Respecting learning requires that students be present and actively engaged in class daily unless emergencies arise. 

FCHS will follow the Pitt County Schools’ attendance policy outlined in the PCS Parent/Student Handbook in the Student Behavior and Conduct section.

Excused Absences

 An absence may be excused for any of the following reasons: 

• Personal illness or injury that makes the student physically unable to attend school

• Isolation of the student ordered by State Board of Health

• Death of an immediate family member (includes but is not limited to grandparents, parents, siblings)

• Medical or dental appointments

• Attendance of a student at court or administrative tribunal proceedings if the student is a part of the action or under subpoena as a witness

• A minimum of two days each academic year for the observance of an event required or suggested by the religion of the student or the student’s paren

• With prior approval of the principal, participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel or service as a legislative or Governor's page

• With prior approval of the principal, up to two days each academic year for a high school junior or senior to visit college campuses in order to qualify for scholarships, attend orientation sessions or determine whether to apply for admission

• Pregnancy and related conditions or parenting when medically necessary

• Visitation with a parent/legal guardian, if the student is not identified as at risk of academic failure because of unexcused absences, and the student's parent or legal guardian (a) is an active duty member of the uniformed services and (b) has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting. 

When a student is absent for any of the reasons listed above, he or she shall provide appropriate documentation of that absence as lawful as required. If there is any question regarding lawful absences, a person designated by the principal shall make contact with the parent or guardian of the child. If a student is to be absent for medical or dental appointments, court or administrative proceedings, religious observances or educational opportunities, the parent shall, except in emergencies, file the excuse and the dates for absences with the principal ahead of the date that the student is to be absent.

Notes for Excused Absences must be submitted to the school no later than 5 schools days after the absence occurred.  Failure to turn in a note in the 5 day window will result in the absence remaining an Unexcused Absence and no assignments will be available to be made up according to the Make Up Assignment Policy detailed below.

Early Dismissal Process

Whenever a student plans to leave school before 3:30 PM, a note from his/her guardian should be submitted to the secretary in Student Services.

The note should include the following information:

1. First and last name of the student

2. Dates of the absence/date of early dismissal/reason for dismissal

3. Parents first and last name and signature 

4. Telephone number of parent - Parents will be contacted to verify dismissal before a pass is given.

5. Time to be dismissed

6. Date note is submitted.

Students will be issued an “Early Dismissal Pass.” Parents are encouraged to have early dismissals coincide with class dismissal times. Students will not be allowed to abuse this policy. Students are reminded that they must attend a full 60 minutes of a 90 minute block to be counted present in a class. 

Students must sign out at the Student Services window at the time of their departure. 

Late Arrivals

Students who arrive at school on a late bus are provided a late bus pass allowing them five minutes to get breakfast and report to first period.  Students arriving by car are expected to be in class at 8:30.  All doors are locked at 8:30 except the front door and all students must enter the front door if they arrive after 8:30.

We respect that students have to attend doctor’s appointments during the year and provide admittance without penalty when they arrive on campus with a note from the doctor.  Students who are tardy to school are to report to Student Services to sign in. Students with doctor’s or court notes will receive passes to class from Student Service personnel.  All other students (with unexcused tardies to school) are to report to CHOICE/ISS Room 100.  

Students may be given one emergency pass per semester to be admitted to school if they have an emergency that inhibits their arrival.  Those passes will be given by the principal or his designee and recorded on a document to ensure that they do not receive more than one pass per semester.

FCHS Student Makeup/Late Work Policy

At FCHS, we have a commitment to provide a rigorous and personalized education that prepares students for post-secondary education and the workforce.  As part of that commitment, FCHS Teachers plan and deliver high quality instruction daily that requires students to complete learning activities at the time they are delivered.  Typically these learning activities are referred to as assignments that are graded, recorded in the gradebook, and used to determine final averages. To ensure that Teachers are able to maintain high quality instruction and students are able to grow academically FCHS will adhere to the Makeup/Late work policy below.  For clarity, makeup work means a student had an excused absence from class.  Late work means a student was in class and did not complete the work or had an unexcused absence and did not complete the work.

Excused Absence

• Students have 1 calendar week to make up an assignment. 

• Assignments can be completed at Teacher discretion either 

  • In class

  • During FLEX

  • On your own time

  • During Mastery Lab or After School Tutoring

Unexcused Absences

• Students will only be allowed to make up Major Assignments, i.e. Tests or Quizzes

• Tests or Quizzes can be completed at Teacher discretion either 

  • In class

  • During FLEX

  • During Mastery Lab or After School Tutoring

• Minor assignments, such as classwork, are not eligible for make up and will be recorded as a zero.

No late work will be accepted.

Makeup work will only be accepted due to excused absences. 

Students who are present for instruction must submit work by the due date.  Zeros will be recorded for assignments that are not submitted by the due date.

Excused Absences are only granted for the following reasons and require a note to be turned in to the school either in advance or within 5 days of a student returning to campus:

• Personal illness or injury that makes the student physically unable to attend school

• Isolation of the student ordered by the State Board of Health

• Death of an immediate family member (includes but is not limited to grandparents, parents, siblings)

• Medical or dental appointments

• Attendance of a student at court or administrative tribunal proceedings if the student is a part of the action or under subpoena as a witness

• A minimum of two days each academic year for the observance of an event required or suggested by the religion of the student or the student’s parent

• With prior approval of the principal, participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel or service as a legislative or Governor's page

• With prior approval of the principal, up to two days each academic year for a high school junior or senior to visit college campuses in order to qualify for scholarships, attend orientation sessions or determine whether to apply for admission

• Pregnancy and related conditions or parenting when medically necessary

• Visitation with a parent/legal guardian, if the student is not identified as at risk of academic failure because of unexcused absences, and the student's parent or legal guardian (a) is an active duty member of the uniformed services and (b) has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting. 

Any absence that does not meet one of the above criteria is considered an unexcused absence.  A note detailing a reason for an absence to be considered excused must be turned in within 5 days of the absence to the school datamanager, Mrs. Greene, in order to be marked as excused;  otherwise, it will remain an unexcused absence.

For more information, reference Pitt County Schools Board Policy 4400 and the Pitt County Schools The Parents’ Guide to Student Achievement 2024-25, pages 29 - 32