DPS targets chronic absenteeism after 11k students miss too much school

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Southpoint AccessWes Platt

Nearly half of Durham Public Schools high school students missed at least one day out of every 10 last school year, placing them in the district’s chronically absent category.

Across all grade levels, 11,101 students, or 35.4%, were chronically absent during the 2025-26 school year. DPS wants to reduce that rate to 30% this year.

The Durham Board of Education will review the district’s attendance plan during its work session Thursday, Sept. 10. Board members also will take a closer look at the latest academic results, consider a $750,000 project addressing overdue fire-safety work at 20 elementary schools, and review policy changes involving instructional materials, religious exemptions, and minority-owned businesses.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the board room at the Fuller Building, 511 Cleveland St. General public comment is scheduled near the beginning of the meeting.

The full Sept. 10 board packet runs 396 pages. Here’s what stands out.