It was found that more than half of homeless students attending New York City public schools were chronically absent last year. According to a report released on the 5th by the New York Child Advocacy Group (AFC), homeless students in public elementary, middle, and high schools in New York City for the 2024–2025 school year were placed in an educational blind spot, constantly exposed to issues such as chronic absenteeism, frequent transfers, and declining academic performance.
The report indicated that attendance management was not being properly conducted, with 63% of homeless students living in shelters being chronically absent, and 49% of students sharing temporary housing with other families missing school on average every ten days. Such chronic absenteeism soon led to a severe decline in academic performance.
The pass rates for standardized English reading and mathematics exams among homeless students in grades 3 through 8 were less than 33% and 35%, respectively. This figure is merely half the 60% pass rate of regular students, demonstrating that housing instability is becoming entrenched as educational inequality. Analysis also indicated that unstable living environments were linked to frequent school transfers. In fact, it was found that one in five homeless students experienced a transfer at least once during the semester.
Experts analysed that frequent environmental changes are a critical factor in severing peer relationships and community ties, which are essential for personality formation during adolescence. A New York City official stated, “The cycle of unstable lives for homeless students is extending into the classroom,” adding, “We cannot demand normal academic results in poor environments without substantial support.”
The official further emphasized, “Supporting homeless students, the most vulnerable group, is the Mamdani administration’s top priority, and we will concentrate administrative efforts on bridging the educational gap.”