Michigan public schools posted a 91.5% attendance rate for the 2025-2026 year, the highest in four years and part of a steady decline in chronic absenteeism across the state.
Michigan public schools ended the 2025-2026 year with a 91.5% attendance rate, the highest since 2021-2022. That year, attendance was 88.8%, according to the Michigan Department of Education. The increase reflects ongoing efforts by districts to keep students in class. In Farmington, for example, local attendance programs are coordinated with state goals and progress is reported regularly to the Board of Education.
Chronic absenteeism is also down. Last year, 27.2% of Michigan students missed at least 10% of school days, the state's standard since 2017. That's a drop of 0.7 percentage points from the previous year and 11.3 points lower than the 38.5% peak in 2021-2022. Districts have focused on removing barriers to regular attendance, a trend noted in recent Oakland County education reports.
District actions behind the numbers
State officials point to local district work as the main driver of improvement. Schools have used direct calls to parents, family meetings, mental health support, and even door-to-door outreach. The Michigan Department of Education credits these approaches with helping reverse absenteeism rates that had been stubbornly high. In Detroit, the Public Schools Community District expanded its attendance incentive program, now offering weekly gift cards to high school students and, for the first time, to middle school families as well.
Michigan defines chronic absenteeism as missing at least 10% of school days, a measure used statewide. While more than a quarter of students still fall into this category, the numbers are improving. For families and teachers, this means fewer students are missing out on instruction-a concern raised often at Farmington city council meetings and in community forums.
Statewide context and ongoing challenges
Despite the gains, chronic absenteeism remains a problem. As previously reported, more than a quarter of Michigan K-12 students missed at least 18 days of school last year. Local school boards, including those in Farmington and Farmington Hills, continue to review attendance data and try new strategies to support students at risk of falling behind.
State Superintendent Michael F. Rice noted the progress but said that continued cooperation among districts, families, and community partners is needed to keep the momentum going. The Department of Education has called for ongoing work to further reduce absenteeism and make sure every student has the support to attend school regularly. Community engagement remains a focus, with the City of Farmington Hills sharing updates on youth services and school partnerships through its City Council portal.
What the data shows
The 91.5% attendance rate for 2025-2026 is up 0.2 percentage points from the previous year and 2.7 points from 2021-2022. Chronic absenteeism, now at 27.2%, has dropped by more than 11 points over the same period. These changes mean thousands more students are back in classrooms across Michigan, including in Oakland County.
Michigan's approach combines outreach, family involvement, and mental health resources to address why students miss school. The results show that targeted, community-based efforts can make a difference, but also that there is still work to do. Keeping students in school remains a priority for Michigan's education system and for local communities like Farmington and Farmington Hills.
