As students return to Frederick High this semester, they will be returning to a new school policy aimed at improving student attendance. The FHS admin will keep a tally of every tardy and absence a student incurs, and the students that fall in the highest ten percent of absences will be ineligible to have a time release block for the fall semester of next year.
The Lantern complied several frequently asked questions about the policy from students and parents, and then we asked the FHS administration to answer them. Here are their responses:
How will this policy work?
A student will get a mark on the attendance tally for every time they are absent from a class (regardless of whether the absence is excused by a parent or not), come to a class late, or leave a class early. Every class in a day is counted separately, so a student can earn up to four marks in a day (five on an advisory day).
At the end of each week, the admin will send a warning email to the students that fall within the highest 20% of absence marks. At the end of the semester, the students in the top 10% will have any time releases in their fall 2025 schedule filled with classes.
Would that be the top 10% of the school or the top 10% for each grade?
Students will lose their ability to have a time release if they are in the top 10% of absences for all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors combined. If, for example, more sophomores fall into that 10% than freshmen or juniors, then more sophomores will see their schedules restricted.
Since seniors will graduate in May, this policy will not affect them.
Why is this happening?
Attendance is closely tied to academic performance. Students who miss a lot of class tend to get failing grades, so those that miss the most class will lose access to time release as a consequence because they need a fuller schedule in order to catch up.
Tardies and early departures are being counted the same as entire class absences because tardiness causes disruptions to classroom teaching. Students in the halls outside passing periods also cause a majority of other school issues like vandalism and fighting, so incitivizing students to be where they are supposed to be will help create a safer school environment.
What if a student is sick?
All absences are counted regardless of whether they are excused or not. Absences that can be excused but will still accrue marks toward a student’s assessment total include doctor and dental appointments, vacations, funerals, court, religious devotion, jobs, and home obligations.
Absences will not count toward the semester total if the student has an extended illness (several days or weeks) confirmed by a doctor’s note or if the absence is school-related (like leaving early for an athletic game).
“That said, a student with strong attendance wouldn’t come close to the top 10% by missing for, say, an ortho appointment,” Frederick High Principal Dr. Russell Fox said. “The top 10% are the kids who are in the hallways late at least once a day or absent at least once a day […] Strong attendance would allow for several days of [illnesses] and still not result in the top 10%.”
Do absences from CETC classes at the Innovation Center count?
No—they use a different attendance system.
Do absences during testing days count?
Yes, even if a student’s parent has opted them out of testing by contacting Dr. Santos.
If someone gets into that top 10% and can’t have off-blocks, can they still have aiding blocks?
Yes. As long as students are not credit deficient, they can have “light” classes like aiding, study hall, and tutoring, just not a time release.
Are there going to be any opportunities to earn the missed time back?
Not this semester, but there may be opportunities next year.
