Empty Desks: An Analysis of Chronic Absenteeism in Missouri Schools

By: Margaret Wallace, Ph.D. and Courtney Vahle, Ed.D.

The newest data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education finds that more than one in five K–12 students were chronically absent in the 2023–24 school year. From 2019 to 2024, nearly 91% of Missouri districts (499 total) have experienced a rise in chronic absenteeism—defined as missing at least ten percent of scheduled school days. Here, we explore key trends from the most recent Missouri attendance data.

Key Points:

• Chronic absenteeism—missing at least 10 percent of scheduled days in a school year—remains a significant concern, with 21.8 percent of Missouri students documented as chronically absent during the 2023–24 school year.

• Missouri’s urban hubs experience significantly higher rates of chronic absenteeism than the state’s rural areas. The raw average rate of chronic absenteeism in city locales is 35.8 percent. In rural locales, it’s 15.2 percent. 

• Rates of chronic absenteeism were higher among older student groups. For the 2023–24 school year, elementary and middle school students averaged a chronic absenteeism rate of 16.7 percent. But the chronic absenteeism rate for high school students was 22.5 percent.

• The average rate of chronic absenteeism for students who qualify for Free and Reduced-Price Lunch (FRL) is 30.7 percent, a rate that is 40% higher than the statewide average. 

• From pre-pandemic (2018–19) to present, nearly 91% of districts—or 499—have experienced a rise in chronic absenteeism. While the pandemic likely exacerbated the presence of chronic absenteeism, rates have been increasing since 2016.

• While still much lower than historical rates, the state average proportional attendance rate as well as that of all measured subgroups has increased from the 2022–23 to 2023–24 school year.

• Research suggests addressing chronic absenteeism requires a data-driven approach to identify root causes and tailor interventions, alongside collaboration with local community stakeholders to mitigate barriers to attendance.

Access our attendance dashboard, datasets, or interactive map on the DATA tab or by clicking here.

Please Cite As: Wallace, M. & Vahle, C. (2025). Empty desks: An analysis of chronic absenteeism in Missouri schools. Policy Research in Missouri Education, 7(10). Saint Louis University. www.primecenter.org/education-reports-database/absenteeism