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2 clusters · 2 sources · 19 days · First seen · Last updated

School absenteeism in the UK and US

Overview

School absenteeism rates in the United Kingdom and the United States have remained significantly elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels.

In the United Kingdom, data from the Department for Education indicated a record 160,000 pupils were severely absent, representing a 167% increase since 2019. In Wales, figures for the 2025/26 academic year showed that 26.4% of pupils in maintained schools were persistently absent. Experts have linked these trends to Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), where students avoid school due to anxiety or emotional distress.

In the United States, chronic absenteeism has been a persistent issue, particularly among kindergarteners. While national chronic absenteeism rates decreased to 22.6% in 2025 from a 2022 peak of 28.3%, levels remain a concern for educators. The issue is notably more acute in historically disadvantaged districts and specific states, including Alaska, Oregon, and New Mexico.

Entities

Colorado · Namaqua Elementary School · Welsh Government · Department for Education (UK) · American Enterprise Institute

Timeline

  1. 5 days ago

    [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Student absenteeism remains high in Wales and the United States

    Chronic student absenteeism remains high in Wales and the U.S., exceeding pre-pandemic levels and raising concerns regarding mental health and academic success.

  2. 24 days ago

    [INTERNATIONAL] 2 sources
    Record School Absenteeism Surge in UK and US

    UK records a 167 % rise in severe school absences with 160,000 pupils affected, while US kindergarten absenteeism hits 29 % in Colorado, prompting targeted school interventions.

Sources

independent.co.uk · tenby-today.co.uk