Sarah Karp and Mila Koumpilova
And yet, Chicago Public Schools’ graduation rate has continued to inch up — from 81% in 2019 to 85% in 2024. Part of the reason: School district officials are giving students more chances to make up work and pass their classes even after weeks of absences.
In short, it’s easier now to miss a lot of school and still graduate.
“We as a system have been focused on not punishing students for being absent, but really understanding what are the barriers and trying to work actively to address that and also to support them not to miss learning opportunities,” said CPS Chief Education Officer Bogdana Chkoumbova.