The Real Cost of Skipping School
By Veronica Golden, LMSW/SBL
Veronica Golden, LMSW/SBL
Student absenteeism isn’t a “them” problem—it’s an all of us problem. Today’s kids are tomorrow’s leaders, and right now, too many are missing in action. Before COVID, about 15% of students were chronically absent. Now, that number has nearly doubled to 28% nationwide.
Some say kids just don’t feel like going to school. Feelings matter, yes—but acknowledging them is only step one. Step two is figuring out why those feelings exist and how to remove the barriers keeping kids home.
Meanwhile, parents and caregivers need to understand the real, everyday cost of missed school days. When a child stays home, household energy use increases—roughly 5 to 14 kWh extra per day. That’s about a $50 bump on your monthly electric bill. Add in heating, hot water, and food costs—since that same child is eating breakfast and lunch at home instead of at school—and you’re looking at roughly $280 more each month. Can you afford to throw away money in this economy?
And then there’s the long-term cost. A high school dropout earns over $1 million less in their lifetime than someone with a college degree. When I attended the University at Buffalo’s CSTEP program, the theme was Beyond the Bachelor’s. It stuck with me—education may be challenging, but it’s worth every effort.
I once watched my daughter giggle while walking down an escalator that was going up. Looking back, that’s exactly what skipping school looks like: working twice as hard to go half as far. Every year, about 150,000 people go back to earn a GED—proof that education remains a goal even for those who once walked away. Famous names like Eminem, Jay-Z, and Drake eventually got theirs too.
And for the many youth I speak to who want to be social media influencers—remember, even the internet has rules. The Federal Trade Commission can tighten content regulations at any time, changing the whole game overnight.
So, the next time someone says attendance doesn’t matter, remember: showing up saves parents’ money now and builds youth wealth later. Staying in school is more than a good idea—it’s an investment in your peace of mind and your future.