The school’s attendance policy allows students to miss up to six days per class. If you exceed that number, you’ll likely have to participate in credit recovery. This brings up an important question: Is the attendance policy fair to all students? Personally, I find the answer somewhat unclear.
One of the biggest advantages of the attendance policy is that it encourages students to come to class more consistently. This increases their chances of succeeding, since regular attendance gives them more opportunities to learn, stay on track, and earn better grades. It also helps the school’s overall performance look better.
However, this raises another question: What about students who already have good grades? Should they be held to the same attendance standard as students who are struggling? Would it be unfair to let students with higher grades miss more days? Or could this actually motivate all students to aim for better grades in exchange for a more flexible schedule?
Interestingly, the student handbook does touch on this topic. While it doesn’t go into much detail, it does mention that a student’s grade is taken into account when determining whether credit will be withheld due to absences. I think this is a positive aspect of the policy, though it could be communicated more clearly and openly.
Another strong argument in favor of the current policy is that it ensures students are present to actually learn the material. Being in class gives students the chance to understand the content as it’s being taught, which is hard to replicate if they’re frequently absent.
On the flip side, the policy can create problems for students who miss school for valid reasons, like illness or personal responsibilities. These students are often forced into credit recovery, even if they’re already juggling other classes, extracurriculars, or obligations. The more days they miss, the higher the chance of being pushed into credit recovery—often because the system emphasizes in-person learning over flexibility.
Overall, I think the attendance policy has room for improvement. For example, before writing this, I didn’t know that final grades were factored into the decision to revoke credit. While this is mentioned in the student handbook, it’s not widely known. Since the school sends out warning emails after a certain number of absences, it would be helpful if those emails also explained how credit decisions are made. This would give students and parents a better understanding of the process.
The attendance policy should be more flexible when it comes to allowing absences, while still maintaining its core goal of encouraging students to be present and learn. Before doing this research, I was strongly opposed to the policy. While my stance hasn’t completely changed, I now see both sides more clearly and have a more balanced perspective.
That’s what I think, but what about others? Sophomore Greyson Wolfley said, “I feel like it should be up to the teacher to decide what happened, but it also depends on your reason for missing class.”
Another sophomore, Devin Page, added, “The system the school has is a little harsh when it comes to keeping your credit, but I guess it’s what motivates kids to go to school more often.”
Clearly, students have mixed opinions about the attendance policy. Many agree that while there should be more flexibility, the policy also plays an important role in keeping students engaged and in school.
