The county announced April 27 that it is launching a new program to help tackle one of education’s most persistent problems.

More than a third of county high schoolers are chronically absent, defined as missing more than 10% of school days. 

The problem is not only in Prince George’s County. In Maryland, 35% of high schoolers were chronically absent in 2024, per state data. 

Mapping the problem

For Prince George’s County elementary school students, chronic absenteeism improved 4 percentage points from the second quarter of last school year to this year, to 24%, according to county schools data. For middle school, chronic rates are the lowest, at 18%, though they are 2% higher than last year. High school rates remained the same, at 34%.​

“The data shows a direct correlation between regular attendance and higher academic grades,” said Anthony Whittington, the director of monitoring and accountability for Prince George’s County Schools (PGCPS), at a board of education committee meeting on April 20.

In high school, that academic gap is most severe: 36% of non-chronically absent students earn A’s, while only 12% of chronically absent students receive similar grades. Furthermore, 30% of chronically absent high school students received an E or a failing grade, and 22% received D’s.​

Why are students missing school?

Reasons for absence vary, but they can be beyond the child’s control. Work or childcare obligations are the most commonly stated reasons, followed by lack of engagement and mental health, according to an April 23 presentation to the PGCPS school board.

“It also includes your students with disabilities who are out for significant reasons,” said Judith White, PGCPS chief academic officer, during the April 20 committee meeting. “Unfortunately, they don’t get a separate code. They also count for chronic absenteeism.”

For reasons like this, some board members don’t feel that chronic absenteeism rates alone are a helpful measurement.​

“I just completely disagree that chronic absenteeism is useful to boards of education,” said boardmember Pamela Boozer-Strother (District 3) during the April 20 meeting.​ She asked for a focus on attendance rates, and for data coded to show causes of absence, including late school buses.

The presentation to the full board of education three days later showed absence rates between 5 and 10% on most school days, spiking higher on early dismissal and late start days. 

Attendance ambassador program kick off

Participants in the county’s new attendance initiative, including business leaders, faith-based organizations, nonprofits and police, pledged April 27 to promote attendance as a “key driver” to academic success. At a press event, they committed to using their influence to encourage families to prioritize daily attendance and work alongside schools to address challenges and support strategies that pave a pathway for students to regularly attend school.

Interim Superintendent Shawn Joseph said that “absenteeism is not a behavior problem” and instead, a “signal that a child may be struggling or that a family may need support.”​

“By bringing together faith leaders, businesses, and families, we are creating a culture where every student feels seen, supported, and motivated to show up,” said County Executive Aisha Braveboy.