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# Massachusetts Student Absenteeism Improves Slightly, Still Above Pre-Pandemic Levels
- URL: https://www.newbostonpost.com/massachusetts-student-absenteeism-improves-slightly-still-above-pre-pandemic-levels/
- Published: 2026-05-17T10:00:06.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-17T14:19:43.000Z
- Description: New state data show chronic absenteeism in Massachusetts schools declined this year, though rates remain significantly higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Author: State House News Service
- Tags: News, Education, Politics, #most-popular, State Government

Sam Drysdale  
State House News Service

The number of students missing significant school time remains well above pre-pandemic levels, though new data show absenteeism improved modestly this year.

State education officials reported that 16.8% of students were chronically absent as of March 2026, meaning they missed at least 10% of school days. That marks an improvement from 19.3% in March 2025, but remains above the roughly 13% of students considered chronically absent before COVID-19 disrupted classrooms statewide. 

The share of students missing at least 20% of school days also fell slightly, from 5.1% to 4.6%, according to the data released Friday by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The figures continue a gradual recovery from the height of the pandemic, when absenteeism surged across Massachusetts and the country. 

In 2021, more than 35% of high school students in the state were missing at least 10% of school days, according to Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, who said the problem remains especially acute in secondary schools.

State officials have repeatedly warned that missing significant classroom time can have lasting academic consequences. 

"By the time you've missed 10% of your schooling you are going to experience academic impacts," Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member Michael Moriarty [said last year.](https://www.statehousenews.com/news/education/k12/state-reports-decline-in-chronically-absent-students/article%5Ff21685d2-178c-11ef-a4b6-ef71453cd9e7.html?ref=newbostonpost.com) 

Education leaders have credited closer coordination between schools and families for the recent improvements. Acting Commissioner Russell Johnston said last year that districts have worked to "engage families more successfully" and create school environments where students "feel that sense of connection, that sense of being known and valued."