HIGHTSTOWN, NJ – Chronic absenteeism has improved throughout the East Windsor Regional School District (EWRSD) and continues trending better than state rates. However, Hightstown High School saw an uptick that pushed it above the state threshold requiring schools to develop corrective action plans.
During the August 10, 2026, EWRSD Board of Education meeting, school officials provided an update on chronic absenteeism, defined as a student missing 10 percent or more of the days they are enrolled — equivalent to 18 days in an 180-day school year.
“I think a lot of it comes down to consistency and communication and really just kind of conveying a sense of care to families and the importance of attending school,” said Superintendent Mark Daniels.
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Hightstown High School saw its rate increase 2.5 percentage points, from 9.2 percent in 2024–25 to 11.7 percent in 2025–26, putting it above the 10 percent threshold at which state law requires schools to develop corrective action plans.
Grace N. Rogers Elementary School also saw a smaller increase, from 7.4 percent to 8 percent.
EWRSD's chronic absenteeism rate has remained below the state average for several years, standing at 5.9 percent in the 2018-19 school year compared with 10.6 percent statewide.
Figures were not reported from 2019 through 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, EWRSD has continued to trend below the state, with chronic absenteeism falling from 12.7 percent in 2022–23 to 11.8 percent in 2023–24 and 10.5 percent in 2024–25. Statewide rates during those years were 16.6 percent, 14.9 percent and 14.4 percent, respectively.
David Roe, EWRSD director of student services, clarified that chronic absenteeism and truancy are not the same thing.
“Truancy is when a student’s absent from school, and we don’t have a reason for it,” Roe said, noting even a documented illness, while excused under the district's truancy policy, can still count toward chronic absenteeism under state guidelines.
College visits, religious observances and Take Your Child to Work Day are among the few absences that do not count toward chronic absenteeism under state guidelines, he said.
Roe said research has linked chronic absenteeism to poorer reading and math achievement, with greater disparities among economically disadvantaged students.
“It greatly increases the dropout risk for students and, alongside GPA, can be a great predictor of whether or not a student’s going to drop out,” he added.
“We’re doing better than the state, and obviously we'd like to get the number much lower,” he said. “We've dropped significantly over the past few years, but clearly there's more work to do.”
Administrators from four district schools that exceeded the 10 percent threshold in 2023–24 presented their corrective action plans to the board.
The schools include Walter C. Black Elementary School, Perry L. Drew Elementary School, Ethel McKnight Elementary School, and Melvin H. Kreps Middle School. While all four schools saw decreases in chronic absenteeism, Walter C. Black showed particularly significant improvement, with its rate falling from 17.4 percent in 2023–24 to 9.7 percent in 2025–26.
Efforts outlined by administrators included individualized student plans, counselors and outside resources, family communication, referrals for persistent cases and incentive programs.
“We made tremendous growth and I think it really has to do with the kids being excited to come to school, and then the personal touch that we’re doing,” said Brittany Santucci, assistant principal of Walter C. Black Elementary School.
Jazmyn Allen, principal of Perry L. Drew Elementary School, said communication and group meetings have been integral in reducing absenteeism.
“We are doing that outreach and having those small groups to ensure that the students also know what it means to be prepared and to ensure that they are taking their ownership in their education,” she said.
The next board meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 31, 2026, at 7 p.m. In addition to attending the meeting at Hightstown High School, located at 25 Leshin Lane, the meeting is also livestreamed on YouTube.