Rhode Island Data HUB. This study followed the high school graduating class of 2009 from their freshman year of high school through college. Researchers found that 20% of the students who graduated were chronically absent, and about 34% of the chronically absent graduates went on to college or a post-secondary setting. Only 11% of the chronically absent students went on to a second year of post-secondary education, compared to 51% of other students.