Overview

• The Mayor’s Management Report shows roughly one in three New York City public school students missed at least 10% of the year, meeting the definition of chronic absenteeism.
• The rate dipped slightly from 34.8% the prior year but remains well above pre-pandemic levels of roughly one in four students, after peaking around 40% in 2021-22.
• Officials say schools conducted extensive outreach, partnered with community groups, and followed up daily with families, and the chancellor’s NYCPS Cares initiative focuses on removing barriers to attendance.
• Students living in shelters are reported to be about twice as likely to be chronically absent, and a pilot called Every Child and Family Is Known pairs children in shelters with a dedicated adult.
• More detailed attendance data broken down by race, disability, poverty, and homelessness is expected in the coming months, as mayoral contenders float differing remedies such as expanding community schools.