Attendance
Attendance Office
Report a Student Absence or Change in Dismissal
Reporting a student absence or a change in dismissal is required to excuse any absence. Report an absence or change to:
- Attendance Line: 206-252-9252, or
- By email: arborheights.attendance@seattleschools.org
Please include the following information:
- Your student’s name
- Your teacher’s name
- Reason for absence
- Date
- Drop off or pick up time (change in dismissal only)
Please email your change in dismissal by 10 a.m. Changes after that time should be made by calling our main line at 206-252-9250.
Notice: We will not be accepting Change in Dismissal requests during the first month of school as students get accustomed to their regular after-school dismissal plans.
Attendance Matters!
One of the most important things your child can do to achieve academic success is also one of the most basic — being at school each day. Research has shown consistent attendance and punctuality are two of the most vital factors influencing academic success. Missing class not only affects your child but it also has an impact on the entire classroom. It’s difficult for the teacher and the class to build their skills and progress if students are frequently absent or tardy.
We kindly ask that you plan family trips during school breaks such as Winter Break, Mid-Winter Break, Spring Break, Summer Break, or several of the three-day weekends throughout the school year. Likewise, it’s best to schedule your child’s doctor, dental, or orthodontic appointments before or after school if possible.
Arriving Late
If your child arrives at school after 7:55 a.m., a parent or guardian will need to come to the front office to sign them in. This helps ensure students are supervised once the front doors are closed and allows your child to head straight to class without waiting in line. If you know in advance your child will be arriving late (doctor or dental appointment, etc.), please notify the attendance line a head of time. This will save a phone call from the front office! Students arriving on late buses will not be marked late.
Leaving Early
If your child needs to leave school early for any reason, please notify the attendance office by 10 a.m. on the day they will be leaving before the dismissal bell at 2:25 p.m. (1:10 p.m. on Wednesdays). The adult picking up the student will need to ring the bell at the front entrance to the school. One of our office staff will greet you, call your student down to the front, and sign them out. Only adults listed as emergency contacts for your student will be allowed to sign them out from school.
When to Stay Home
While it’s your student’s responsibility to attend school, it’s also their responsibility to stay home when they aren’t feeling well to ensure other classmates and teachers don’t get sick too. In the age of COVID-19, it’s essential you keep your student home if they display any of the following symptoms.
COVID-19 Symptoms
- Chills or Fever of 100 F (37.8 C) or Higher
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Sore Throat
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Congestion or Runny Nose
- Diarrhea
- New Loss of Taste or Smell
- Muscle or Body Aches
- Difficulty Breathing
Other Illness/Sickness or Injury/Surgery
Please also keep your student home for any other illness/sickness or injury/surgery. If you have questions, please get in touch with our attendance secretary at 206-252-9200.
- 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” (conjunctivitis), and the student should be checked by a health care provider.
- 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 will be helpful. Students are expected to participate in all parts of the school day, including recess or P.E. If your doctor has restricted activity, please send a doctor’s note, for example: “No contact sports for 1 week.”
If you have additional questions about attendance, please refer to the Seattle Public Schools Attendance page.
SPS Attendance Information
SPS Student Attendance
All children in Washington state have a constitutionally guaranteed right to an education. They are also legally required to attend school. Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10% of school, regardless of the reason — that’s 18 days in a school year!
Regular school attendance is the key to student academic success. Attendance has a dramatic impact on key milestones, including 3rd grade reading, 9th grade achievement, high school graduation, and life success.
Unexcused Absences and Truancy – WA State Law “Becca Bill”
If a student has unexcused absences, Washington state law requires that schools take specific actions:
How can families help?
We miss your student when they are gone, and we value their contributions to their school. Please help us ensure your student attends regularly and is successful in school:
- Have your child attend school unless they are truly sick, such as a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, a contagious rash, any health conditions related to COVID-19 or other communicable diseases as defined in WA state law.
- Schedule appointments and arrange travel for times when school is not in session.
- Keep track of your child’s attendance. Missing school, excused or unexcused, puts your child at risk of falling behind.
- Maintain communication with your student’s school and teacher if additional support is needed or to discuss barriers that prevent your student from participation.
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine. Ensure that your child finishes their homework the night before.
Contact your school:
- To report a student absence
- If you have a question about an automated message you received
- If you have general attendance questions
Contact the SPS Attendance Office:
- If you have questions about truancy
- If you have questions about an attendance letter you received from the district or court
SPS Attendance Office
attendance@seattleschools.org
206-252-0827
SPS Attendance Office webpage