• Update to HISD Attendance Policy: HISD students must attend 90% of school days

      Houston ISD is dedicated to academic achievement and success for all scholars. Regular student attendance is critically important to academic achievement and success. Students who are absent lose instructional seat time, creating a lost opportunity to learn, ask questions and engage in class activities.

      In accordance with Texas Education Code Section 25.092 (Attendance for Credit 90% Rule), a student in any grade level from kindergarten through Grade 12 shall not be given credit or final grade for a class unless the student is in attendance 90% of the days in which the class is offered.

      The student must attend 90% of school days. Upon returning to school, the student must present an excuse note to the attendance office.

      Students will be required to attend Summer School if they are absent more than 90% of school days, regardless of the absence being an excused or unexcused absence.

      Students who regularly attend school have an advantage of experiencing complete classroom instructional lessons. Unless a student is ill or an emergency has occurred, students should be in class on time at 7:45 a.m. and ready to learn. Students are marked tardy at 8:00 a.m. If there is an illness or emergency, it is expected that the parent or guardian will call the main office by 7:30 a.m. on the day of the absence. A note from home must accompany the child upon return. If the excuse note is not turned in within 3 days, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.

      Absent excuse notes must:

      • State the name of the student
      • Reason for absence
      • Must be dated
      • List the date(s) the student was absent
      • If the absence period is 2 or more days, it must be accompanied with a doctor or hospital note stating the cause , restrictions, and date of release.

      Absences will be excused if they meet one of the following criteria:

      • Illness – after 2 consecutive days a note from the doctor is required
      • Death in the family (up to 3 days)
      • Doctor’s appointment – Must bring proof from doctor or clinic
      • Religious Holiday

       Upon returning to school, each student has up to 3 days to make up work.

      Note: Please note only 3 handwritten excuses will be accepted per year. After the 4th handwritten note, all absences will be unexcused, unless the absences are excused by a doctor’s note. 

      To learn more about the Houston Independent School District Attendance Policy, click here.