Attendance Matters More Than You Think

Attendance is one of the most critical factors in student success and school funding. Texas does not just count attendance for a day. The Texas Education Agency collects attendance data in six-week reporting periods throughout the school year, totaling six times per year. That is where the exact data directly impacts how much a district gets. Lower attendance translates into less funding for programs, staff, and student support.

Right now, our attendance for the first six weeks is 95.05%, followed closely by 95.40% in the second six weeks. Those numbers count. Even small dips in attendance can impact actual resources available to students.

Beyond funding, attendance plays a huge role in learning. Instruction builds day by day, and every class that the students skip leaves them without the relevant concepts that the next class needs. Over time, it leads to frustration, lower grades, and a more challenging path to success. Good attendance builds good work habits for kids- responsibility, accountability, and time management. These are important outside of the classroom.

Being in school also nurtures social and emotional development. Children make friends, learn how to communicate, and develop confidence through regular attendance. Schools offer much more than academics: meals, guidance, tutoring, and other resources that enable students to grow.

Parents can help ensure strong attendance by talking to their child about the importance of attending school, establishing clear morning and evening routines, monitoring absences, and mapping out transportation options in advance. Schools will want to collaborate with families when challenges, whether health-related or personal, arise to help eliminate some barriers.

Good attendance can also be celebrated. Rewarding effort, improvement, and consistency reinforces good habits and helps students realize that their attendance counts for something.

Attendance is not just about being counted; it is about learning, connection, responsibility, and future success. When kids show up, everyone benefits.