DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Six out of every 10 students at Detroit Public Schools Community District are considered chronically absent, which is a significant drop for the largest district in the state.
Detroit Public Schools Community District’s rate of chronically absent students has dropped from as high as 76.7% in 2021-22 to 60.9% in 2024-25. The district had 65.8% of its students classified as “chronically absent” in 2023-24.
Chronically absent is defined as being absent for 10% or more of the enrolled school days in a school year, regardless of whether the absences are excused or not. That generally means missing 18 days or more of school.
Detroit’s public school district has spent millions addressing its absenteeism issue.
In 2023, it created Health Hubs that provide at no charge for the students’ families services for mental health, physicals and checkups as well as dental services such as fillings and preventative care.
The district also included washers and dryers for students to use in school facilities in hopes it will draw them to school. The district also announced a program this year where it pays students with $200 gift cards if they have two weeks of perfect attendance.