Regular school attendance is essential to academic success.
In accordance with Board Policy 5200 and state law, all students are expected to attend school each scheduled day and arrive on time. Absences should be reported to the school office by 8:00am for high school and 9:00am for K-8th grade on the day of the absence. Excused absences include personal illness, medical appointments, religious observances, family emergencies, mandated court appearances, and other situations approved by the school administrator. Documentation may be required for certain excused absences.
To address unexcused absences, the school follows a tiered intervention system.
- At 3 unexcused absences, the school will notify the parent/guardian and may request a meeting.
- At 8 unexcused absences, a required meeting with school leadership will be scheduled to discuss attendance concerns and support.
- At 12 unexcused absences, the school may refer the student to the local truancy officer, Intermediate School District (ISD) attendance department, or county court system.
- If a student accumulates 15 consecutive unexcused absences without contact from a parent or guardian, the school may initiate withdrawal procedures and report the student as truant to the ISD.
A student may also be identified as chronically absent if they miss more than 10% of enrolled school days, regardless of whether the absences are excused or unexcused. This includes frequent tardiness or early check-outs that result in lost instructional time. In such cases, the school may initiate a formal attendance improvement plan and may consult with the student’s academic support team.
If a student’s absences are due to a medical, mental health, or physical condition, the school will review whether the student may qualify for protections under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The school is committed to working with families to ensure all students have equitable access to learning.
All attendance interventions, parent meetings, referrals, and communications will be documented by the school and reported as required by law. Your partnership in supporting consistent, on-time attendance is critical to your child’s success.