance tendencies from September 2024 by January 2025 and analyzes information from greater than 1 million college students in 143 districts throughout seven states which have used proactive attendance administration methods for 3 consecutive years (2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-2025 up to now).
Key insights into scholar attendance in 2024-25
The general day by day attendance charge for grades PK-12 this yr is 93.45 p.c–near pre-pandemic norms. Whereas total attendance charges have improved by 0.31 p.c this yr, the expansion charge has misplaced momentum in comparison with the 1.16 p.c enhance from 2022-23 to 2023-24.
Grades 10-12 present a regression within the first half of the varsity yr with attendance charges between .04 p.c and .16 p.c decrease than final yr–and a rise in persistent absenteeism of 1.90 p.c in comparison with final yr.
Youthful college students (PK–4) are nearing pre-pandemic attendance ranges, with a 93.82 p.c attendance charge and an enchancment charge of .56 p.c–displaying the strongest restoration.
Seventh grade emerges as a ‘tipping level,’ the place attendance charges start to drop and persistent absenteeism begins rising, echoing nationwide tendencies of rising center college disengagement.
Over the previous three years, attendance in U.S. faculties has considerably declined with solely gradual enhancements nationwide. Earlier than COVID-19, nationwide attendance charges for PK-12 averaged 94 p.c, however most lately dropped to 90 p.c, in accordance with NCES. In distinction, SchoolStatus stories a mid-year 2024-25 day by day attendance charge of 93.45 p.c, demonstrating that districts utilizing proactive attendance interventions and methods are seeing extra sustained enhancements in comparison with the nationwide common regardless of indicators of potential regression for older college students.
This snapshot follows new analysis from NCES’ NAEP Report and the Training Restoration Scorecard that underscores the continued delay in educational restoration and highlights persistent absenteeism as a key driver of stalled progress.
“The nationwide dialog on persistent absenteeism has largely targeted on the long-term penalties of studying loss, however what’s equally vital is figure to get college students again into school rooms and engaged,” mentioned Dr. Pleasure Smithson, Knowledge Scientist at SchoolStatus. “Districts utilizing proactive methods–like household engagement and proactive, optimistic outreach–are seeing the largest attendance beneficial properties. Our mid-year information confirms that whereas youthful college students are on observe, older college students want renewed focus and help. This information development underscores the necessity for sustained and tailor-made methods to help constant scholar attendance throughout all grade ranges.”
Suggestions for the rest of the 2024-25 college yr
Districts that shift their focus to optimistic engagement methods, in comparison with conventional punitive measures, usually tend to see vital beneficial properties in scholar attendance. As a trusted chief in attendance administration, SchoolStatus gives the next 4 key suggestions for districts to implement all through the remaining college yr and past:
- Prevention initiatives and household engagement to strengthen school-home relationships
- Early warning programs to establish at-risk college students earlier than they attain persistent absenteeism ranges
- Focused outreach and intervention methods to proactively deal with attendance considerations
- Direct service coordination to help college students going through obstacles to constant attendance
This press launch initially appeared on-line.
eSchool Media workers cowl schooling expertise in all its points–from laws and litigation, to finest practices, to classes realized and new merchandise. First printed in March of 1998 as a month-to-month print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media gives the information and knowledge vital to assist Ok-20 decision-makers efficiently use expertise and innovation to rework faculties and schools and obtain their academic targets.