Chronic Absenteeism
in North Carolina
Published 2025 | BEST NC
Since the pandemic, students have been increasingly absent from school. While improving somewhat, chronic absenteeism, defined as a student missing 10 or more days in a school year, has risen significantly nationwide and in North Carolina, compared to pre-pandemic levels.
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In 2023, a National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) study found a direct relationship between absenteeism and declining math and reading scores. In North Carolina, reading scores remain below pre-pandemic levels and persistently high absenteeism rates are likely contributing to the slow recovery. |
16%–27% of math score declines and 36%–45% of reading score declines can be directly attributed to changes in absenteeism. |
Figure 1: Percentage of Students Chronically Absent (2018–19 to 2023–24)
Absenteeism has remained higher than pre-pandemic rates for all student groups:
Figure 2: Percentage of Students Chronically Absent, by Student Subgroup (2018–19 to 2022–23)
*2019 data not available.
Note: State and Federal data during 2019–20 and 2020–21 for chronically absent students is generally unavailable due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, 2023–24 data is estimated pending on official reporting from states/districts.
NCES K-12 Dive; FutureEd; NC DPI School Report Card Data Set
About This Series
This post is part of BEST NC’s 2025 Facts & Figures: Education in North Carolina Spotlight On: series. View the full report at NCEdFacts.org or visit BESTNC.org.