Attendance Matters – A Look at the Data

Examining Attendance Patterns and Impact on Test Scores

EOC staff examined attendance data and test scores from a sample of 493,609 public school students in South Carolina. The students were in 3rd through 12th grade during the 2023-2024 school year. 

Attendance Patterns:

• Perfect Attendance: Attended all days enrolled (zero absences)
• Excellent Attendance: Absent for less than 5% of days enrolled
• Good Attendance: Absent at least 5% but fewer than 10% of days enrolled
• Chronically Absent: Absent at least 10% but fewer than 15% of days enrolled
• Very Chronically Absent: Absent at least 15% but fewer than 20% of days
• Extremely Chronically Absent: Absent for 20% or more of days enrolled