Attendance Information

Reporting Absences

If your student will not be in school please contact the office to let us know.

Email: tops.attendance@seattleschools.org
Phone: 206-252-3510

Every Day Matters!

One of the most important things your student can do to achieve academic success—being at school each day! Regular attendance and arriving on time are key for your student’s academic success. Studies have proven that these two factors play a crucial role. Missing class not only affects your student but also disrupts the entire class. It’s important for the teacher and the class to make progress, which is challenging when students are frequently absent or late. We appreciate your partnership in our mission to support your student’s education and success.

We kindly ask that you plan family trips durin g school breaks such as Winter Break, Mid-Winter Break, Spring Break, Summer Break, or several of the three-day weekends throughout the school year. Also, it’s best to schedule your child’s medical, dental, or orthodontic appointments before or after school if possible.

Chronic Absenteeism and Tardiness

For every unexcused absence, the office will call parents to inquire about your student.
When your student has accrued 3 unexcused absences or tardies, we will call to inform you of their absence and tardy counts.
When your student has accrued 4 unexcused absences or tardies, we will send a letter, mandated by SPS, home.
Upon the accrual of 6 unexcused absences or tardies, school staff will call to discuss our concerns for your student’s attendance. This may include a home visit.
Upon the accrual of 8 unexcused absences or tardies, we will schedule a success team meeting with parent and school staff.

Late Arrival

Any student who arrives at 7:55a.m. or later will need to check in at the front office to get a late slip for class.

Early Dismissal

If you need to pick your child up early from school, please come to the front entrance (located on Franklin Ave E on the West side of the building) and ring the doorbell. Office staff will call your student’s classroom and ask their teacher to send them to the office. Please bring photo ID with you when checking out your student.

Seattle Public School’s policy qualifies the following absences as excused:

Illness
Medical Appointment
Mental health
Religious or Cultural Celebration
Family Emergency

If your student has an absence that doesn’t specifically fit the above criteria, it may still be possible to excuse the absence. Please come and talk with us in the office, and we will see what our options are.

Seattle Public School’s policy qualifies the following absences as unexcused:

Family Trip or Vacation
Unreported Absences

Unexcused is a legal term in this case and does not indicate that you did not report your student’s absence to the school.

If you are planning on a long-term absence, please fill out the Pre-Planned Absence Form and return it to the TOPS office. the request will have to be approved by the principal before the student’s attendance can be excused.

If you have additional questions about attendance, please refer to the Seattle Public Schools Attendance page.

While it’s caregivers and the student’s responsibility that the student attends school, it’s also their responsibility to stay home when they aren’t feeling well to ensure other classmates and educators don’t get sick too.

Appearance/Behavior – Unusually tired, pale, no appetite, hard to wake, or confused.
Eyes – If there is drainage, vision change, and/or redness of the eyelid, itching, pain or sensitivity to light. This may be a sign of “pink eye” (conjunctivities) and the student should be checked by a healthcare provider.
Fever – Temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher. Students need to be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school WITHOUT medications to reduce the fever.
Bad Cold and/or Cough – Students need to be able to cover their cough to be at school. If a cough or cold persists for more than 2 weeks, the student may need to be seen by a health care provider.
Diarrhea – 2 or more watery stools in 24 hours, especially if the student acts or looks ill. Students should stay home for 24 hours after the last watery stool.
Vomiting – Vomiting 2 or more times in 24 hours. Students should stay home for 24 hours after the last time their vomited.
Rash – Bothersome body rash, especially with fever or itching. Some rashes may spread to others and should be checked by a healthcare provider.
Injury/Surgery – If students are unable to concentrate due to pain or pain medication, they should stay home. Please have your healthcare provider contact the school nurse to help your child safely return to school. Letting the school nurse know in advance of any planned surgery is helpful.

Still have questions about whether or not your student is healthy enough to come to school? Contact the school nurse or your child’s healthcare provider.