Nome Elementary report shows 40.6% of students chronically absent so far this year

Nome Elementary School has counted 114 of its 281 students, or 40.6%, as chronically absent so far this school year, according to a report prepared for the Nome Public Schools Board of Education. The board meets Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 5:30 pm in the school library.

Chronic absence means missing 10% or more of enrolled school days. Thirty-six students have fallen below 80% attendance.

Half of first graders, 26 students, are chronically absent, followed by fourth grade at 46.9%. First-grade attendance dropped from 91.36% in August to 83.12% in October, and kindergarten fell from 97.04% to 85.98%. Schoolwide attendance fell each month, from 90.13% in August to 87.85% in October.

Many of the students missed a lot of school last year too. Of the 30 chronically absent fourth graders, 20 were also chronically absent last school year. In first grade, 13 of 26 were. Principal Corey Shepherd and Assistant Principal Jennifer Shreve wrote that tracking those repeat cases can help the school address absences that last more than one year.

"We have begun individual outreach to affected families to identify root causes and barriers to offer supports that we have available," they said in the report.

Enrollment has also dropped, from 291 at the start of the year, mainly because families moved out of the community, the report says.

Statewide, 42.8% of Alaska students were chronically absent in the 2025 school year, according to a state school board draft strategic plan. The plan sets a goal of cutting that rate by 6% by 2029.