8 million+ students miss nearly a month of school each year in the U.S.
16% of students are chronically absent in the U.S.
1 in 5 U.S. high school students is chronically absent.
Kids who are chronically absent through first grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the 3rd grade. Kids who can’t read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade are 4x more likely to drop out of high school.
1 year of chronic absenteeism in high school = 7x increase in likelihood of dropping out.
There is a clear relationship between absences and course failure.
When attendance rates improve, so does likelihood of graduating.
High school graduates earn $500,000+ more than dropouts over their lifetimes.
High school graduates live longer.
