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Attendance

 

Chair

 

Help us improve attendance!

Some of our students miss 10% of the school year — about 18 days a year or just two days every month. Others miss even more days.

Reducing the number of days students are absent is a key component of improving graduation rates, increasing academic achievement, and giving students the best chance at success in the workplace. We want all of these things for our students! 

Together, we can ensure our scholars arrive at school on time every day when they are well.  

 

Elementary Students & Families

Did you know?

  • Missing 10%, or about 2 days each month over the course of a school year, can make it harder to learn to read.

  • Students can still fall behind if they miss just one or two days every few weeks.

  • Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.

  • Absences and tardiness can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.

  • Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school - and themselves.

What you can do!

  • Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.

  • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.

  • Keep your child healthy and make sure your child has the required shots.

  • Introduce your children to their teachers and classmates before school starts.

  • Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor or another parent.

  • Try to schedule non-urgent related medical appointments and extended trips when school isn't in session.

  • If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.

  • If you are concerned that your child may need to stay home due to illness, call your school for advice.

Secondary Students & Families

Did you know?

  • Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.

  • Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.

  • By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

  • By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

  • Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student's academic success.

What you can do!

  • Make school attendance a priority.

  • Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.

  • Help your children maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night's sleep.

  • Try not to schedule dental and non-urgent related medical appointments during the school day.

  • Practice healthy habits to help keep your student from becoming ill. Please call your school nurse for advice.

  • If your children must stay home because they are ill, make sure they have asked teachers for resources and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom.

Help your teen stay engaged

  • Find out if your student feels engaged by their classes.

  • Make sure your teens are not missing class because of challenges with behavioral issues. If any of these are problems, contact the school and work with them to find a solution.

  • Monitor you teen's academic progress and seek help from teachers when necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.

  • Stay on top of your child's social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.

  • Encourage your child to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs that can inspire regular attendance.

  • Notice and support your students if they are showing signs of anxiety.

Communicate with the school

  • Know the school's attendance policy - incentives and penalties.

  • Check on your child's attendance to be sure absences are not adding up.

  • Seek help from school staff, other parents, or community agencies if you need support.