Research is clear that showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic and social success, starting from pre-kindergarten and continuing through high school. 

• Missing 10% (or about 18 days of a school year or 2 a month) can drastically affect a student’s academic success at each grade level.

• By the 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that can indicate if a student is at risk for dropping out of high school.

• In the 9th grade, regular and high attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

Please help us support a culture of showing up to school every day!

Please review Policy 9010: https://policy.hcpss.org/9000/9010/

Reporting Absences

If your student is absent or will be absent, please contact us at the following email address to explain the reason:gmsabsence@hcpss.org.  In the email please Include the following information:

• Student First and Last Name

• Grade 

• Reason for absence (e.g., illness, bereavement, observance of a religious holiday, lack of transportation)​

You may also send in a signed parent/guardian note with student's name, grade, date(s) of absence and reason when your child returns to school.

Please Note: Absences are unexcused until an email or note is received.

Requesting Make-Up Work

When a student is absent, make up work can be requested from each individual teacher. Upon return, for excused absences, students are given the same number of days as they were absent to complete missed work. 

Late Arrivals

Parents are reminded that school begins at 8:30 am, and students are expected to be in homeroom at that time. Students arriving at 8:30 am or later must sign in through the LobbyGuard system in the front office. Parents do not need to accompany their student, but a note is required.

Early Dismissals

• Please bring your driver's license.
• Please allow at least 10 minutes for your child to get to the office, especially if they are in PE. You may call and request your child to come to the office if you are within a couple of miles from our school. 
• After 2:30 please park in designated areas so our buses can line up for dismissal.
• A school day is considered a full day if a student is present at least 3 hours and 25 min.
• It is considered a half day if a student is present more than 40 minutes less than 3 hours and 25 min.
• A student will be marked absent if they are in school less than 40 min.

Discretionary Days and Religious Obligations

HCPSS students are granted 3 days a year to use at their discretion for scheduled interviews with prospective employers, visits to post-secondary institutions, family trips, civic engagement, and other special events.

• Such absences may not occur during exam or state-mandated testing periods unless authorized by the principal/designee.

• A written request for such absences to be lawful/excused should be submitted at least one week in advance to the principal/designee. Please download the PDF fillable Discretionary Absence Form and email it gmsabsence@hcpss.org. The form is also available in Chinese, Korean, and Spanish

• If you are requesting a day for a religious holiday not identified by the Howard County Public School System school calendar, please download the PDF fillable Religious Obligation Form and email it to gmsabsence@hcpss.org. 

With the collaborative effort of HCPSS parents, staff and students, we are confident that all students can have successful attendance. This will improve student success in school and in future life!