CLARKSDALE, Miss.–Chronic absenteeism statistically means a child will have less of a chance succeeding academically. According to the Chronic Absenteeism report released Wednesday by the Mississippi Dept. of Education, some Delta school districts have some of the most chronically absent students in the state.
Clarksdale Municipal School District had a 40.2 percent rate, while Greenville Public Schools had a rate of 35.36 percent. South Delta and South Panola schools both had rates around 35 percent, while Yazoo City Public Schools had a rate of 36.18 percent chronically absent.
The Delta by no means had a monopoly on chronic absenteeism, with several other district posting rates in the high 30s and low 40s.
Across the state chronic absenteeism was up to 24.4 percent from last year’s rate of 23.9 percent.
If a student misses 18 days per school year, or 10 percent of the 180 days, then he or she is considered chronically absent.
“MDE remains committed to providing support and training for schools and districts to combat chronic absenteeism and prevent students from dropping out,” said Dr. Lance Evans, state superintendent of education. “We also implore families and community leaders to join in these efforts.”
Mississippi began keeping data on chronic absenteeism in 2016. Since then the highest rates have been post-COVID, with the lowest rate at 13 percent, being in the 2018-19 school year.
