Fewer MN Kids Are Showing Up To School, State Data Shows

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota's public schools are having a difficult time getting enrolled students to show up, according to data released by the state Thursday.

The Minnesota Department of Education tracks "consistent attendance," which is defined as the number of students who are attending school at least 90 percent of the time.

Only 69.8 percent of students attended school at least 90 percent of the time during the 2021-2022 school year in Minnesota.

The data is even more bleak in two of the state's largest school districts. Only 57 percent of St. Paul Public School students regularly attended school during the 2021-2022 academic year, and just 46 percent in Minneapolis Public Schools.

Before the pandemic, Minnesota’s consistent attendance rate was about 85 percent statewide, officials said.

Unsurprisingly, test scores are also down across the state. Students continue to struggle in basic proficiency of science, math, and reading following pandemic-related shutdowns.

Just 39.2 percent of students who took the science assessments in 2023 met or exceeded grade-level standards, which is a 2.1 percentage point drop from 2022.

Read more on state test scores here.