The percentage of students classified as chronically absent improved across the Poughkeepsie City School District in March and remains below the rate seen during the 2023-24 school year.

Every school saw its year-to-date percentage of chronic absenteeism drop by the end of March compared to the end of February, with warmer temperatures returning on many days and the winter recess and holidays further in the rear-view mirror.

Attendance also improved in each school.

As of the end of March, 37.9% of students were characterized as chronically absent, or having missed at least 10% of the total possible 126 days of school. That’s down 1.6 percentage points from the end of February (39.5%) and 2.8 percentage points from the end of March 2024 (40.7%). 

Of all schools, Krieger enjoyed the largest month-over-month change, dropping from 44.3% chronically absent in February to 40.9%.

Poughkeepsie Middle School remains the school with the lowest percentage overall, dipping below 20% (19.7%) in March after it was at 22.1% in February. It’s also the school with the best overall attendance, 95% as of the end of March.

District attendance improved from 85.1% at the end of February to 90.3% at the end of March, with both the high and middle schools growing by more than 9 percentage points.

The improvement comes as each school has made a concerted effort to encourage and celebrate attendance with incentives like breakfasts, parties and wall displays. The district itself has also been pushing for increased attendance through a social media campaign and an incentive program through the Community Schools department in which the school each month with the highest attendance and best chronic absenteeism reduction is given $500 to be used on elements to enhance the educational environment, at the principals’ discretion. The uses span from new pencils and children’s supplies to new games at recess. The program is financed through a My Brother’s Keeper Family and Community Engagement grant.

While missing 12 days of school may not sound like much by the time April hits, studies have consistently shown students who are chronically absent are less likely to graduate from high school and attend college. This is especially true of students at younger grade levels, who need to be in class to form a base of knowledge, literacy and work ethic to follow throughout their academic careers. And, many students who are chronically absent do not simply miss the minimum number of days; on average, Poughkeepsie’s chronically absent students have missed 24.3 days of school through March, which equates to nearly 20% of the total number of days available. Parents, students and community members are encouraged to provide their thoughts on how to reduce chronic absenteeism through the district’s online survey available here.

Chronic absenteeism decline

School              February          March

PHS                  44.3%               43.9%

PMS                 22.1%               19.7%

Clinton             40%                  38.1%

Krieger             44.3%               40.9%

Morse               44.6%               43.9%

Warring            40.9%               38.6%

Smith                54.6%               53.1%

District              39.5%               37.9%