Lowell City officials report mixed progress on chronic absenteeism; high school and special programs remain a challenge

Administrators reported that chronic absenteeism in Lowell City has improved at many elementary grade levels but remains high in some high‑school grades and special programs, and outlined a set of interventions the district is using to address the problem.

A district presenter summarized recent data, saying district non‑high‑school chronic absenteeism for 2024–25 was 15.1 percent, down from 17.5 percent the prior year and from roughly 23 percent earlier. The presenter said the districtwide high‑school aggregate rate for 2024–25 was 34.2 percent, down from 35.2 and 37.8 in prior years. “Remember, you’re chronically absent if you’re missing 10 percent or more of the school year,” the presenter said, noting that equates to roughly 18 days and about two days per month.

Those overall figures mask wide variation by grade and program. The presenter gave recent snapshots “as of yesterday”: early‑childhood 26.4 percent (down from 32 percent), kindergarten 20.3 percent, and most elementary grades clustering in the single digits to low teens. Several high‑school grades were higher (grade…