Why Attendance Matters
Along with many school districts across the country, in the last few years there has been an increase in absences and the effects of students missing class have been evident across the school community. When students miss school, it affects not only their own learning but also their teachers and classmates.
We want all of our students to be successful and their presence in school is a key part of that success. Their Presence is Powerful as it shows they are committed to their education, committed to their future and committed to their classmates.
Did You Know . . .
If your student misses just one day every two weeks, it equals 20 days per year,
which adds up to missing 1 1/2 years of school by the time they graduate.
Enhancing Your Child’s Educational Journey
Consistent attendance helps our teachers stay on track with lesson plans and ensures that every student benefits from a continuous learning experience. This way, all students can move forward together, reinforcing a supportive and collaborative classroom environment.
Regular attendance is crucial, especially for our youngest learners. Missing school means missing essential reading and math lessons, which are the core building blocks for the rest of their school years. A California study reports that students who attend school regularly in their early years are more likely to achieve reading proficiency by the end of third grade.
For older students, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th-grade test scores by the time they reach 9th grade (Attendance Works).
Why Attendance Matters
Higher Academic Achievement
Students who regularly attend school are known to achieve at higher levels than students who do not attend regularly, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Developing Good Habits
Building punctuality habits at a young age allows students to develop essential life skills that will follow them into college and the workforce.
Growing Relationships & Social Skills
Each school day gives students another opportunity to strengthen their social skills as they interact with their classmates and teachers.
Did You Know . . .
Being late 10 minutes per day is equivalent to missing 1 1/2 weeks per year, which adds up to missing a half year of school by the time they graduate.
Your Presence is Powerful!
Building Community Through Attendance
School is more than just a place to learn. It is where friendships form, traditions are shared, and students feel like they are part of something bigger. When students show up, they are not just earning grades; they’re helping build a community that grows stronger...
The Benefits of Attending School: Your Presence is Powerful
Regular school attendance boosts academic achievement and builds a strong foundation for social skills and responsibility.
The Final Stretch: Your Presence is Powerful
Coming back from Spring Break, we’re officially in the final stretch of the school year — and it always goes by so fast! This year, thanks to your commitment and the launch of our Your Presence is Powerful initiative, most of our schools currently have higher...
Overcoming Attendance Challenges
If you encounter any difficulties in ensuring your child(ren) can attend school, please don’t hesitate to contact your school office. It would be our pleasure to personally work with you to help come up with solutions to support your child(ren) succeed.
We are a family in Downey Unified so let’s work together to make this the best school year yet for our students, their classmates, our teachers and our families!