Prevalence and Predictors of Class Absence in Secondary School

• In Event: 30.081 - Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: 30.081-2 - Division L Section 5 Poster Session

Abstract

We examine the prevalence and predictors of class absences in middle and high schools using administrative data from a large urban district in California. Prior literature on the prevalence of absences has largely failed to distinguish whether students are absent from all their classes or only some of their classes that day. We find that about half of all absences from class are on days the student attended at least one other class, meaning that total absences in secondary school are much higher than commonly referenced full-day absence statistics. Students are substantially more likely to miss first period, followed by seventh period, compared to other periods, while class subject is less important to student attendance.

Author

• Jing Liu, Stanford University