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Henrico County Public Schools

The Right to Achieve. The Support to Succeed.

Attendance

Attendance

Student success starts with attendance

Research shows that missing just 10% of school days — or about two days a month over the course of the year — hurts a student’s academic performance. Missing those two days a month, defined as chronic absenteeism, has a big effect on academics.

The good news? Strong attendance helps students achieve! Students who attend school regularly read better, are more proficient in math, are more likely to graduate from high school and college and do better in the workplace.  

What can families do? Here are a few tips that can make a big difference for your student:

  • Avoid scheduling vacations when school is in session. Vacations are considered unexcused absences.
  • Build regular routines for bedtime and the morning.
  • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
  • Talk about the importance of regular attendance and discuss how your child feels about school.
  • Don’t let students miss school unless they’re truly sick. Remember, stomachaches and headaches may be signs of anxiety. Here’s how to decide if students should stay home or not.
  • If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, school social workers or other parents for advice on how to help your child feel comfortable and excited about learning.
  • Avoid scheduling medical appointments when school is in session.
  • Keep an attendance chart at home. At the end of the week, talk with your child about what you see.
  • Develop backup plans for getting students to school if something comes up. Ask a family member, neighbor or another parent for help.
  • Seek support from school staff or community groups to help with transportation, health problems or concerns about a safe path to school.

Important information:

Resources for Families

  • Daily attendance is one of the most powerful indicators of a student's success in school and staying on track for on-time graduation. HCPS’ goal is to have every student at school, on time every day, engaged and supported!

    • Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school — and themselves! Consistent attendance helps children do well in high school, college and at work.
    • Being at school helps your child learn valuable social skills and develop meaningful relationships.
    • Missing a day of school here and there may not seem like much, but absences have big consequences. If a student misses just TWO days a month, they'll miss:
      • Twenty days of school a year.
      • Thirty hours of important math instruction a year.
      • Sixty hours of reading and writing instruction a year.
      • An entire year of school by the end of their senior year.
    • Missing 10% of school days (about 18 days each year) increases the chance that your student won't read or master math at the same level as their peers.
    • By sixth grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school. 
    • While students pay the highest cost for missing too much school, high absence rates also put a burden on teachers. Making up for lost instruction adds to their workload; losing that valuable classroom time hurts all students.
    • Preschoolers who miss too much school don’t develop reading, math and social skills as quickly as their peers.
    • Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing other serious difficulties.
    • By ninth grade, regular attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than eighth grade test scores.

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  • HCPS resources:

    Community resources:

    Articles and online resources: