More than one in four Michigan students missed at least 18 days of school during the most recent school year. Farmington Public Schools families face that same challenge as the district heads toward a November bond vote.

State data released Thursday, Sept. 17, shows 27.2% of Michigan's K-12 students were chronically absent, down from 27.9% the year before, Bridge Michigan reported. A student counts as chronically absent after missing 10% or more of the school year, typically 18 days.

The decline marks the fourth straight year of improvement since chronic absenteeism peaked at 38.5% statewide in 2021-22. Michigan's rate remains among the highest in the nation, according to the Return to Learn Tracker report cited by Bridge Michigan.

Farmington Public Schools reported a 26.4% chronic absenteeism rate in 2022-23, the most recent district-level figure available through federal data. That was down from 27.7% in 2021-22. Updated district numbers from the new state release were not yet available.

The attendance figures land as the district prepares to ask voters to approve a School Improvement Bond on Nov. 3, according to the Oakland County Times. The Farmington school board approved the ballot language at its June 16 meeting.

That vote comes after Oakland County voters narrowly rejected a Regional Enhancement Millage on Aug. 4, with 51.01% voting no. The 1.5-mill proposal would have generated roughly $781 per pupil for districts across Oakland County, including Farmington Public Schools. Superintendent Kelly Coffin said in an Aug. 7 statement to C&G Newspapers that the district would "… continue to plan responsibly and transparently" despite the defeat.

Absenteeism and academic performance are closely linked. Statewide, third-grade reading proficiency hit a 12-year low in 2025, with just over 38% of students meeting the mark, according to Bridge Michigan.

A Michigan Department of Education (MDE) report issued in July 2026 identified student boredom, economic instability and health issues as root causes of chronic absenteeism. The MDE report recommended schools offer transportation help and communicate more directly with families about the importance of regular attendance.

State Superintendent Glenn Maleyko said the improving numbers "reflect the hard work of local school districts, students, families, community partners and the Michigan Department of Education."

Across the state, districts have tried incentives, earlier outreach to parents about attendance trends and home visits. About 60 districts participated in a pilot program last school year to better track attendance, behavior and course completions, run by the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators.

Farmington families looking for the district's updated absenteeism data can check the state's MiSchoolData website as school-level breakdowns are published.