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Attendance Office

Students are expected to have regular and prompt attendance in class. Missing more than 30 minutes of an 80-minute class (less for a  shorter class) constitutes an absence.  While being present at school every day is very important, we recognize that there are instances where an absence is necessary and even expected (i.e. illness, death in the family, emergencies, etc.). Such instances should supersede any efforts to be in school every day.

A student who exceeds 12 absences in a class will automatically lose academic credit regardless of the grade or reason(s) for the absence(s).  When a student reaches five absences in a class for any reason (verified, unverified, truancy, or suspension) during a semester, parent contact may be made by the school counselor to review the school policy on absences and to review a plan for the student to successfully complete the semester.

Parents will receive a daily attendance notification from the Attendance Office alerting them to their student’s absence or tardiness to class. Parents will be directed to the Parent Portal to check for the specific class(es) in which the student was marked absent or tardy. A signed absent note from a parent/guardian is required to clear an absence as verified.  Students with excessive unverified absences are subject to disciplinary probation for truancy. 

Types of Absences

  1. Verified Absences:
  • valid illness
  • medical, dental, orthodontic, optometry or lab appointment
  • legal or court appearance (see note below)
  • attendance at funeral services
  • approved school sponsored activities (field trip, athletic competition, retreat, etc.)
  1. Unverified Absences:
  • any absence for an acceptable reason (as listed above) in which the parent/guardian has failed to notify the school and has not provided a signed note for the student’s attendance file, as required
  • students can be placed on disciplinary probation for truancy due to excessive unverified absences
  1. Truancy:

Truancy is defined as an unverified absence from school without the knowledge and consent of both the parents and the school, either for a whole day, part of a day, or part of a class period.

  1. Authorized Family Absence:

Authorized family absences are those absences that have been pre-arranged through, and approved by, the Vice Principal. These absences are counted towards the student’s allowable 12 absences and will be included in the total absence count if a loss of credit situation should arise.

Note: A mandated and verified court appointment is not counted as an absence provided the student presents an official statement from the court noting the time and length of the appointment upon return to school.