Georgia chronic school absenteeism rate drops to 17.7% in 2025‑26

The Georgia Department of Education reported that the state's chronic absenteeism rate fell to 17.7% for the 2025‑26 school year, a decline of about two percentage points from the previous year and continuing a downward trend since the pandemic. While the rate remains roughly five points higher than pre‑COVID levels, it is lower than the national average, which FutureEd estimates at about 20%.

Analysts highlighted the improvement, noting Georgia’s early release of attendance data and the impact of recent legislation. Senate Bill 123, passed last year, required districts with high absenteeism to form attendance review teams and engage parents. A further measure, Senate Bill 513, seeks to expand these efforts despite opposition in the House. Nat Malkus of the American Enterprise Institute called the decline “impressive,” and Hedy Chang, CEO of Attendance Works, praised the state's commitment to timely data. Senator RaShaun Kemp (D‑Atlanta) emphasized the importance of keeping students in seats for learning.

The data suggest Georgia is recovering from pandemic‑related attendance challenges faster than many other states.