Why This Is Measured
Regular attendance is crucial throughout a student’s academic journey because students who miss too much school tend to have lower grades, are less likely to graduate, and may struggle in college.
- Research demonstrates chronic absenteeism in Pre-K in CPS is predictive of chronic absenteeism in Kindergarten through Second Grade in CPS. Tracking chronic absenteeism starting in Pre-K allows schools and the district to intervene early, and provide resources and support for CPS students and families.
- For elementary students, missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.
- By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
- By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
- Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student’s academic success.
By partnering with families and collaboratively engaging district, school, and community resources, schools aim to understand and address the underlying factors contributing to student absenteeism. The goal is to develop targeted support strategies that help remove attendance barriers and ensure students can fully participate in their education. For more information, see the Student Attendance website.
Transparency Committee Reviewed