Why Attendance Matters

Attendance Matters

Students who attend school regularly feel more connected to their school community and are more engaged in learning. As a result, they are more likely to earn better grades and test scores and have greater chances of graduating and achieving postsecondary success.

It is crucial to start setting good attendance habits in the child's first year in school. Preschoolers who are chronically absent are likely to continue to be chronically absent as they get older in school. From pre-K through high school, poor attendance can negatively affect students socially and emotionally:

• They feel out of place
• They fall behind in their work
• They miss meaningful opportunities that can inspire their future
• They have a hard time working with others
• They don't see how school is connected to their future success

Students who are chronically absent are more likely to have low grades and test scores and are less likely to be on track for high school graduation.