Attendance and Absences

  • We have updated our process for how parents/guardians share with the school that their child was absent due to illness or medical appointments. With Infinite Campus, the new application for student data and attendance, teachers are not able to update attendance once it is taken. Our office staff will now need to update attendance after it has been taken by the teacher to update absences from "unexcused" to "excused." 

    Please help us as follows:

    1. Email attendance557@wcpss.net AND CC (copy) your child's teacher on the first day that your child is absent to share why your child is absent. 

    2. Repeat this process for every day that your child is absent.

    3. Please use email instead of TalkingPoints, handwritten notes, or verbally updating the teacher so that all attendance communication can be kept in one location.

    4. (You will still get an automated attendance call even if you have emailed the reason for your child's absence because the automated calls go out for all absent students.)

  • Your child’s success starts with showing up.

    Coming to school every day, ready to learn, builds strong habits and supports academic growth. By law, children ages 7–16 must attend school regularly.

    Excused absences

    Your child’s absence may be excused for:

    • Illness or injury

    • A death in the family

    • Health care appointments

    • Court appearances

    • Religious observances

    • Natural disasters

    • Educational opportunities (requires advance approval)

    To request an excused absence for an educational reason, complete one of these forms before the absence:

    Unexcused absences

    Please send a written or digital note within two days of your child returning to school. Without a note, the absence will be marked unexcused.

    If your child has three or more unexcused absences, your school will contact you to discuss ways to support regular attendance.

    Making up work

    Students are responsible for completing all missed work. Teachers will share schedules and expectations for making up assignments.

    Learn more

    For details, read School Board Policy 4400: Attendance.