Michigan ranks No. 6 among states for worst record in chronic absenteeism 29% of Michigan students were chronically absent in 2025

The American Enterprise Institute report, "From Attendance Crisis to Chronic Condition?,” defines a chronically absent student as one who misses at least 10% of the days in a school year. - Jamie A. Hope

• Michigan had the sixth-worst rate among 44 states for the number of students who were chronically absent from school in 2025, according to the new report. 

Last year, 29% of students in the Great Lakes State were chronically absent.

• The Flint Community Schools district reported that 49% of its students were chronically absent in 2019 — a number that soared to 81% in 2022. Absenteeism has slightly decreased since then, dropping to 74% in 2025, according to the Return to Learn Tracker.
• Grand Rapids Public Schools reported in 2019 that 27% of its students experienced chronic absenteeism. The absenteeism rate peaked at 54% in 2022, declining to 41% in 2025...