At Salem City School District, we know that coming to school every day helps students learn and succeed. We're proud we are making improvements with reducing chronic absenteeism; and we will continue to work on this issue until the majority of our students attend school (nearly) every day of the school year.
Why Does Attendance Matter?
When students miss too much school starting in kindergarten, they often struggle with reading by 3rd grade. In middle school, missing school leads to failing grades. In high school, it can lead to dropping out.
Right now, 14.7 million students across the country are chronically absent. Before COVID-19, only 8 million students missed this much school. The problem has almost doubled.
What is Chronic Absence?
Chronic absence means missing 10% of the school year—about 18 days—for any reason. This includes sick days, family emergencies, and suspensions.
Why Do Students Miss School?
Many students miss school because of:
- Health problems
- Family troubles
- Moving to new homes
These are real challenges that our school staff & community partners can help families solve.
What Can You Do to Help?
To address this challenge, we need help from our entire community -- families, community groups, churches, and businesses. Here's how you can help:
- Make attendance a priority – Help children understand that going to school every day matters
- Watch for warning signs – Students who miss 2-4 days in the first month often become chronically absent
- Remove barriers – Help families get the support they need to get kids to school
Together, we can help every student succeed!
