Attendance Policy

Chronic Absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the total school year which is 18 or more days for ANY reason.  We invite all parents and students to join us in reducing chronic absenteeism.  For more information, please visit FCPS Attendance.

Full Day Absences

• When a student is absent, it is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian to call the attendance office to give the reason for the absence by calling 703-714-5447. If a phone call is not made on the day of the absence, the parent has the next 3 days to notify the school or have the student bring a note to the attendance office.

• Absences that are not excused within 3 school days by a parent/ guardian phone call or note will be unexcused. Parent/guardian notes should include the student’s full name, the date of the absence/tardy, the reason for the absence, and the parent/guardian daytime phone number. Calls are made to the home to confirm notes. Students who are absent 3 or more consecutive days because of illness or medical problems should provide a doctor’s note to have these absences excused.

• If a student accrues 10 or more excused full day absences, the administration may require medical verification for any future absences to be excused. Proof or verification of absences and tardies may be required by an administrator for an unusual pattern of absences or tardies. Parents are reminded that whenever an absence is anticipated for a future date, such as required family trips, college visits, etc., it must be pre-arranged with the attendance office.

Reasons for Excused Absences

• Illness of student

• Death in family

• Medical or dental appointment

• Religious holiday observances

• Suspension

• School sponsored field trips

• Approved pre-arranged Absences

• Military Orders to relocate

• Other reasons accepted by the principal or designee

Reasons for Unexcused Absences

• Family and/or student vacations not pre-arranged 

• Child care situations

• Non-school-related activities 

• Missing the school bus/traffic or weather issues

• Other reasons unacceptable to the principal

Excused and Unexcused Tardies

• Students late to class without an excused pass will be marked as unexcused tardy for that class.  Students with excessive excused absences/tardies may be required to present documentation from a doctor.

Procedures for Check-Ins / Check-Outs

Early Check-Out: Same day 

If the parent is not coming in to check a student out of school. A written note or e-mail is required (please submit an attendance e-mail request through the attendance tab on our school’s web page by 11:00 a.m. on the same day).

• Parents request an early check-out the day prior to the scheduled check-out by using the attendance portal.
• Notes must have date, time and reason for the check-out along with the parent’s signature and phone number. The student needs to pick up an early check out pass from the attendance window when they turn in the note from the parent.
• If a note or e-mail is not submitted, the parent or guardian must come to the attendance office to check-out the student. If a note or email IS submitted, the parent or guardian may stay outside and wait for their student to sign themselves out at the attendance window.
• If the student becomes ill during the school day, the student must go to the clinic. The clinic aide will contact a parent and release the student to go home.
• If the early check-out request was made via the attendance portal, the student needs to visit the attendance office during any passing period BEFORE the start of the class that they are checking out from. The student should show their teacher the pass when they enter the class they are checking out from and when it is time to check-out  they can quietly collect their belongings and leave the classroom.
• Students must report to the attendance office as they are leaving the building to sign themselves out of the building.
• We strongly discourage last minute student check-outs after 2:30

Check-in procedures

• Check-in at the attendance window is required for all students entering the building after 8:10 a.m. This includes the following: excused/unexcused tardies and students returning to school after appointments.

** Students are not to leave the school building for any reason during the day without a check-out pass from the Attendance Office.

** All notes will be verified before the student will be allowed to leave school.