How many kids don't go to school in the US?

Millions of kids don't attend school regularly in the U.S., with around 2.1 million K-12 students missing entirely (unaccounted for) as of 2023-24, and over 13-14 million students experiencing chronic absenteeism (missing 10%+ of school days) post-pandemic, a significant rise from pre-pandemic levels. For older youth (16-24), about 2.1 million are "status dropouts" (not in school, no diploma) in 2022, though the rate has fallen over a decade.

How many kids in the United States do not go to school?

In the two years before the pandemic, national rates of chronic absenteeism stood at 15%, a level widely regarded as a crisis. Post-pandemic, this rate had nearly doubled, to 28.5% by 2022.

How many absences is 90% attendance?

90% attendance means you can miss about 10% of the total school days, which translates to roughly 18-20 days in a 180-day year, or about 9 absences per semester, depending on the exact number of days in the school year and whether it's a semester or full-year course. This rule, common in US schools (like in Texas), means a student needs to be present for 90% of class time to earn credit, with all absences (excused or unexcused) counting towards this limit. 

What is the #1 least educated state?

According to multiple recent studies, West Virginia is consistently ranked as the #1 least educated state in the U.S., often followed by other Southern states like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, due to low percentages of adults with bachelor's degrees or higher and challenges with high school completion and educational quality.
 

Why is Gen Z skipping college?

Gen Z is questioning college due to sky-high costs, massive student debt, and a shaky job market where degrees don't guarantee success, leading many to explore lucrative alternatives like trade schools, entrepreneurship, or acquiring digital skills, valuing direct career entry and financial independence over traditional four-year paths. They see past generations struggling with loans and uncertain job prospects, shifting focus to better Return on Investment (ROI), with many regretting college or seeking more practical, cheaper education. 

Why Americans Don't Walk to School Anymore

What do Gen Z use instead of 😂?

Gen Z uses the 💀 (Skull) emoji to mean "I'm dead" from laughter, the 😭 (Loudly Crying Face) for intense humor or emotion, and sometimes the 🤡 (Clown Face) for foolishness, while finding the 😂 emoji outdated or "cheugy," often preferring these more dramatic or layered expressions of extreme amusement. 

Where do top 1% send kids to college?

The "top 1%" of students, often defined by family income, tend to go to highly selective, elite universities like Dartmouth, Yale, Penn, Brown, Princeton, and Stanford, MIT, and Harvard, with some Ivy League schools having a higher concentration of these students than the bottom 60% of income earners. Rankings vary, but MIT, Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, and UC Berkeley consistently appear at the top for overall academic standing, attracting top talent across all income levels. 

What is the #1 most educated city in America?

Ann Arbor, Michigan held steady at No. 1 for the second year in a row. With nearly 96% of adults holding a high school diploma, 58% with a bachelor's, and 31% with an advanced degree, this city continues to dominate both the “Educational Attainment” and “Quality of Education & Attainment Gap” categories.

What state has #1 education?

There isn't one single #1 state for education, as rankings vary by focus (K-12 vs. Higher Ed) and source, but Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Florida consistently rank at the top, with Massachusetts leading K-12, New Jersey overall (K-12 & Higher Ed), and Florida for higher education affordability/completion.
 

Who is the least educated group in America?

All races except Whites ranked last on at least one level with African Americans ranking last on the non-high school, high school and advanced degree level.

Is 27 absences bad?

Students who miss more than 18 days of school are less proficient in reading, writing and math compared to their peers with good attendance. Students who do not learn the fundamentals of reading, writing and math by third grade are more likely to fall behind and are less likely to graduate high school.

Is it illegal to take your child out of school for vacation?

While no school encourages unexcused absences, some have strict attendance policies regarding missing school for a vacation, even going so far as to deem it "illegal." Other schools take a holistic view, considering the child's grades and how many previous absences have occurred during the year.

Is the US falling behind in education?

Once a global leader in higher education, the country now finds itself spending more than nearly any of its peer nations while delivering outcomes that fall increasingly short. American students are less likely to complete college on time, and more likely to leave school burdened by debt without a degree.

What percent of Gen Z are students?

Almost all Gen Zers, ages 18 to 24, are high school graduates or currently enrolled in school. The majority of this generation (94%) are enrolled students or have a high school degree, according to 2018–2022 data.

What is the lowest educated state?

While rankings vary slightly, New Mexico, Arizona, West Virginia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Alaska consistently appear as states with some of the worst K-12 education systems, often due to low test scores (especially in math), high dropout rates, funding issues, and teacher retention challenges, according to sources like WalletHub, Consumer Affairs, and World Population Review. 

What state is 50th in education?

According to recent 2025 studies, Oklahoma often ranks 50th (last) in overall education quality among U.S. states, primarily due to low student achievement in math, reading, and high school graduation rates, though rankings can vary slightly by source. Some reports place it just above New Mexico, while others might have different states like Alabama or Arizona at the very bottom depending on metrics used. 

What state is #1 in quality of life?

There isn't one single answer, as different studies rank states differently, but Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Jersey frequently appear at the top for quality of life, with Vermont leading in CNBC's metrics (health, environment, inclusion), Massachusetts in WalletHub's overall rankings (healthcare, education), and New Jersey praised for safety and health. States like Minnesota, Idaho, and Utah also consistently rank high, emphasizing factors like strong economies, environments, and community well-being. 

What is the least literate city in the United States?

The Brief. Visalia, California, is the least-educated city in the nation this year.

What state is #1 in high school education?

Massachusetts consistently ranks #1 for high school education due to top-tier reading/math scores, high AP participation, and strong overall K-12 quality, often followed closely by Connecticut and New Jersey in various rankings, with experts citing high teacher pay and strong investment per student for these results. 

Where do most billionaires go to college?

American universities like Harvard, Stanford, and Penn lead in producing billionaire alumni. Most wealth comes from technology startups and entrepreneurial ventures (e.g., Microsoft, Google, DoorDash, Baidu).

What is the easiest ivy to get into?

Statistically, Cornell University is often cited as the "easiest" Ivy League to get into due to its highest overall acceptance rate (around 8-9%), but it's crucial to understand that no Ivy is easy, and acceptance varies significantly by college within Cornell, with some programs like Engineering being highly competitive, while Hotel Administration and ILR are less so. Dartmouth College and Brown University are next in line by acceptance rate, but all Ivies are extremely selective. 

Where do the Kardashians' kids go to school?

The Kardashian children primarily attend Sierra Canyon School, a private, coeducational university-preparatory school in Los Angeles known for its strong academics and athletics, where children of celebrities often enroll, though Kanye West previously criticized it as a "fake school". Kim Kardashian's kids (North, Saint, Chicago, Psalm) and Kourtney's children (Mason, Penelope, Reign) have been linked to the school, with North even having a pavilion named after her family there.