In 2005, 19 percent of 4th-graders and 20 percent of 8th-graders reported missing 3 or more days of school in the previous month.

This indicator examines both the extent of absenteeism in 2005 among 4th- and 8th-graders during the preceding month and changes in the absenteeism rate since 1994. When asked about their attendance in the previous month, 52 percent of 4th-graders in 2005 reported perfect attendance (i.e., no absences from school); 29 percent reported missing 1–2 days of school; and 19 percent reported missing 3 or more days (see table 24-1). Among 8th-graders, 45 percent reported perfect attendance, 35 percent reported missing 1–2 days of school, and 20 percent reported missing 3 or more days.

Between 1994 and 2005, these patterns of absenteeism remained relatively stable. For example, there was no measurable change in the percentage of 4th- or 8th-graders reporting perfect attendance. Likewise, there was no measurable change in the percentage of 4th-graders reporting that they were absent from school for 3 or more days, though for 8th-graders this percentage declined from 22 percent in 1994 to 20 percent in 2005. For most of the years observed, 4th-graders were more likely than 8th-graders to have perfect attendance, and 8th-graders were more likely than 4th-graders to miss 3 or more days of school.

In 2005, rates of absenteeism varied by certain student characteristics. In both grades, students were more likely to miss 3 or more days of school if a language other than English was spoken at home, if the student was an English language learner, or if the student was classified as having a disability (see table 24-2). Additionally, in both grades, a lower percentage of Asian/Pacific Islander students and a higher percentage of American Indian students reported missing 3 or more days of school than their peers in other racial and ethnic groups. Students who were eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch were more likely to be absent from school for 3 or more days than those who were not eligible. This pattern among students eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch has remained stable for both 4th- and 8th-grade students between 1998 and 2005.