ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular attendance is essential for school success and is required by NC Public School Law 115C-378.  All students are expected to be in attendance every day. A student must be in attendance at least one half of a school day to be considered present. Elementary students should not exceed 18 absences for the year, regardless of whether or not they are excused or unexcused.  

ELKIN CITY SCHOOLS POLICY 4400 STATES THAT STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE IN ATTENDANCE 90% OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR TO BE ELIGIBLE TO BE PROMOTED TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL.  STUDENTS THAT ARE ABSENT MORE THAN 10% OF THE SCHOOL YEAR ARE REFERRED TO THE PRINCIPAL.  THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN APPEAL OF RETENTION DUE TO ATTENDANCE IS PROVIDED BY THE PRINCIPAL/DESIGNEE DURING THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.  APPEALS SHOULD BE BASED UPON APPROPRIATE REASONS FOR ABSENCES, CONSISTENT PARTICIPATION IN AFTER-SCHOOL TUTORIAL SESSIONS WHEN NEEDED, AND COMPLETION OF ALL MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS.  STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE-UP WORK OR TESTS MISSED DUE TO ABSENCE.  EXCEPT FOR EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES AS DETERMINED BY THE PRINCIPAL, UPON THE STUDENT’S RETURN TO SCHOOL, ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAKE-UP SHALL BE MADE WITHIN THREE DAYS, AND MAKE-UP WORK MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN TEN DAYS.  STUDENTS MAY BE ASKED TO STAY AFTER SCHOOL TO MAKE UP MISSED ASSIGNMENTS DUE TO ABSENCES.

If the principal or the principal’s designee determines that the parent or guardian has not made a good faith effort to comply with the compulsory attendance law, the principal shall notify the district attorney and director of social services. Our funding depends partially on the average daily attendance of our students; therefore it is paramount that your child be in attendance unless they are sick.

Parents are asked to call the school when children will not be in attendance.  This will ensure that each child is safe.  If for some reason a child did not report to school, and parents thought the child was in school, the child would not be missed until time for them to arrive home in the afternoon.  Please call the school at 336-835-2756 each morning before 9 am to let us know if your child will not be in school.   Thank you for helping us ensure your child’s safety.