THUNDER BAY — One week after in-person learning resumed in Ontario schools, a dozen schools in Thunder Bay have absenteeism rates greater than 30 per cent.
The government on Monday began disclosing absenteeism data for all schools online.
The information reflects the situation on the previous school day, and shows the combined percentage of students and staff who were away for illness or for any other reason.
Monday's report shows five Lakehead District School Board schools with absenteeism rates over 40 per cent – Algonquin Avenue, Armstrong, McKellar Park Central, Ogden and St. James.
At Westmount public school, absenteeism is just over 30 per cent.
In the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board system, four elementary schools have absenteeism rates greater than 30 per cent – St. Vincent, St. Jude, St. Ann and Our Lady of Charity.
The school with the highest rate of absenteeism is St. Patrick High School, at 61 per cent.
However, the separate school board says most of the absences there were due to assignments.
"As a result of exams being cancelled, students were required to do culminating activities with many students handing in their assignments early or completing assignments at home; thus they have not attended like a regular school day," a spokesperson said in an email to TBNewswatch.
She explained that some boards record attendance differently, but the Thunder Bay board counts only students who are physically present in their school.
At St. Ignatius High School, slightly more than 30 per cent of students and staff were absent according to the provincial data.
In addition to posting absenteeism rates, the province now notifies families once 30 per cent of students and staff are absent from a school.
Thunder Bay boards announced last week that they will also send parents an email whenever other parents or school staff voluntarily disclose a positive COVID-19 test result.
NOTE: This story has been updated to provide additional information obtained from the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board
