What Are the Truancy Rates in Louisiana Schools

Data released by the State Department of Education shows some numbers that should send a warning sign to education leaders across Louisiana.

Truancy numbers continue to climb in many school districts. Superintendent Cade Brumley's office tells KEEL News what constitutes truancy:

A student is considered truant once he or she receives five unexcused absences or five unexcused tardies in a semester.

This is different from chronic absenteeism which is when a student is enrolled for at least 10 days and is absent 10% or more of days enrolled. This incorporates all absences: excused, unexcused, suspensions, and expulsions.

What Do the Truancy Numbers Show for Louisiana Schools

Some parishes in the state have truancy rates higher than 50% of all students. Bossier and Webster Parish have rates that top the 45% mark.

These are the Top 10 Parishes for Truancy in Louisiana:

1. Vermillion 55.81%
2. Calcasieu 53.61%
3. Orleans 51.64%
4. Jefferson 50.39%
5. Webster 48.09%
6. Acadia 47.32%
7. Iberville 46.65%
8. Rapides 46.51%
9. Bossier 46.45%
10. Avoyelles 44.7%

You can see the numbers from around the state right here.

The numbers of students listed as truant in Caddo Parish is very high, but the parish is about mid-pack when you list by the percentages. Caddo shows 12,222 truants which is 34.99% of students. You can compare that to some of our other larger parishes: Bossier is 46.45%, Calcasieu 53.61%, East Baton Rouge 36.67%, Jefferson 50.39%, Lafayette 38.12%, and St. Tammany 35.42%.

Caddo's statewide placement among the 64 parishes:
#5 highest in total number of truants — 12,222.
#35 highest by percentage of truants — 34.99%.

The average truancy rate across the state is about 35.42%, so Caddo's 34.99% is almost exactly around the statewide parish average. Bossier is #9 which is concerning.

Caddo and Bossier Parish leaders have put plans in place to address the truancy problem and they hope to see improvement during this school year.

Here are the statewide truancy numbers from the end of the 2025-2026 school year.