As our new year begins, I tell all of our students and staff how much I missed them over the summer. It’s great to see everyone back together, learning and growing. This is a great place to be, with many opportunities ahead of us.
One of the most important factors in a child’s success at school isn’t found in a textbook or on a test — it’s attendance. Simply put, being present matters.
When students attend school regularly, they build consistent routines, keep up with lessons, and stay connected with their classmates and teachers. Every missed day is a missed opportunity for learning, relationship-building, and skill development. Over time, those missed opportunities add up. Missing just two school days each month equals over 11% of the school year — putting students at risk of falling behind. If that pattern continues from Kindergarten through Senior year, it adds up to almost a year and a half of missed school.
Attendance habits start early, and they stick. Students who develop strong attendance in elementary school are more likely to stay on track academically through middle and high school. Chronic absence is one of the strongest predictors of lower reading and math scores — even more than time spent on test preparation.
In high school, the stakes get even higher. Nationally, students who miss more than 10% of school in ninth grade are far less likely to graduate on time. And after graduation, showing up still matters. Employers and colleges value reliability, and the habit of being present and on time is one of the strongest career readiness skills we can give our students.
We are not just focusing on truancy. Chronic absenteeism is a challenge for schools everywhere — and it includes all absences, for all reasons, even excused ones. Every day a student is gone, it’s a missed opportunity.
As a school district, we’re committed to helping families remove barriers to attendance. If there are challenges that make it difficult for your child to be here, please reach out. We want to work together to find solutions — because every day matters.
Let’s make attendance a shared priority this year. Together, we can give our students the gift of consistency, connection, and opportunity. More information on attendance can be found at www.attendanceworks.org.
Let’s make it a great year as we focus on showing up for each other every day — and Go Orioles!