Chronic first-term absenteeism increases in Prince William schools

Chronic absenteeism increased compared to the 2023-2024 school year in Prince William County schools. (Graphic courtesy of PWCS)

Chronic absenteeism increased in the 2024-2025 school year compared to the same period in the 2023-2024 school year, according to recent data from Prince William County Schools (PWCS).

According to a presentation made at the Dec. 4 PWCS school board meeting, 15.4 percent of students are considered chronically absent as of Oct. 31, which marked the end of the first quarter. In the 2023-24 school year at the same time, only 14.7% of students were considered chronically absent.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as an absence of 10% or more or 18 days of school for an enrolled student by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Justified and unjustified absences count towards the rate of chronic absenteeism.