Nobody likes to wake up early in the morning to go to school. Who doesn’t prefer to stay in their warm, cozy bed? However, at 7:20 A.M. every student attending Miami High must be seated and ready to start the day.

Even though going to school so early may be a hassle for some, school attendance is extremely important. By going to school you gain new knowledge, develop healthy life habits, avoid unnecessary trouble, and have a better chance of graduating from high school.

The Importance of Attendance

Attendance has a great influence on a student’s education. Students who attend school are more likely to get better grades. Tenth grade assistant principal Ms. Meiklejohn said, “If a student is not in school, they are missing crucial information, lessons, and activities that are necessary for their understanding.”

English teacher Ms. Berrios said, “Students fail themselves when they miss class. They end up with an F because they miss so many classes and are so far behind.”

It is critical to not miss school unnecessarily because there is constantly new information given. Junior Kassidy Castellanos said, “My absences have affected my class progress because every day one of my teachers is either giving out a new lesson or a test, which makes me fall behind.”

However, other students don’t let their absences become an obstacle to passing their classes. Sophomore Angela Perez said, “It hasn’t affected me in any of my classes because I attend tutoring to complete any missing assignments.”

It is inevitable to miss school some days. Some of the common reasons students are absent are death in the family, being sick, or doctor appointments. Sophomore Angel Navas said that her main reason for missing class is to go to a softball game, which serves as a reminder that students involved in extracurricular sports and activities are often forced to miss class.

Teachers’ Policies About Make-up Work

For teachers, attendance is a must if the student wants to pass the class. Nonetheless, they understand sometimes students miss class for legitimate reasons. In these situations, teachers give students the chance to make-up their work so their grade won’t be affected. Science teacher Dr. Yoham said, “Students have to ask for makeup work as soon as they return from the absence. They can make up work only when they excuse their absence.”

Every Day Counts

Many students consider attendance to be important because they know their grades depend on it. Junior Anastasia Rojas said, “I don’t want my overall GPA plummeting, nor my grades dropping.”

Excessive absences can affect a student’s progress and performance in school. However, many students, like sophomore Olivia Martinez, haven’t reached the limit of excusing absences or missing a class enough to lose credit for that course.

According to School Board policy, if a student receives 10 or more unexcused absences in an annual course, a teacher has the right to withhold credit. Ninth grade assistant principal Mr. Zabala said, “The student would then have to make an appeal to the school’s Attendance Review Committee where a determination is made on a case by case basis. Usually students that have credit withheld are assigned make-up hours which they must complete before the credit is released and they can graduate.”

Attendance can also affect your entrance to college. Ninth grade counselor Mr. Lorenzo said, “In the process of applying to colleges, they request the students’ transcript which includes their grades, conduct, and attendance.” Head counselor Ms. Diaz de Villegas said that in a competitive college, the number of absences would matter.