Number of students missing from school has almost doubled in past nine months stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Some principals are wary of revealing the new equity index numbers that are replacing decile numbers as the measure of socio-economic disadvantage in their schools.
Schools are just hanging on till the end of term, with huge numbers of staff and students off sick.
They're battling Covid, influenza, RSV and tummy bugs,