The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have huge impacts on public schools in South Carolina and across the nation affecting both student achievement and student well-being. Most prominent are these three:
- Large increases in chronic absenteeism resulting in lower achievement levels for these students and for all students in classes with high levels of absenteeism;
- An increase in children and youth battling mental health issues, and a steep decline in the social-emotional skills and behaviors of students;
- A major drop in math achievement, which remains below pre-pandemic levels.
Large Increases in Chronic Absenteeism
Nationally and across South Carolina, a dramatic surge in student chronic absenteeism has occurred in the years coming out of the pandemic. Students who are chronically absent suffer academically and are more likely to drop out. The achievement of students who consistently attend but are in classes with high levels of absenteeism is also harmed.
Chronically absent students are those missing 10 percent or more school days in a school year (18 days for South Carolina schools) for any reason, excused or unexcused.
In the U.S., nearly 14.7 million students (30%) were chronically absent in 2021-22—almost doubling the more than 8 million pre-COVID-19 chronic absences.1 And more students attended a school with a high level of chronic absenteeism. In 2021-22, two-thirds (66%) of students “attended a school with high or extreme levels of chronic absence.” Before the Covid-19 pandemic, this only applied to a quarter (25%) of all students.2
In South Carolina public schools in the 2021-22 school year, 25% of students were chronically absent. Many subgroups had higher rates with students in poverty and those with disabilities exceeding 30%. (see examples in the chart on the right; view more facts–go to “See More: Chronic Absenteeism” in the “Students” data section of this website).
Nationally and in the state, large increases in chronic absenteeism occurred at all school levels–elementary, middle and high school. One-third of high school students in the state were chronically absent in this latest school year (see chart below).
School districts and schools in the state with much higher rates include two school districts with chronic absenteeism rates above 50% and seventeen schools with rates at or above 60%. (Discover similar facts using the ”Comparisons” table in the “Students” data section of this website.)
Chronic absenteeism has become a huge challenge for public schools in the years coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Chronic absenteeism often signals that students are experiencing untreated health needs, transportation problems, mental health issues, or other significant challenges”3 (see next section below). The rapid increase in the level of chronic absence can easily overwhelm a school’s capacity to respond.4
Student performance suffers. As early as kindergarten, achievement in reading and mathematics is hindered for students who are chronically absent. Poor attendance, such as in 6th and 9th grade, is a strong predictor of dropping out of school. Chronic absence even in elementary school is linked to an increased likelihood of dropping out and holds true even if attendance improves over time.
Chronic absenteeism has also been found to have negative impacts on the achievement of classmates.5 Students who do regularly attend classes suffer in both reading and math when large numbers of their peers fail to show up.6
Harm to Mental Health and Social-Emotional Skills
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened a growing crisis in student mental health—an upward trend in depression, anxiety and suicide already underway before the pandemic.7 Between 2009 and 2019, the percentage of teens, nationally, who reported having “persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness” rose from 26 percent to 37 percent. In 2021, the figure rose to 44 percent.8 Rates of childhood suicide rose steadily between 2010 and 2020 and by 2018 suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-24.9 In 2021, one in five said they had contemplated suicide.
In October of that year, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared “a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health” that will have lasting impacts on students, their families, and their communities.10
During school shutdowns and remote learning, young people were apart from friends and social connections and had much less structure and routine. Many families were under added financial stress—29% of students reported a parent or other adult in their home lost a job–and many young people endured the trauma of losing loved ones to COVID-19.11
Data on the mental health crisis facing our children demonstrate a cry for help. The mental health needs of our children should inform every aspect of how we engage with students in schools. Practices that help students feel safe, connected, and supported in school save lives and provide the foundation needed for children to learn.
Chris Haines, MS, LPC
Director of School Mental Health Programs
Greater Greenville Mental Health Center
As a result, schools are now seeing a large number of students acting younger than their age and many exhibiting more behavioral issues and aggression. “During the months they were learning remotely, students didn’t have the opportunities for developing the social skills that normally happen during their period of development.”12
Nationally, special needs students and those with an existing mental health diagnosis, lost significant in-person support at school and fell far behind their peers both academically and developmentally. Other children experienced a delay in having these conditions identified as they were away from school staff who might have spotted symptoms early on. By the time they returned to school and received support, they were doing worse.13
Other specific groups of students have been highly affected. “LGBTQ students have been particularly vulnerable reporting higher rates of suicide attempts and poor mental health. Nearly half of gay, lesbian, and bisexual teens said they had contemplated suicide during the pandemic, compared with 14 percent of their heterosexual peers. Girls reported faring worse than boys. They were twice as likely to report poor mental health. More than 1 in 4 girls reported that they had seriously contemplated attempting suicide during the pandemic, twice the rate of boys.”14
School connectedness had an important effect on students during this time. “Youth who felt connected to adults and peers at school were significantly less likely than those who did not, to report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (35% vs. 53%); that they seriously considered attempting suicide (14% vs. 26%); or attempted suicide (6% vs. 12%).”15
The higher incidence of students with deteriorated mental health and/or under-age social-emotional skills will persist among pandemic students. Teachers face the additional challenge of understanding, identifying and responding to these issues for a large number of students.16
Go to “Learn More” to read about the impact of the pandemic on the mental and emotional health of teachers in “Work Conditions.”
Decline in Math Achievement
Math achievement suffered greatly coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic both nationally and in South Carolina and remains lower than before the pandemic.
Nationally, the average math score for 13-year-old students was 9 points lower in 2023 than in 2020 and 14 points lower than in 2012 (NAEP* Long-Term Trend assessment). The drop was the “single largest decline” in the last 50 years. “The math score for the lowest-performing students returned to levels last seen in the 1970s.”
While national score declines cut across student subgroups, achievement gaps for lower performing students and those of color grew larger. Math scores declined between 2020 and 2023 for both low-achieving and high-achieving students but declines were greater for lower-performing students. Declines occurred for all major demographic groups, but the declines were less for White students (6 points) than Black (13 points) and Hispanic (10 points) students.17
In South Carolina, similar overall declines occurred. As shown in the table, NAEP* 4th– and 8th-grade math achievement in 2022 was significantly worse than before the pandemic. In both grades over that time, reading performance was considerably better than in math. (For more on NAEP results, see the “Achievement” data section of this website.)
South Carolina Dept. of Education assessments show similar results. From 2019 to 2023, achievement on SC READY math lost ground while achievement in English language arts (ELA) improved (See “Grades 3 to 8” chart below).
Math proficiency in eighth-grade is a strong predictor of high school, college and career success.18 Poor performance limits a student’s access to advanced math and science courses such as calculus and physics.19 And the overall level of academic achievement students attain by eighth grade has a larger impact than high school academic achievement on their college and career readiness.20
Unlike the national math results discussed above, SC READY math achievement in 8th-grade declined similarly across major racial/ethnicity groups in the state from the last pre-pandemic assessment in 2019 to 2023. (see the “8th Grade Math” table below. Look in the “Achievement” data section of this website for more SC READY results.)
What to do? When it comes to student performance on reading and math tests, teachers are estimated to have two to three times the effect of any other school factor,21 and the effect of good teachers is greatest upon the most disadvantaged children.22
According to a Stanford University report, “The biggest problem of education during the pandemic has been depriving students of the full abilities of their most effective teachers. Recovery from the damage of these years can only come from an expanded role for these teachers.”23
More facts on this topic can be found on this website. Search on “absenteeism,” “achievement,” “math,” or other terms from this post to see where more information is available.
*NAEP – National Assessment of Educational Progress (The Nation’s Report Card).