History teacher Jack Carney's high school classroom sits empty over winter break. Chronic absenteeism - or missing more than 10% of the school year - is growing nationally, though Wrangell's unique issues have further exacerbated the issue.
In the 2022-2023 school year, over 70% of Wrangell students were chronically absent. That's nearly double the state average and nearly three times the national average.
The Alaska Department of Education, which posts school district absenteeism numbers every year, defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10% of the school year. In Alaska, that amounts to 18 days of missed classes.
"If a student misses those 18 days every year from kindergarten to 12th grade, that will add up to them being absent for an entire school year," Wrangell Schools Superintendent Bill Burr said at the Dec. 16 school boar...
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