Chronic Absenteeism
Figure: The chronic absenteeism rate across all NM Schools.
Data Source: NMPED STARS annual State, Districts, and Schools Attendence Report.
How is New Mexico Doing?
In school year 2023-24, 29.77% of students were chronically absent. This metric continues to improve from school year 2021-22, when the rate was 40.73%.
How does New Mexico Compare?
Since the pandemic, chronic absenteeism continues to be a significant problem nationally, with the Education Advisory Board estimating a 33% chronic absentee rate nationwide for the 21-22 school year.
What does this mean?
PED is addressing chronic absenteeism by launching a media campaign to improve attendence, providing statewide interventions for those students with the highest absentee rates, and is making grants to districts to implement innovative practices to increase attendence.
PED is promoting the ‘Be Here NM’ campaign to raise awareness about chronic absenteeism and remind students and families of the importance of school attendance; the BeHereNM.org website offers resources for schools and families to support attendance efforts.
The 2024 New Mexico State Attendance Conference was held on October 28th, 2024.
