Published on Tue., December 3, 2024
Attendance Matters!
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 schoolwork, 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 Can You Do?
Make school attendance a priority!
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day.
- Help your teen maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework, and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Try not to schedule appointments during the school day.
- If your teens must stay home because they are sick, make sure they have asked teachers for resources and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom.
Help your student stay engaged!
- Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes and feel safe from bullies and other threats. If your student seems anxious (this can present as frequent stomachaches and/or headaches) about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors and other parents for advice on how to make your child feel safe and comfortable at school.
- Make sure your teens are not missing class because of challenges with behavioral issues or school discipline policies. If any of these are problems, contact the school and work with them to find a solution.
- Monitor your teen’s academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors 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 teen to join meaningful after-school activities, including sports and clubs.
For more information, visit www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/parent-resources/attendance.