• Help Your Child Do Well in School: 
    Build the Habit of Good Attendance

     

    Did You Know?

    • Too many absences in preschool and elementary school can cause children to struggle socially and academically. 

    • Being late to school may lead to poor attendance. 

    • Missing 10% of school (2 days each month) can make it harder to learn to read and do basic math. 

    Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school — and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool and through elementary school so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day, is important.  By law, children ages 7-16 must attend school regularly.

     

    Excused Absences

    If your student must miss school, please submit a written or digital note within two days of their return in order for the absence to be excused. (See guidelines below.)

    Your student’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—see below)

     

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

    Request for Excused Absence for Educational Reasons (English)

    Request for Excused Absence for Educational Reasons (Spanish)

     

    Absence Notes

    Absences can only be excused when we receive written notification (either by email or a paper note).

    To report an absence, please use one of the following options:

    1. Submit a written note with the following information and have your child deliver it to the main office:

    • Student’s full name

    • Teacher’s name

    • Date(s) and reason for the absence

    2. Send an email to attendance460@wcpss.net that includes the same details listed above.

     

    Attendance Policy

    NC Compulsory Attendance Law: https://www.ncleg.net/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_115C/GS_115C-378.html

    Wake County Public School Board Attendance Policy: https://boardpolicyonline.com/bl/?b=wake_new#&&hs=260203

     

    Questions?

    If you have any questions regarding attendance, please contact our school social worker, Bobbi Hjelmhaug (bhjelmhaug@wcpss.net/(919) 371-8779) or our data manager, Wendy Hall (whall3@wcpss.net/919-460-3481 ext. 21617).