09/25/2026
Every Minute Counts: Attendance Matters
Regular school attendance is an important part of your child’s success. Please make every effort to have your child at school every day and on time unless they are sick, there is a death in the immediate family, or they have a documented appointment that cannot be scheduled outside of school hours.
Students are expected to be in class from 7:35 a.m. until 2:45 p.m. each school day. Late arrivals and early sign-outs reduce valuable instructional time and can negatively impact student learning and academic performance.
When students miss school, making up missed work becomes their responsibility. Middle school students are still developing the skills needed to advocate for themselves and stay on top of missed assignments, so consistent attendance is especially important.
If your child must be absent from school, a parent or guardian must provide a written note within 3 school days of the student’s return. If a note is not received within that timeframe, the absence may be recorded as unexcused.
Doctor’s notes are accepted as documentation for absences. After a student has accumulated multiple unexcused absences, families may be required to provide medical documentation or doctor authorization for future absences.
As you may know, North Carolina law requires school-age children to attend school regularly. Our school social workers may become involved when attendance concerns arise, including after a student reaches 5 absences, to help families address barriers to regular attendance and ensure students receive the instructional time they need.
Thank you for partnering with us to make attendance a priority and to support your child’s academic success. Every minute counts! Every day matters!
