Great Attendance = Exceptional Achievement

Did you know?

Every day matters when it comes to school attendance. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, with or without a valid excuse. McHenry County school districts are between 19 - 30% chronically absent.

Remember, no more than 4 days out per year is a good rule of thumb. That includes all appointments and illnesses.

What can you do as a guardian?

• Stack appointments in the same day to lower the number of days out of school
• Schedule appointments outside of the school day
• Schedule for the earliest or latest slot of the day to miss the least amount of school
• Take vacation during school vacation not attendance days
• Don't allow your student to stay home because they are tired or don't feel like going
• Keep your child's phone out of their bedroom at night - have them use an alarm clock
• Keep to a bedtime routine and schedule as a family on Sunday night and school nights
• Set an attendance expectation for your family
• If your student doesn't have a fever or diagnosed reason from a doctor, they go to school
• If your student is too sick for school, they are too sick for video games and phones that day

How to get help with School Attendance

If you need help in getting your student to school, please work with the social workers at your school to overcome barriers.  The school social workers will have contacts and relationships with many community organizations to address needs within the home.  School social workers are a direct link to community resources.