Attendance Matters at NNPS
Here. Every Minute. Every Class. Every Day.
School Attendance Matters! Too many absences - excused and unexcused - can keep students from succeeding in school. Did you know that too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school?
Preschool and Elementary School
Good attendance in preschool and elementary school helps build the foundation for reading and math skills. Help your child be present and succeed in school. Build the habit of good attendance early.
Did you know?
- Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
- Missing 10 percent (or about 18 days) can make it harder to learn to read.
- Students can still fall behind if they miss just a day or two days every few weeks.
- Being late to school may lead to poor attendance.
- Absences can affect the whole classroom if the teacher has to slow down learning to help children catch up.
Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school-and themselves. Start building this habit in preschool so they learn right away that going to school on time, every day is important. Good attendance will help children do well in high school, college, and at work.
What can you do to help?
- Set a regular bed time and morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Don't let your child stay home unless he/she is truly sick.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make him/her feel comfortable and excited about learning.
- Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
Middle School and High School
Students who miss 10 or more days each school year are more likely to struggle in their school work placing them further behind their classmates. Middle and high school students with great attendance are better prepared academically and are more likely to earn a diploma.
Make sure your child is present and successful in school. Help keep him/her on the track for graduation.
Did you know?
- Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.
- By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.
- By 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.
- Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student's academic success.
- Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks.
- Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child graduate from college and keep a job.
What can you do to help?
- Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, make that the expectation.
- Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night's sleep.
- Check on your child's attendance to be sure absences are not piling up.
- Don't let your child stay home unless truly sick.
- Stay on top of academic progress and seek help from teachers if necessary.
- Stay on top of your child's social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.
- Encourage meaningful afterschool activities, including sports and clubs.
Let's make sure all students are Here. Every Minute. Every Class. Every Day.