Attendance Policies

Attendance

Regular attendance is essential to a student’s academic success and overall growth. Each school day provides structured instruction, guided practice, discussion, and accountability that cannot be fully replicated when a student is absent. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, disrupt the learning process and may negatively impact academic progress.

Valorous Academy views attendance as a shared responsibility between the school and families. Parents are expected to prioritize attendance and schedule appointments, travel, and extracurricular activities outside of instructional hours whenever possible. When absences do occur, students are responsible for completing all missed work within the time frame outlined by school policy.

As a Christian school, Valorous Academy encourages students to practice stewardship and responsibility with the opportunities God has given them. Scripture reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Faithful attendance reflects integrity, discipline, and respect for the learning environment God has entrusted to us.

Consistent attendance supports academic excellence, character development, and preparation for future success.

It is important that each student attends Valorous Academy faithfully. Students participating in extracurricular activities will be expected to be in attendance at school for at least 3.5 hours on the day the activity occurs.

4K and Elementary: Attendance is taken at the beginning of every day. Students will be marked as Tardy if they are not in their seat and ready to learn at 8:00am. The student must be present at school for a minimum of 2 hours to be counted as present for the day.

Middle and High School: Attendance is taken at the beginning of every period. Students will be marked as Tardy if they are not in their seats ready to learn at the start of the period. Students who arrive at class 15 minutes or later will be marked as Absent for that class. 

Absences

Certain absences are unavoidable, and parents may take their children out of school when they consider it necessary. The final decision regarding whether an absence is excused or unexcused is at the discretion of the administration. 

Excused Absences

All of the following reasons for a student's absence will be considered Excused:

• Illness

• Bereavement

• Family emergency

• Medical appointments

• School-related activities

An absence for a school-related activity will be excused and will not be counted toward a student’s total absences.

Planned Absences

For planned absences, students are required to have a completed Pre-Excused Absence Form signed by their parent, principal, and all of their teachers at least two school days prior to the first day of the absence for it to be excused. Middle and high school students are expected to complete the form themselves and bring it to their teachers to be signed. Elementary students should have the form completed by themselves or a parent. If work is assigned prior to the absence, the student is responsible for turning in the work upon their return to school.

Unexcused Absences

All absences which do not meet the excused absence criteria will be considered unexcused. All assignments and assessments due the day of an unexcused absence will receive an automatic 50% reduction in the grade. Students will receive a grade of 0% for assignments which cannot be made up, such as class participation grades or presentation grades. The teacher will be the primary decision maker regarding which assignments can or cannot be made up after an unexcused absence.

Accumulated Absences

Valorous Academy considers students truant after 10 absences, whether excused or unexcused, in any class. These students may be subject to an attendance probation contract. Additional consequences, ranging from detention to suspension, may apply at the discretion of the principal.

Elementary school students with more than 10 absences per semester will not receive credit for that semester or class unless otherwise decided by the administration. This may result in the student’s retention in their current grade.

Middle and high school students with more than 10 absences in a particular course may not receive credit for that class unless otherwise decided by the administration. This may result in the student needing to retake the course.

Extended Absences

Additional documentation may be required in the event of an illness, accident, or extenuating circumstance which makes a student incapable of meeting attendance requirements at school. If this is the case for their student, the parent should contact the school administration to make them aware of the situation and secure accommodations for their student, as appropriate. The administration will be the final decision maker regarding extended absences.

Tardiness

Tardiness is defined as not being in your seat, ready to start the lesson, when the class starts. School begins at 8am, and all students are expected to be in class ready by 8am, unless they are an upper high school student who does not have a class for that period. Students arriving after 8:00am must get a tardy slip from the school office immediately upon entering the building. A parent must accompany the student to the office to receive a tardy slip. (Students who drive themselves to school may sign themselves in.) Tardiness may be excused at the discretion of the administration. A tardy becomes an absence 15 minutes after class begins for middle and high school students, regardless of if the student arrives after that 15 minute period.

Examples of excused tardies include medical appointments and family emergencies. Examples of unexcused tardies include oversleeping, traffic, family vacations, personal or family issues, or no reason given by the parent. The final decision regarding whether a tardy is excused or unexcused is at the discretion of the administration.

A tardy, whether excused or unexcused, equates to ¼ of an absence and will be counted toward the student’s total absences.

The consequences for unexcused tardiness are as follows:

1st and 2nd tardies: Warning

3rd and 4th tardies: Before school detention (one morning per tardy)* (for morning tardiness); lunch detention or after school detention (for tardiness between classes)

5th-9th tardies: Increased consequences at the discretion of the administration (such as before school detention, lunch detention, after school detention, loss of privileges, work duty, release from extracurricular activities, or suspension)

10th tardy: Attendance Probation Contract

*A detention must be served within three school days. Failure to appear for a detention will result in an additional day of detention.