EDUCATION

How Police Activity and Violence Affect School Attendance

New York City, USAThu Jul 10 2025

Study Overview

  • Location: New York City
  • Time Frame: 2013 to 2019
  • Focus: Public school data
  • Key Metrics:
  • Arrests made by police
  • Reported violent crimes

Key Findings

Arrests Near Schools

  • Strong Predictor: Arrests near schools were significantly linked to student absences.
  • Disparities:
  • High Schools: More absences in schools with a high number of Black or low-income students.
  • Elementary and Middle Schools (K-8): Less pronounced effect.

Violent Crimes Near Schools

  • Smaller Effect: Violent crimes were linked to more absences in elementary and middle schools (K-8).
  • High Schools: Minimal impact on attendance.

Conclusion

  • Differential Impact: Police actions affect different student groups differently.
  • Need for Understanding: Emphasizes the importance of studying how policing impacts education, particularly for Black and low-income students.
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questions

    What additional data or variables could be included in future studies to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing student absenteeism?
    If arrests are such a strong predictor of student absences, should schools start offering 'arrest-free' scholarships to boost attendance?
    How do the findings on the impact of nearby arrests differ between K-8 schools and high schools, and what might account for these differences?

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