Lyons Township High Chronic Absenteeism Still High

LA GRANGE, IL – Chronic absenteeism remains high at Lyons Township High School compared to before the pandemic.

At this week's school board meeting, Principal Jennifer Tyrrell reported that 23 percent of students were chronically absent last year.

Under the state's definition, students are chronically absent if they miss 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.

"We moved the needle a little bit over the course of the last few years," Tyrrell said.

In 2023, the school reported 24 percent of students were chronically absent, compared with 28 percent statewide. A year before, the high school's rate reached a high of 28 percent, a bit under the state's 30 percent.

In 2019, 13 percent of the high school's students were chronically absent, lower than the state's 18 percent.

"It's a problem that a lot of schools are struggling with," Tyrrell said.

Lyons Township High is researching the issue and comparing local numbers to those at comparable schools, she said.

In 2023, York High School's chronic absenteeism rate was 37 percent, over Lyons Township's 24 percent. Hinsdale Central High was at 21 percent.

Chronic absenteeism has become a concern among school board members.

Last fall, then-board President Dawn Aubert said the level of such absenteeism was "outrageous" and "unbelievable."