Attendance matters for success in school and in life, and absences can easily add up to academic trouble.

At HISD, missing more than 10 percent (or 17 days) of school a year can lead to a student not receiving a grade or being retained, but more importantly, it represents lost time in the classroom and a lost opportunity to learn.

• A child is considered chronically absent if they miss two or more days a month. That includes unexcused and excused absences.
• Attendance matters as early as kindergarten. Studies show that children who miss too many days in kindergarten and first grade have trouble mastering reading.
• By grade 6, chronic absence is a proven warning sign that a student is at risk of dropping out.
• By grade 9, good attendance can predict graduations rates even better than eighth-grade test scores.
• Attendance also affects a school’s budget. When students miss class, their campus’ average daily attendance rate drops, which can reduce the funding it receives to support its programs. (Learn more about how public schools are funded here.) 

For complete details on HISD’s attendance policy, please visit the Federal & State Compliance website.