Absence from school; its relationship to illness in the community.

The absences at one elementary school in Los Angeles and the reasons for the absences during the school year 1954-55 were studied. The absence rate was then compared with the rates during two previous years at the same school and with the absences at three other elementary schools in Los Angeles and with one industry. There were similar absence curves for the several years in the single school and among the schools and industries which were compared. The highest absence rates were found during the winter months and common respiratory tract disease accounted for the highest percentage of absences from school throughout the year.