As we reflect on the first month of the 2025-2026 school year, we want to highlight that the urgency around school attendance has never been more important for students in our community. Last year, only 61% of our school community attended regularly. Our entire staff is committed to ensuring that each student attends school over 90 percent of the time. That means that your student can only miss 16.5 days out of their scheduled 173 to be considered a “regular attender”. 

1. Half of the students who miss 2-4 days in September will go on to miss nearly a month of school.
2. Absences are absences…they all add up. Even excused absences are detrimental to your student’s progress and should be avoided if possible. Whenever possible, schedule doctor and dentist appointments during breaks or on days off from school.
3. Poor attendance can influence your child’s ability to read proficiently. Early literacy efforts in the district in grades preK-2 focus daily on phonics, phonemic awareness, blending, and other reading skills. Missing just one day of literacy instruction might equate to your child not learning the sound of a letter, which is essential to reading.
4. Improved attendance rates are correlated with higher graduation rates.
5. We absolutely want your child to stay home when they have a fever, are vomiting or have diarrhea, or are experiencing other serious illnesses; however, the old COVID-19 exclusion rules no longer apply. 
6. Research shows that missing just 10% of school days can have a negative impact on academic achievement.

We are committed to increasing student attendance and achievement, but we need your help. As we begin to implement our updated attendance procedures, you can expect to receive more communication from the school regarding your student’s attendance. Your attention to ensuring that your student attends school and reaching out when you need assistance will enable us to reach our goal together. We are here for you and stand ready to lend a hand.

Thank you for partnering with us as we begin the process of ensuring that each student in the Lincoln County School District has the opportunity to thrive!