Attendance Information

According to the State Compulsory Attendance Law, “Every parent, guardian or other person residing within this state of Tennessee, having control or charge of any child or children between six (6) years of age and seventeen (17) years of age, both inclusive, shall cause, such child or children, to attend public or non-public school, and in event of failure to do so, shall be subject to penalties hereinafter provided. “A student may be absent, due to personal illness, no more than then (10) days per school year with written parent excuse(s). Beyond ten (10) days per school year, a medical statement will be required. Written excuses must be submitted within five (5) days of the student’s return to school. 

Acceptable (excusable) conditions for a student being absent from school include: 

1. Personal illness, injury, and hospitalization. 

2. Illness in the family temporarily requiring help from the child. 

3. Death in the immediate family. 

4. Recognized religious holidays regularly observed by persons of the student’s faith. 5. Verifiable family emergency. 

6. Court appearances for summons, subpoena, or court order. 

7. For students with a parent/guardian who is deployed as a member of the United States  Armed Forces the following excusable absences shall apply provided appropriate documentation of the service member’s deployment: 

1. An excused absence for one (1) day when the member is deployed;

2. An excused absence for one (1) day when the service member returns from deployment; and 

3. Excused absences for up to ten (10) days for visitation when the member is granted rest and recuperation leave and is stationed out of the country. 

8. Students who are pregnant are excused from school for hospitalization, and doctor’s appointments when a physician’s statement is provided. If a student is participating in a  homebound program due to pregnancy, the homebound teacher will maintain attendance documentation. 

9. Juniors and Seniors are allowed two (2) days per year for college visits. These will be counted as excused absences. Visits must be arranged through the school counseling office. 

10. Students participating in school-sponsored activities whether on or off-campus shall not be counted absent. In order to qualify for as “school-sponsored,” the activity must be school-planned, school-directed, and teacher supervised. 

11. Extenuating circumstances determined on a case-by-case basis. 

Any absences not complying with the above reasons for excused absences will be considered unexcused. 

Tardys/Dismissals

In order to be counted present on any and all accounting attendance records, students shall attend school for a time period of three (3) hours and fifteen (15) minutes per school day. Students participating in school-sponsored activities whether on or off campus shall not be counted absent. In order to qualify as “school sponsored,” the activity must be school-planned, school-directed, and teacher-supervised.