Attendance

Athens Middle School 

• Classes Begin at 7:55 AM
• Classed End at 3:00 PM

Athens High School

• Classes Begin at 8:15 AM
• Classes End at 3:20 PM

Attendance is recorded for each block or period daily, and more than 15 minutes missed is considered an absence.

• Late arrivals should report to the Attendance Office to check-in. 
• Checkouts shall be conducted through the Attendance Office. NOTE: Check-outs can NO LONGER be phoned in. All Checkouts must be submitted in writing, in-person, or by email (by the email listed in PowerSchool).  
• All checkout notes must be submitted by the start of the school day.
• Any missed school will be categorized as an excused absence, excused tardy, unexcused absence, or unexcused tardy.
• Excessive absences will subject a student to truancy policies and procedures.
• The administration will adopt an in-house procedure to address students’ attendance.

ABSENCES

Excused Absences

Absences are excused for the following: 

• Illness
• Death in immediate family
• Inclement  weather  which  would  be  dangerous  to  the  life  and health of the child as determined by the principal
• Legal quarantine
• Emergency conditions as determined by the principal
• Administrative Approval – Prior permission of the principal upon request of the parent or legal guardian
• Suspension

Athens City Schools allows a student to be absent from school for any of the above reasons for five days per semester provided the parent has verified this in writing upon the student’s return to school. Any absence for illness beyond five days during a semester must be confirmed by a physician’s document in order for the absence to be excused. Otherwise, absences beyond five will be considered unexcused. 

Note: Students that check-in and check-out must provide a written note with the reasons stated above to be considered excused.

Unexcused Absences

• The following are also deemed unexcused:
• Failure to send a note within three (3) days of the absence upon returning to school.
• Failure to secure prior approval from the principal for Administrative Approved absences.
• Educational opportunities and the safety and security of minors are the primary reasons for administratively excused absences.
• Five consecutive days absent without medical or legal documentation may be considered as unexcused.
• Failure to provide a medical excuse after a student has accumulated 5 parent notes for illness in a semester.
• Notes must also be submitted for check-ins and checkouts.

TARDINESS

E-LEARNING DAYS

• Trips of educational value, safety or security of a student when parents are traveling and the student cannot be left alone, non-school related athletic competitions for future opportunities, extra college and/or career visits are some examples, but are not the only occasions that may be approved.
• Parents must request these opportunities ten (10) calendar days prior to the 1st day of on-line learning.
• Students cannot have any unexcused absences, for the entire school year, excessive absences (5 or more in a school year), or excessive tardiness (5 or more in a semester).
• Students may not take E-Learning days during the first days of the school year, during the first days of the semester, and during the last 10 days of either semester.
• Students must have a minimum of an 80 average in each class prior to the request. Students cannot have any Class II or III write-ups during the semester the request is made.