LTHS Chronic Absenteeism Drops, But Still High

LA GRANGE, IL – Lyons Township High School saw a drop in chronic absenteeism last school year, unlike some of its nearby counterparts, according to state data released this week.

The state tracks the rate of students who are absent 10 percent or more of the days in a school year, whether excused or not. For a 180-day year, that means a student missed at least 18 days, or 3½ weeks.

According to the data, 24 percent of Lyons Township High School students were chronically absent last school year, down from 28 percent the previous year. The rate was 6 percent in 2019-20.

Lyons Township High officials have said they would crack down on absenteeism.

At Hinsdale Central, 21 percent of students were chronically absent last school year, up from 6 percent in the 2019-2020 year.

Hinsdale South has risen to 26 percent, from 10 percent in the 2019-2020 year.

Elmhurst's York High School saw a particularly high increase last school year, to 37 percent. Its rate stood at 10 percent in 2019-2020.

Average daily attendance has dropped at area schools.

At Lyons Township, the average attendance was 92 percent last school year, compared with six-year highs of 97 percent in 2020 and 2021.

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, students need daily instruction to succeed. Those who are chronically absent are at risk of suffering academic and social problems, the state says.

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM
Here are the percentages of students who missed at least 10 percent of days in a school year with or without a valid excuse:

Lyons Township High School
2023 24%
2022 28%
2021 6%
2020 6%
2019 13%
2018 11%

Hinsdale South High School
2023 26%
2022 23%
2021 17%
2020 10%
2019 17%
2018 16%

Hinsdale Central High School
2023 21%
2022 20%
2021 6%
2020 6%
2019 9%
2018 13%

York High School
2023 37%
2022 22%
2021 7%
2020 10%
2019 10%
2018 15%

AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE
Here are the rates of average daily attendance:

Lyons Township High School
2023 92%
2022 92%
2021 97%
2020 97%
2019 95%
2018 95%

Hinsdale South High School
2023 91%
2022 92%
2021 94%
2020 95%
2019 94%
2018 93%

Hinsdale Central High School
2023 93%
2022 93%
2021 97%
2020 96%
2019 95%
2018 94%

York High School
2023 89%
2022 91%
2021 96%
2020 96%
2019 95%
2018 94%