Chronic absenteeism is a persistent challenge for the nation’s schools, Washington D.C. included. Defined as missing 10 percent or more of school days for any reason, in the 2023-24 school year 40% of D.C. public school students of all ages, and over half (56%) of high school students, were chronically absent. Though chronic absenteeism has seen an improvement from the pandemic peak (48% of all students), it remains well above pre-pandemic levels (29%).

Collaborative member the DC Policy Center analyzed state-level data from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) to examine how chronic absenteeism is related to measures of college and career readiness. Using chronic absenteeism rates across five tiers, from satisfactory (absent less than 5% of school days) to profound (absent 30% or more), the report underscores strong connections between attendance and other indicators that a student is likely to be successful after high school. Among their findings:

• Postsecondary enrollment: Approximately 70% of students with satisfactory attendance enroll in postsecondary education within six months of graduation, compared to 30% of students with profound chronic absenteeism.
• AP/IB exam success: Nearly 59% of students with satisfactory attendance passed at least one AP or IB exam, versus only 19% of students with profound chronic absenteeism.
• SAT readiness: Only 3% of profoundly absent students met SAT college-readiness benchmarks, a 32-percentage-point gap compared to peers with satisfactory attendance.

Disparities are evident among student groups, with larger gaps in readiness outcomes for Black and Latino students. The report emphasizes the need for targeted policies, such as early intervention strategies, stronger student engagement, wraparound support services, and better alignment between high school and post-secondary education systems.

Read the full report for more insights and policy recommendations:

Chronic Absenteeism as a Barrier to College and Career Readiness in D.C.