At Worcester Public Schools, we emphasize that good attendance is crucial for a child’s academic and social development. We encourage families to prioritize consistent school attendance from the start. Establishing strong routines, planning appointments thoughtfully, and maintaining accountability can help students stay engaged and succeed.

Below, you’ll find practical strategies for families of elementary, middle, and high school students to support their child’s educational journey and ensure that every school day counts.

Help your child establish consistent daily routines, such as:

• Completing homework

• Following a regular bedtime and wake-up time

• Preparing clothes and packing their backpack the night before

Whenever possible, try to avoid scheduling dental and routine medical appointments during school hours.

If your child will be absent, please contact the school. Ensure that your child asks their teachers for any missed assignments and materials.

Showing up on time every day is critical for your child’s success, starting from preschool.

Missing just 10% of school (1 or 2 days every few weeks) can make it harder for students to:

• Gain early reading and math skills

• Build relationships with peers and teachers

• Develop good attendance habits

By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

By 9th grade, attendance is a stronger predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

Missing just 10% of school (2 days a month) can affect a student's academic performance.

The early routines your child develops in elementary school will continue to impact them throughout their education. Being late to school can contribute to poor attendance overall, which may negatively affect learning and growth.

Check on your child’s attendance regularly:

• Daily Notifications: Caregivers receive absence updates daily via ParentSquare.

• Written Notifications: An attendance message is sent after every 5 absences via ParentSquare.

• Meeting Requests: Principals or designees may request a meeting to discuss attendance concerns and plan for improvement if needed.

Caregivers and guardians will also receive attendance updates through:

• Interim and attendance progress reports (at five weeks into the marking period)

• Report cards (every ten weeks)

  • Secondary school report cards will show absences from each class and the student’s total absences from school.

High school students are expected to be present for every class session. If a student exceeds the allowable number of absences, they may not receive credit for the class.

Please feel free to contact your child’s school at any time if you have concerns about attendance. We are always here to help and will offer any support we can.

Attendance Matters