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★ Best answer
You really need to dig into what's going on underneath - it's rarely just laziness, often there's bullying, problems with a teacher, or the kid feeling completely lost in class. Once you know what the actual issue is, you can work on it with him instead of just forcing him to go.
What people often forget is that refusing school isn't just a mental thing - sometimes it's the body saying stop, with stomach aches or headaches in the morning. Before you look for miracle solutions, it's really worth taking the time to listen to your teen without judgment and checking with a doctor that there's nothing physical going on, otherwise you're just going in circles.
The mistake is trying to force the teen back to school without first really understanding why he's refusing - the other answers make valid points, but they overlook that sometimes it's simply that the school system doesn't suit him at all, and forcing won't help anything in that case. Before jumping to harassment or physical issues, talk with him without judgment, maybe in private, away from tense moments. Actually listen to what he says instead of looking for ready-made solutions - often the teen knows exactly what's blocking him, he just needs to feel heard.
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