Student-athletes more likely to attend school than peers, new research finds

Student-athletes are less likely to skip school than other students, even in the offseason, new research finds, supporting an emerging consensus that connections to activities, teachers and peers are critical to combating the absenteeism crisis.

Sports may have a particularly strong effect, as coaches often require students to attend classes to participate in practices and games. Varsity athletes had higher attendance rates than other students, even when their sports were not in-season, according to research released Wednesday by the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank...