Research is clear that showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic and social success, starting from pre-kindergarten and continuing through high school. 

• Missing 10% (or about 18 days of a school year or 2 a month) can drastically affect a student’s academic success at each grade level.

• By the 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that can indicate if a student is at risk for dropping out of high school.

• In the 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

Please help us support a culture of showing up to school every day!

Please review Policy 9010: https://policy.hcpss.org/9000/9010/

Parents please report your child's absence through email at FESabsence@hcpss.org and include your child's homeroom teacher. In the email please Include the following information:

• Student first and last name in the subject line
• Grade
• Parent’s full name and phone number.
• Date your child(ren) was absent and the reason.
• Reason for absence (e.g., illness, bereavement, observance of a religious holiday, lack of transportation)
• If there is a health issue you would like the teacher and health office to know about, copy your child’s teacher and the health office (kathleen_wurstner@hcpss.org) 

• For absences of up to 3 days, the principal may determine whether the absences will be lawful/excused or unlawful/unexcused. This is NOT for illness but an elective absence (e.g., family trip, family in town).Please take a moment to complete this form regarding your child's absence.
• Students with unlawful/unexcused absences of 10 consecutive school days or more, will be withdrawn from school and may be allowed to re-enroll, provided they meet enrollment requirements, upon their return.
• Students returning from lawful/excused absences, have an equal number of days to complete make-up work.