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DeSoto County school district’s absentee rate tops state average

By , Daily Memphian Updated: August 14, 2024 7:03 PM CT | Published: August 14, 2024 5:27 PM CT

More students across Mississippi were chronically absent during the 2023-24 school year compared to the prior year, according to statistics released by the Mississippi Department of Education on Wednesday, Aug. 14. 

During the previous school year, the Department of Education reported an absentee rate of 24.4% compared to 23.9% in 2022-23. The rate was even higher at DeSoto County Schools, according to the statistics. For the 2023-24 school year, DCS reported that 26.82% of its students were chronically absent. 

Despite topping the state average, DCS did improve from the 2022-23 school year, when it reported that 28.52% of its students were chronically absent. 


Chronic absenteeism: DeSoto County sees rise in percentage in recent years

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DeSoto County Schools DCS Cory Uselton DeSoto County Mississippi Department of Education chronic absenteeism Subscriber Only

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Rob Moore

Rob Moore

Rob Moore covers North Mississippi for The Daily Memphian. He holds a B.A. and an M.A. in English from The University of Memphis.

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