For every one of our students to reach our North Star Goal of meeting or exceeding their growth goals, students must be on time and in the classroom every day. Each September, we celebrate Attendance Awareness Month to partner with our families and community as a reminder of the importance of being present in school. The district attendance goal is 96%. 

Attending school regularly not only makes children feel better about school, but also about themselves. Showing up for school has a significant impact on a student’s academic growth, including better test scores and higher graduation rates. 

According to research by Attendance Works, by freshman year, attendance rate is a better predictor of graduation rates than eighth-grade test scores. Students who miss five to nine days a semester are 25% less likely to graduate in four years.

Families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and helping their children understand why attendance is so important. Building good habits from as early as Pre-K teaches children that every day is important. 

Ways to Help Your Child Reach Attendance Goals

• • Make attendance a priority and talk to your student about showing up every day.

• • Maintain daily routines, set a time for your student to go to bed, wake up, have a healthy breakfast and get to school on time.

• • When your student is absent, upload a note into your FOCUS parent portal or send a note or an email to your school attendance clerk.

• • Visit your student’s school and get involved and volunteer.

• • Get to know the principal, teachers, attendance clerks and your student’s friends.

• • Attend parent conferences, meet the teacher night and open house.

• • Understand the difference between excused and unexcused absences.

• • Contact your student’s teachers and inquire about the ABC’s of school:  Attendance, Behavior and Classes.

• • Ensure students have the supplies, uniforms and equipment needed for the school day.

Did You Know? 

• • Missing just 2 days a month adds up to 10% of the school year. Over the course of the school year, this can greatly affect a student’s academic success.

• • For Pre-K and Kindergarten, missing school makes it harder to gain early reading and math skills, build relationships and develop good attendance habits.

• • By 6th grade, chronic 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.

Statistics are sourced from Attendance Works, a nonprofit initiative that partners with schools, districts, states, communities, and organizations to ensure that chronic absence is recognized as a serious issue that can be addressed through proactive, supportive strategies.

Days and Minutes Add Up