INDIANA – A recent study has placed Indiana among the top 10 U.S. states experiencing the most significant decline in daily school attendance. The research, conducted by the online HR platform Techr, analyzed average daily attendance data from America’s Public Schools (Common Core Data) over three years, from 2019 to 2021.
The study reveals that Indiana holds the sixth position nationwide for the worst decline in average daily attendance, with a three-year average of 64,494 students absent daily. The Hoosier State recorded its highest average daily attendance (985,832) in 2020, while 2021 saw the lowest figure (916,943) during the study period.
Table for Expanded Results:
| U.S States With the Worst Decline in School Attendance | |||||
| State | Average Daily Attendance 2019 | Average Daily Attendance 2020 | Average Daily Attendance 2021 | 3-Year Average Decline in Attendance | Rank |
| New York | 2452554 | 2448959 | 2328309 | -124245 | 1 |
| Illinois | 1768913 | 1778569 | 1679457 | -89456 | 2 |
| Florida | 2791064 | 2763134 | 2706680 | -84384 | 3 |
| Georgia | 1701688 | 1719554 | 1627095 | -74593 | 4 |
| North Carolina | 1436746 | 1463070 | 1370216 | -66530 | 5 |
| Indiana | 981437 | 985832 | 916943 | -64494 | 6 |
| Michigan | 1361496 | 1353392 | 1302566 | -58930 | 7 |
| Colorado | 809680 | 812733 | 753412 | -56268 | 8 |
| Wisconsin | 806145 | 795915 | 749958 | -56187 | 9 |
| Missouri | 842465 | 844043 | 786624 | -55841 | 10 |
The research analyzed average daily attendance for three years (2019-2021) from Common Core Data (America’s Public Schools). The average decline in attendance from 2019 to 2021 was calculated to identify the top U.S. states with declining school attendance.
Techr elaborated on the potential causes behind this trend, noting, “The significant decline in daily attendance among students can be attributed to a combination of factors. Key drivers include mental health challenges, bullying, logistical barriers such as transportation issues, and a lack of motivation or relevance in academic content.”
The study suggests that addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach from state leaders and policymakers. Potential strategies highlighted include implementing early warning systems to identify students at risk of absenteeism, developing personalized attendance plans to tackle specific barriers, and fostering supportive school environments that promote student engagement.
Data Sources
- Daily Attendance Data → https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/finance_data.asp
- Research Dataset → https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13PRgunp4eoXdXcf-uhSgA2OwehqZ2E59DInWGkOol4w/edit?gid=1064885829#gid=1064885829
- Study by → elearningindustry.com/hr-directory
