Like other school districts, Cherry Hill is trying to get a grip on chronic absenteeism, which can severely affect achievement throughout a student's education.
A chronically absent student is one who has missed at least 10% of the school year, or 18 days, for any reason, according to the state definition. Cherry Hill data so far this school year show about 14.1% of all students have been chronically absent, a share down slightly from 14.8% in 2024-25.
But statistics filed with the state for the 2023-24 year, the latest available, show the severity of the attendance problem: Nearly 3% of Cherry Hill students are absent 20% or more of the year, about 5% are absent between 13% and 19.9% of the year and about 6% are absent between 10% to 12.9% of the year.
About two-thirds of all students are absent only up to 6.9% of the days and 3% have perfect attendance, according to the state data.
"It's significant and it's pervasive," Superintendent Kwame R. Morton said after a presentation on chronic absenteeism at the October 14 school board meeting after a presentation on absenteeism. "We recognize it's definitely a huge challenge for us. It will be a comprehensive effort for us to tackle this, home and school," he added.
Chronic absenteeism is prevalent in the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten years, possibly because a premium is not put on showing up, school officials said. However, some high school students show high rates of absenteeism.
In Cherry Hill, Cherry Hill High School West had the higher chronic absenteeism rate (19.9%) in 2023-24 followed by Carusi Middle School (18%) and Clara Barton Elementary (17.6%), according to the state data. The lowest rates were at Cooper Elementary (4.6%), Sharp Elementary (6.7%) and Russell Knight Elementary (7%). The district averaged 13.5% and the statewide average was 14.9%. (See the list below)
"Just missing a few days can set students behind weeks," Caitlin Mallory, the district director of special education, said during the presentation.Â
Cherry Hill's pre-school chronic absenteeism rate was 25%, the highest among all students, according to the district.
"It seems like our biggest issue is those younger grades and those smaller kids," said board member Renee Cherfane.
Cherfane said a misstep by the district was rolling out preschool as "free preschool" without the emphasis on education.
"I think that that kind of did us a disservice," she told the board. "The purpose of including preschool or making it universal as a state initiative and specifically in this district is to prepare students for school. It's not to just have free childcare."
Board President Gina Winters said she believes "this may be the first time that we've seen an analysis on this level of depth about something that's tangible and something that we as the school district and we as the board can help to get kids on track who are struggling."
School district officials said a program addressing absenteeism must show students they are physically and emotionally healthy and safe; build a sense of belonging, connectedness and support; challenge and engage students academically and grow both adult and student social-emotional competence.
"At our middle and high school levels, when we talk about belonging and connectedness, we've done research on when students are staying after school with us and are involved with extracurricular activities in one way or another. That sense of belongingness and connectedness seems to chip away at chronic absenteeism," said George Guy, director of elementary education.
The schools also began the school year focusing on the students who have been chronically absent in the past and monitoring their attendance, the school officials said.
Board member Cherfane said attention to absenteeism should be "at the center" of many of the board's initiatives.
"I think that we as a board should be looking at this the same way that we're looking at student achievement, because without students actually coming to school, you will not have student achievement," she said.
