Purpose: Chronic absenteeism has surged since the onset of COVID-19, disproportionately affecting minority students, though such disparities predate the pandemic. Few studies have contextualized current trends against this historical backdrop. This study examines changes in chronic absenteeism and racial disparities among New York City public school fourth and eighth graders between academic years (AY) 2004 to 2023. Methods: We employ descriptive statistics and regression analyses to assess trends and racial disparities over time and how much racial gaps may be explained by student characteristics or schools attended. Findings: While absenteeism rates and racial disparities improved before the pandemic, gaps widened during the COVID. These gaps appear driven more by sociodemographic and neighborhood factors than differences within schools. Encouragingly, observed declines in chronic absenteeism rates between AY 2022 and 2023 continue to mirror trends beginning in AY 2006, suggesting that past policies and intervention strategies may inform future recovery.