Attendance

The Texas Compulsory School Attendance Law requires that all students attend school from ages six (6) to eighteen (18). It is expected that all students are on time and attend school every day unless there is a reason for an excused absence. The Compulsory School Attendance Law will be enforced. Sufficient attendance is a requirement for promotion standards. Students not meeting these standards will have to attend summer school. It is the parent’s responsibility to keep up with their child’s absences. Parents are alerted of daily attendance through automated phone calls, progress reports, and report cards. Students must be present at least 35 minutes of the class period in order to be considered in attendance unless they are participating in a field trip or other activity approved by the principal.

Reasons for Excused Absences

• personal illness
• sickness or death in the family
• quarantine
• weather or road conditions making travel dangerous
• participation in school activities with permission of the principal
• juvenile court proceeding documented by a probation officer
• approved college visitation
• emergencies
• or "any other cause acceptable to the teacher, principal, or superintendent"

Written Reason for Absence

If a student must be absent, a written excuse from the parent/guardian must be provided and brought to the attendance office upon the student’s return. The note should include the date and time of the absence, the reason for the absence, and the parent’s/guardian’s signature. If a written excuse is not provided, the absence is documented as unexcused. Written excuses should be in the school's possession no later than three school days after the date of the absence. The three-day period begins on the day the student returns to school. 

** A student absent for any reason other than a documented healthcare appointment will not be allowed to participate in school-related activities on that day or evening. **

Leaving Campus

According to HISD board policy, no student under 18 years of age may leave campus during school hours for any reason without prior approval in writing or by a documented phone call from the student’s parents or guardian. This applies to lunch, extracurricular activities, field trips, and any other activity supervised by campus or district personnel. Such excuses must be approved by the principal or the principal’s designee.

For questions about attendance, please contact our attendance clerk, Ms. Orquiz at morquiz@houstonisd.org or 713-845-5650

Daily absence exemptions

A student is absent if they are not actually in school at the time attendance is taken. This includes students who complete assignments at home unless the student qualifies for one of the following exemptions:

• The student is participating in an activity that is approved by the local school board and is under the direction of a professional staff member of the school district or an adjunct staff member.
• The student is a Medicaid-eligible child participating in the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Programs (EPSDT). Students may be excused for up to one day at a time without loss of daily attendance.
• The student observes religious holy days when it is required of their faith that they be absent from school. A written request for the absence, in advance, is not required but is encouraged. A school district must excuse an absence to observe a religious holy day. Excused days for travel shall be limited to not more than one day for travel to and one day for travel from the site where the student will observe the holy days. The principal may elect to excuse additional travel days, but the student would be considered to be absent for the additional travel days for attendance accounting purposes. School districts are required to provide make-up work, along with adequate time to complete it, for students who have been excused to observe religious holy days. 
• The student is temporarily absent due to an appointment with a health care professional. A note from the health care professional is required to excuse the absence. 
• The student is participating in a mentorship approved by district personnel to serve as one or more of the advanced measures needed to complete the Distinguished Achievement Program. 

Late Arrival to School After 8:30 AM

Any student who arrives at school after 8:30 AM will report to the cafeteria where they will be documented as tardy and receive disciplinary consequences. Notes from parents/guardians will be accepted but will not excuse a tardy unless authorized by an administrator. Consequences for repeated tardiness may include lunch detention, afterschool detention, or in-school suspension, depending upon the number of incidents.

Late Arrival to School After 8:45 AM

Any student who arrives at school after 8:45 AM must report to the main office to sign in and obtain a pass.

Tardy to Class

All students are expected to report to class on time. There are four-minute passing periods between classes. Students who arrive at class after the bell rings will be marked tardy for that period and are required to sign the teacher’s tardy log. Excessive tardiness will result in consequences that may include lunch detention, after-school detention, or in-school suspension, depending upon the number of incidents.

Note: Students with excessive absences, late arrivals, or tardies will be referred to the administrative team and district truancy officer.