Lake County Gazette

Student attendance and academic excellence: A call to action

Jan 21, 2025

Our Stakeholders, Our Parents and Partners in Student Success

Dear NH-M Parents and Guardians,

"We are reaching out to ask for your support in addressing an important issue that greatly impacts your child's academic success—school attendance. Regular attendance is crucial for your child's learning, social development, and future opportunities. We want to work together to ensure every child has the best chance to succeed. In our ongoing efforts and push toward continued academic excellence, we need your help in this crucial area. Simply, we need your child at school every day. "

"In Illinois, truancy is defined as a student having nine or more unexcused absences without valid cause. Chronic absenteeism, which includes both excused and unexcused absences, occurs when a student misses 10% or more of the school year. While incredibly unfortunate to their success, some of our students have surpassed these thresholds. These absences can add up quickly and significantly hinder a student’s progress."

"Research consistently shows that consistent school attendance is directly linked to academic achievement, including better grades, improved test scores, and a higher likelihood of on-time graduation. On the other hand, chronic absenteeism can lead to lower performance, increased risk of falling behind in core subjects, and difficulty in meeting grade-level expectations."

"Beyond academics, frequent absences can also impact your child’s social development making it harder for them to build and maintain friendships engage in extracurricular activities and develop important life skills such as responsibility and perseverance Over time students with poor attendance habits are more likely to struggle with self-confidence and motivation which can negatively affect their long-term educational and career goals In fact studies show that students who are frequently absent are at a higher risk of dropping out of school which can limit their future career and earning potential "

"We are committed to working with you to support your child's attendance and overall success If your family is facing challenges that affect your child's ability to attend school regularly please do not hesitate to reach out We can work together to identify solutions and provide resources to help "

"Thank you for your attention t o this important matter an d for yo ur continued partnership i n yo ur chi ld’s education Together let ’s give yo ur student th e best chances possible at future success "