About one in three students in New York City public schools were chronically absent last school year, according to new data released Wednesday.
Students are considered chronically absent if they miss 10% of school days in one academic year for any reason. Students who are classified as chronically absent are more likely to have lower test scores and not graduate from high school, according to the state education department.
According to data released in the Mayor’s Management Report, 33.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2024-2025 school year — which represents a slight decrease from 34.8% in the 2023-2024 school year.
It’s also a large decrease compared to the 2021-2022 school year, which saw a high of 40.2% of students chronically absent, according to city data. That jump could be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, when many students were staying home due to positive COVID-19 tests or illness.
The rate of chronic absenteeism last school year is still considerably higher than pre-COVID-19 numbers — with a 26.5% rate in the 2018-2019 school year.
The mayor’s office stated that increased absenteeism didn’t just exist in New York City, but across the nation and world. Since the peak of 40.2% in the 2021-2022 school year, the rate in New York City has been dropping.
“It is no secret that school shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic gravely impacted our kids, not just in New York, but across our nation,” said a City Hall spokesperson. “When Mayor Adams came into office, he made it clear that we needed to bring our students back to school, and to ensure these schools are safe places where all students can thrive. Four years later, the proof is in the pudding – chronic absenteeism has dropped to its lowest level in four years.”
The spokesperson echoed statements made in the report — that schools conducted extensive outreach, collaborated with community partners, and followed up daily with students and families to increase attendance.
Looking ahead to future school years, the Mayor’s Management Report states that the target rate of chronic absenteeism this school year and next school year is 29%.
“Consistent engagement is critical to academic success, which is why we remain steadfast in our commitment to improving student attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism,” said Chyann Tull, a spokesperson for the city Department of Education. ”This is a national epidemic, but thanks to our concerted efforts, New York City Public Schools is seeing decreases year-over-year and within our most vulnerable student populations, including students with disabilities and students in temporary housing. Rates have decreased every year under the Adams administration, from 40.7% in the 2021–22 school year down to 33.3% last year, a 7.4% decrease over four years.”
The city education department uses “Every Student Every Day” attendance improvement strategy to provide support to districts and schools to help families overcome typical barriers to regular attendance. That includes gaining access to food, clothing, and hygiene supplies, as well as counseling and health services.
Schools also take actions to reduce chronic absenteeism, such as defining and communicating clear school attendance systems and practices; engaging the school attendance team in a weekly meeting to monitor trends and identify barriers; personalize student interventions; and partner with communities to build a supportive learning environment.