Overview

• Thirty-four percent of Arizona high school students were chronically absent in 2023–24, down from a 42% peak in 2021–22 yet still roughly 10 percentage points above pre-pandemic levels.
• Economically disadvantaged students had a 43% chronic absence rate, with American Indian students at 53% and Hispanic students at 39%, far above the state overall.
• Chronic absenteeism rises by grade level, with seniors most likely to be absent, and higher absence is associated with lower test scores, higher dropout risk and fewer college prospects.
• The Arizona Department of Education does not routinely track chronic absenteeism for grades 9–12, relying on dropout metrics instead, according to the report.
• Targeted school strategies show promise: Chandler High recorded a five-point drop after schedule and staffing changes, and a Carl Hayden mentorship pilot saw only 7% of 139 at-risk students become chronically absent despite a 61% schoolwide rate.