SHARE

Mount Vernon School District Reports Chronic Absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism at three Westchester County school districts is more than double the state average, according to lohud.com.

The Peekskill City School District is one of three in Westchester County that has above average absenteeism rates in the county.

The Peekskill City School District is one of three in Westchester County that has above average absenteeism rates in the county.

Photo Credit: File photo

The data, pulled from a federal report, shows that Mount Vernon, Yonkers and Peekskill have students who are chronically absent, said lohud.com.

Mount Vernon reported an absenteeism rate of 33.3 percent, Yonkers was 24.9 percent and Peekskill reported 30 percent, according to data from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil  Rights that was examined by the Westchester Children's Association, added lohud.com.

The data, which looked at the 2013-14 school year, also showed the county's average absenteeism was 13.3 percent, the same as the national average, but higher than the state average of 11 percent, said lohud.com.

The data pointed to poverty as one of the main reasons for the higher rates. Mount Vernon, Yonkers and Peekskill all have students that fall into that category, with between 73 and 79 percent eligible for the free lunch program, added lohud.com,

The data did not offer reasons for the absenteeism, said lohud.com.

Click here to read the lohud.com story.

to follow Daily Voice Mount Vernon and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE