State education data released Friday showed that chronic absenteeism improved 1.1% statewide, but several Lake County urban districts are still struggling to keep students in school.
The state overall chronic absenteeism rate is 16.7%, officials said in a release. Officials said it marked three straight years of improvement.
The state defines chronic absenteeism as missing at least 10% of school days or about three and a half weeks.
In Lake County, seven districts fell below the state rate of 16.7%, with the Gary Community School Corp. faring the worst with a 63.6% chronic rate.
Attendance plays a key role in Indiana’s new A-F accountability grading system set to take effect next year.
The proposed grading system focuses on attendance at four checkpoints — grade 3, grades 4-8, grade 10 and grade 12.
The State Board of Education is taking feedback now and is expected to consider approval of the new state grading system by the end of the year.
During Thursday’s Gary School Board meeting, Superintendent Yvonne Stokes and Chief Academic Officer Cynthia Treadwell both addressed absenteeism but didn’t cite Gary’s rate or the new state report.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat it, we know our students, we know our community, and we love them. But at the end of the day, we need to teach our students …. to show up in our environment. Parents are our first teachers.”
Stokes cited a 2025 law with new requirements for districts that expanded truancy interventions to include older students in grades 7-12. Schools must report students who are chronically absent to the state.
In addition, an attendance plan is required for chronically absent students. Schools must hold an attendance conference no later than 10 instructional days after the student’s fifth absence.
Gary officials said they plan to address absenteeism with a restorative and problem-solving approach while examining root causes such as homelessness, bullying, illness, transportation, pregnancy, employment, and school avoidance.
The district offers opportunities for parents to be involved, including a new Parent Power Hour designed to give parents strategies to support their children in school. Each session is offered four different times to meet parents’ schedules.
Gary parents can also join the Parent Advisory Council and the Parent Partnership Council, both aimed at boosting communication and collaboration.
In Lake Station, Assistant Superintendent Christine Pepa said the district’s overall attendance rate remains at 91.4%
“For students to succeed in the classroom, punctuality and consistent attendance are essential,” she said.
She said the district has partnered with Lake Station City Court Judge Josh Matejczyk, who oversees a Truancy Court. Students with absenteeism issues and their parents are required to attend court to discuss the importance of regular, on-time attendance and to review Indiana’s attendance laws.
The district also partners with Geminus whose representatives also attend the Truancy Court to offer free services to address the underlying issues that contribute to missed school and chronic lateness.
Meanwhile, the state release said chronic absenteeism among Black students statewide improved 1.6%. Hispanic students improved 1.2% and students receiving free or reduced priced meals improved 1.7%.
Other statistics showed nearly 800 schools had a chronic absenteeism rate of less than 10%, compared to about 700 schools last year. About 78 schools have more than 50% of students who are chronically absent.
Chronic absenteeism is the highest in grades 9-12, according to the release. Nearly one in three students are chronically absent during their senior year.
State officials said the high school absentee rates underscore the new push for a revised state diploma reworking the high school track options for students that offer more work-based experiences.
Officials said chronically absent students are less likely to read by third grade, master key state assessment English and math skills or be college-ready.
“The data is clear: regular student attendance is vital to ensuring more students master foundational literacy and numeracy skills and graduate high school prepared for their next step,” said Katie Jenner, Indiana secretary of education.
To learn more, see the data center and reports at in.gov/doe/
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
2024-25 Chronic Absentee Rates*
Indiana 16.7%
Lake County
Hanover Central 11%
River Forest Community 23.3%
Merrillville Community 19.6%
Lake Central 16.2%
Tri-Creek 28.4%
Lake Ridge New Tech 32%
Crown Point Community 13.2%
School City of East Chicago 25.8%
Lake Station Community 31.3%
Gary Community 63.6%
Griffith Public Schools 14.2%
School City of Hammond 28.9%
School Town of Highland 11.7%
School City of Hobart 10.7%
School Town of Munster 7.9%
School City of Whiting 19.7%
Porter County
MSD Boone Township 15.2%
Duneland School Corp. 15.6%
East Porter County 8.7%
Porter Township 8.2%
Union Township 6.9%
Portage Township 20.3%
Valparaiso Community 9.0%
Charter schools
Charter School of the Dunes 30.8%
Thea Bowman 6.7%
Gary Lighthouse 36.3%
21st Century 25.8%
East Chicago Urban 25.6%
Aspire 25.8%
HAST 20.1%
Discovery Charter 17.4%
Steel City 16.4%
HIAT (Higher Institute) 32.5%
Private
Diocese of Gary 9.9%
*Indiana Department of Education
