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Greenville City Schools
Understanding
the Importance of School Attendance
James Hooper
Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Many parents underestimate the importance of good school attendance,
especially during the early years. Showing up for school has a huge
impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and
continuing through high school. While missing a school day here and a
day there may not seem like much, missing just 2 days a month can
drastically affect a student’s academic success. Those 2 days a month
means your child is missing 10% of the entire school year! Unexcused
and excused absences easily add up to too much time lost in the
classroom.
Attendance matters as early as kindergarten. Studies show many children
who miss too many days in kindergarten and first grade can struggle
academically in later years. They often have trouble mastering reading
by the end of third grade.
Even as children grow older and more independent, parents and families
play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day.
It is essential that students understand why attendance is so important
for success in school.
Parents should be aware of the information below to ensure that their
student is not at risk:
- Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay
engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
- Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school,
struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other
potentially serious difficulty.
- By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may
drop out of high school.
- By 9th grade, regular attendance is a better predictor of graduation
rates than test scores.
- Students can be considered chronically absent even if they only miss
a day or two every few weeks.
- Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child
graduate from college and keep a job.
Students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate and
find good jobs. In fact, a high school graduate makes, on average, a
million dollars more than a dropout over a lifetime.
What can you, as a parent, do to make sure that school is a priority?
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, Make
that the expectation.
- Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework
and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school
day.
- Don’t let your child stay home unless truly sick. Complaints of
headaches or stomach aches may be signs of anxiety.
- Help your child stay engaged...Find out if your child feels engaged
by his classes and feels safe from bullies and other threats. Make sure
he/she is not missing class because of behavioral issues and school
discipline policies. If any of these are problems, work with your
school.
- Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers or
tutors if necessary.
- Make sure teachers know how to contact you.
- Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and
clubs.
- Ask for help from school officials, afterschool programs, other
parents or community agencies if you’re having trouble getting your
child to school.
- Above all, set an example for your child.
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