Mississippi’s chronic absenteeism rate declined slightly during the 2025-26 school year, but more than 115,000 students still missed significant instructional time, according to a new report from the Mississippi Department of Education.
MDE released its 2025-26 Chronic Absenteeism Report this week, showing the statewide rate fell to 26.5%, down from 27.6% during the 2024-25 school year.
The latest rate represents 115,385 Mississippi students who were chronically absent.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing at least 10% of the school year, or the equivalent of 18 days, for any reason. That includes excused and unexcused absences as well as suspensions.
According to MDE, 64% of absences during the 2025-26 school year were unexcused, while 36% were excused.
“It is encouraging to see a decrease in the state’s chronic absenteeism rate,” State Superintendent of Education Lance Evans said. “This tells us that schools, districts, and families are doing what’s necessary to ensure more students get to school to receive essential and valuable instruction.”
Evans said MDE wants to see the rate continue to decline and plans to support families in addressing barriers that cause students to miss school.
The report found chronic absenteeism was lowest among students in grades 2-5. Rates were higher among kindergarten and first-grade students and highest among students in grades 6-12.
MDE said the grade-level data can help districts develop more targeted strategies rather than taking the same approach for all K-12 students.
The department is recommending several steps for schools, including using positive reinforcement, creating mentorship programs, considering alternatives to suspension, recognizing good or improved attendance and working with school attendance officers to identify students at risk of becoming chronically absent.
Attendance rules changing for 2026-27
The way Mississippi calculates attendance will change during the 2026-27 school year.
The 2025-26 chronic absenteeism rate was calculated based on students attending less than 63% of their instructional day. Beginning in 2026-27, MDE will use the federal definition of an absence, which considers a student absent when he or she misses 50% or more of the school day.
Mississippi lawmakers also updated the state’s compulsory school attendance law during the 2026 legislative session.
Under the changes, students will be considered present when they attend at least 66% of the school day. Medical and dental appointment excuses will require documentation from a provider, and students will generally be limited to five excused absences per semester unless a superintendent approves additional absences because of extenuating circumstances.
Schools will also be required to check in with parents after a student accumulates three absences.
MDE began reporting chronic absenteeism data in 2016. Mississippi recorded its lowest rate, 13%, during the 2018-19 school year. The rate later climbed to a record 28% in 2021-22 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
