Tens of thousands of students in Edmonton’s public and Catholic schools are consistently missing classes each year, according to data revealed by CBC News. Education specialists express concern about the increasing numbers of chronic absenteeism, which may signify underlying issues for these students.
Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing at least 10% of the school year, has been on the rise in Edmonton in recent years. The data indicates that attendance is particularly concerning in public schools, with more than three out of ten students missing significant class time annually since the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. A similar trend is observed in Catholic high schools.
Jacqueline Leighton, an educational psychology professor at the University of Alberta, emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that high absenteeism rates could signal issues within the school environment or classrooms that deter students from attending.
An analysis conducted by CBC News on student absences across major Canadian cities, including Edmonton’s public and Catholic school divisions, tracked four categories: chronic absenteeism, excused absences, illness-related absences, and unexcused absences. While the Catholic school data spans from 2018-19 to 2024-25, the public school data only dates back to 2019-20 due to discrepancies in data collection.
Both school divisions experienced a surge in chronic absenteeism during the pandemic, peaking in the 2022-23 academic year before showing a slight decline. However, the overall number of recorded absences, whether excused or unexcused, remained high.
Education experts underscore the significance of addressing attendance issues early, as persistent absenteeism can be a precursor to students dropping out of school and facing subsequent challenges in life. Factors contributing to absenteeism range from illness and transportation issues to anxiety, bullying, or personal choice.
Efforts to combat absenteeism involve collaboration between schools, families, and communities to develop tailored strategies that promote student engagement and attendance. By fostering strong student-teacher relationships and identifying and removing barriers to attendance, schools aim to create a conducive learning environment that encourages regular class attendance.