Richard Ira Jones Middle School reports 2.9% chronic truancy rate during 2023-24 school year

The chronic truancy rate at Richard Ira Jones Middle School rose to 2.9% during the 2023-24 school year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education.

In the previous year, the school saw a chronic truancy rate of 2.7%.

Countywide, Joliet Central High School had the highest chronic truancy rate among the 174 schools in the county in the 2023-24 school year (58.3%), while Lincoln-Way Central High School had the lowest (0.5%).

For comparison, the average chronic truancy rate in Illinois public schools is 20%.

Overall, the 863 students enrolled in Richard Ira Jones Middle School at the time had an attendance rate of 94%.

According to the Illinois State Board of Education, students are considered chronically truant if they miss 5% or more of school days per year without an acceptable excuse.

Data from the State Board of Education may not always equal 100%.

Illinois has approved a 2025 budget that allocates $8.6 billion to K-12 education, a $350 million increase from the previous fiscal year—the minimum required under the state funding formula.