District Spotlight
Hazard Cut Its Chronic Absence Rate Nearly in Half
Hazard Independent dropped from 43.2% to 22.5% chronic absenteeism in two years, the largest improvement among Kentucky districts with at least 500 students.
Kentucky Education News & Data
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Demographics
English Learners Are Kentucky's Attendance Overachievers
Kentucky's 54,712 English learners have a 22.7% chronic absence rate — below the state average. EL enrollment grew 22% while attendance improved.
District Spotlight
Bowling Green Keeps Chronic Absence at Half the State Rate
Bowling Green Independent, a diverse refugee-rich district of 5,229, posted a 12.6% chronic rate — less than half Kentucky's 25% average.
Equity
In 7 Kentucky Districts, Black Students Attend Better
Seven large districts show Black students with lower chronic absenteeism than white students — a reversal of the national pattern that raises questions about what drives racial attendance gaps.
District Spotlight
Louisville's One-in-Three Attendance Problem
JCPS chronic absenteeism dropped to 33.1% but 32,670 students still miss too much school. The Black-white gap reaches 10.4 points.
Equity
Half of Kentucky's Homeless Students Miss Too Much School
Kentucky's 21,832 students who are currently homeless have a 42.7% chronic absence rate. Foster care students barely improved at all.
Absence
86% of Kentucky Districts Hit Best-Ever Attendance
150 of 174 Kentucky districts recorded their lowest chronic absenteeism rate in 2024-25. Only six districts got worse.
Equity
Kentucky's Racial Attendance Gap Grew Even as Everyone Improved
Black students improved less than white students on chronic absenteeism, widening the gap from 5.5 to 6.6 points. But 7 districts reversed the pattern entirely.
District Spotlight
Eastern Kentucky's Attendance Crisis Persists
14 Appalachian districts still exceed 40% chronic absenteeism despite dramatic improvement. Harlan County leads at 51.6%.
Absence
Kentucky's Attendance Recovery Picks Up Speed
Kentucky's chronic absenteeism dropped from 30% to 25% in two years, but one in four students still misses too much school and the pre-COVID baseline remains distant.
Data Release
Kentucky Publishes 2024-25 Chronic Absenteeism Data
KDE releases 2024-25 chronic absenteeism data showing a 25.0% statewide rate, down nearly 5 points in two years but still 7 points above the pre-COVID baseline.