The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District says attendance rates during the pandemic have been on par with those in previous years.

CEO Tony Stack presented year-over-year absentee rates from December to February at the NLESD’s Board of Trustees meeting yesterday.

While there was little difference in December and January from the previous year, the biggest difference was February, when absenteeism dropped from 11.4 per cent in 2020 to 9 per cent in 2021.

Stack noted a similar trend in the fall and says attendance rates were not “appreciably different” than pre-pandemic times, something he calls encouraging.

It is difficult to discuss online attendance admits Stack because it isn’t necessarily a true picture based on how it is conducted. The overall rates are, good however and Stack says they’re pleased.