ATTENDANCE
PARENTS, PLEASE NOTE: The school does not recognize or sanction a Senior Skip Day. Students who
participate in such an event or activity will be credited with an unexcused absence.
Students are expected to attend all classes and are not entitled to class cuts. The State Board of Education
governs reasons for excusing absences and/or tardies. Students must be present one-half of his/her instructional
day in order to be counted present for the day. If they miss more than one-half of a class period, they will be
counted absent from that class. In order to participate in extra-curricular activities, a student must be counted
present on the day of participation.
The State Board of Education policy allows only the following circumstances as excused absences:
1. Personal illness
2. Death or illness of a family member
3. Recognized religious holidays observed by the student’s faith
4. Absences mandated by a state agency
5. Conditions which render school attendance impossible or hazardous to the student’s health and safety as
defined by the school district
6. Students who serve as a page in the Georgia General Assembly.
** ALL OTHER REASONS ARE UNEXCUSED **
PLEASE NOTE: A student with an unexcused absence may not make up work missed for that day. A
special circumstance designation may be assigned to an unexcused absence with prior parent
notification to the administration of a pending unexcused absence.
ADMITTANCE AFTER ABSENCE
If you are absent, you must bring a written statement from your parent/guardian to be given to the
Attendance Office within THREE DAYS OF YOUR RETURN TO SCHOOL. This note should include the
reason for absence, the dates of the absence(s), home and work phone numbers where a parent can be reached,
and a parent signature. The Attendance office will not accept notes unless phone numbers are included. All
parent notes will be kept on file in the Attendance Office. The principal or designee is authorized to require
verification of statements explaining a student’s absence from class or school. When probable cause exists for
questioning the validity of a student’s statement, a medical authority’s note may be required. An absence note
will NOT be accepted outside of the three-day window of return.
A parent should notify the Attendance Office when her/his child will be absent from school for any extended
period of time. Cobb County School Board policy JBD requires that parents furnish the school with a doctor's
statement verifying an illness for each absence after ten (10) or more school days have been missed. When
appropriate, students will be referred for special attention and possible subsequent referral to juvenile court.
COLLEGE VISITATIONS
Seniors and juniors will be allowed two excused absences for the purpose of legitimate, organized visits to
universities, colleges, technical or vocational schools. For visits to be counted as excused, the visit must be
approved ahead of time through the Attendance Office (required: written note from a parent), and students
must furnish the Attendance Office with an official letter from the institution verifying attendance. This letter
must be on official letterhead of the institution and must include the student's name, the date visited, and a brief
statement of activities the student engaged in during the visit. The letter must be signed by an official of the
institution.
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