decreasing, according to Brookings.edu. Research found that between the school years of
2018–2019 and 2021–2022, the percentage of Kindergarten through 12th grade students,
who were chronically absent, doubled. This would show a rate increase from 15 percent to
28 percent in absences.
This website also stated that in the COVID–19 pandemic uprising years of 2020–2021, the
attendance rates at schools across the globe decreased by more than 50 percent. In that
same report, they believed that the large fall of attendance rates was directly correlated to
the pandemic itself.
Looking specifically at the Omaha Public Schools website, they stated that missing just 10
percent of school can make it harder for students to gain early reading and math skills,
graduate and achieve academic success.
Omaha Public Schools stated, “attendance is the key to success and missing no more than
nine days throughout the school year shows direct correlation between student
attendance and academic achievement.”
As of February 2025, Omaha North High School has been having a severe decrease in
attendance rates according to Lindsay Longwell, Omaha North’s social worker. She
conveyed that since COVID–19 North attendance rates have been decreasing and the
attendance rates are starting to see the lingering effect that COVID–19 had.
Longwell also highlights that the media and community need to understand that
attendance rates should be seen as a whole community issue.
“I think that the media and community need to recognize attendance is a ‘community–
wide’ problem, not just a school’s problem. It is going to take more than just attendance
meetings and news articles to see lasting change,” said Longwell.
There are many different reasons behind why students are absent from school. Rick
Thurston an administrator and student support at Omaha North, believed that there is
always more to the story regarding on the why.
“There is so many factors and situations that are based individually, that you will always
have to dig a little bit deeper then just what the surface is of just the students missing
school,” said Thurston.
Thurston has been apart of the staff at North for 16 years and have seen many different
trends with attendance.
“Attendance is very tricky, there has always been a number of students that have issues
with their attendance,” said Thurston.
According to Omaha Public Schools, it is important for students to be on time and present
to their classes because it leads to better education, and they will be more likely to be on
course to graduate on time.
One way that the school systems are trying to improve attendance rates is by putting out
statements regarding attendance and making it known to parents that education is
important. In order for their children to get the best education possible, the students need
to show up on time for school.
The state of Nebraska also has a law requiring children from the ages of six to 17 years old
to show up to school and have good attendance according to Omaha Public Schools. This
is highlighted in the statements released by the school board in hopes of convincing
parents to help their children get to school on time everyday.
Omaha Public Schools also gave further information stating that families should contact
the school when they find out their child will be absent.
“Families are encouraged to call their child’s school as soon as they are aware their child
will be absent. There are many reasons that a student’s absence would be excused and
those are recorded as excused when the school is notified of the reason by a family,” stated
Omaha Public Schools. This shows that the student was not absent but rather excused.
Despite the overall decline, Omaha Public Schools has continued to put out statements
discussing the matter of students effectiveness to show up to school, and the all–
encompassing impact that attendance has on students education.
