These New Bedford Schools Have Issues With Chronic Absenteeism

Massachusetts has a problem getting some students to go to school.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), "Almost 1 in 4 Massachusetts students missed 18 or more days of school in 2022-23."

That is chronic absenteeism.

DESE says, "Massachusetts defines chronically absent as missing at least 10 percent of days enrolled (for instance, 18 days absent if enrolled for a typical school year of 180 days), regardless of the reason for the absence."

The Department says, "Being chronically absent can have a significant impact on a student's academic progress and their ability to access the variety of academic and non-academic supports that schools provide."

Schools are identified by DESE as Attendance Priority Schools if their chronic absenteeism rate is higher than the statewide pre-pandemic rate and if they did not make significant strides in decreasing it.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education considers 25 public schools in New Bedford to be Attendance Priority Schools.

The New Bedford schools listed by DESE include Charles S. Ashley, Elizabeth Carter Brooks, Elwyn G. Campbell, James B. Congdon, Sgt. William H. Carney Academy, John B. Devalles, Alfred J. Gomes, Irwin M. Jacobs Elementary School, Ellen R. Hathaway, Hayden/McFadden, Abraham Lincoln, Carlos Pacheco, John Avery Parker, Casimir Pulaski and the Renaissance Community Innovation School.

Other New Bedford schools on DESE's list include Thomas R. Rodman, Jireh Swift, William H. Taylor, Betsey B. Winslow, Keith Middle School, Normandin Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School, New Bedford High School, Trinity Day Academy, and Whaling City Junior/Senior High School.

DESE says, "Specifically, schools were identified as Attendance Priority Schools if their 2022-23 chronic absenteeism rate was higher than the pre-pandemic (2018-19) statewide chronic absenteeism for that school's grade span (elementary school, middle school, high school, K-8, or 7-12) UNLESS the school decreased their chronic absenteeism rate by 50 percent or more between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years."

To find DESE's complete statewide list of Attendance Priority Schools, click here.