Amherst County High School

The Amherst County High School administration, faculty, staff, and parents believe that regular school attendance is essential not only for academic success, but also for the development of habits that are required in the workplace. To foster these goals, we have developed an attendance policy, which places a limit on the number of absences that a student may have in a class in order to receive credit. 

Attendance will be taken daily by first period teachers and a list of absentees will be generated and emailed to all teachers by the ACHS Attendance Coordinator. 

All absences will be classified as excused or unexcused. An excused absence is defined as an absence due to medical appointment or illness/sickness, court appointment, or death in the immediate family. All other absences are unexcused. 

Absences:

For each day a student is absent, the parent/guardian must provide a written note stating the reason for the absence. Notes must be submitted within two days of the absence. Notes submitted after two days will only be excused by the Principal or his designee.

Excused absences will only be granted for the following reasons:

• Medical Condition or appointment verified by a doctor’s note.
• An approved school-sponsored event.
• Engage in a one day civic event per school year.
• Death or serious illness in the immediate family. The Principal or designee will also consider each individual case and any extenuating circumstances.
• Personal required court appearances with documentation from the Court.

Approved pre-planned absences.

Extenuating circumstances which are determined by the principal or designee.

After written notes are submitted by a parent/guardian for 10 days of personal illness of a student, a doctor’s note or other documentation may be required to excuse any future absences.

Please note: All other absences not included in the list above will be classified as unexcused absences. As a result, there are consequences for unexcused absences as described in the Compulsory Attendance Procedures in § 22.1-258 of the Code of Virginia. Amherst County Public Schools must ensure that all students are compliant with the Code of Virginia as it relates to school attendance.

Attendance Reporting and Action for Unexcused Absences

• For each day the student is absent, a phone call, text, or email shall be sent to the parent/guardian to advise them that the student is absent.
• On the fifth unexcused absence, direct contact should be made with the parent/guardian, either in person or by phone, to obtain an explanation for the student’s absences and to explain to the parent the consequences of continued nonattendance. School personnel and the student’s parent/guardian shall develop a written plan to resolve the student’s nonattendance.
• On the sixth unexcused absence, the school shall notify the parent/guardian and request a face to face attendance review meeting.
• On the 10th unexcused absence, the Student Accountability Coordinator may file a truancy petition with the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. This proceeding may be against both the parent/guardian and the student.

Amherst County High School is a closed campus. A closed campus means that once students come on school grounds, they must remain on school grounds until their regular dismissal time. Leaving school grounds at any time without permission is a violation of discipline policy. 

Amherst County High School does not recognize any Senior Skip Days. All “senior skip days” will be unexcused. 

Students that have accumulated 10 percent or more in absences by the date of the dance (excused and unexcused) will not be allowed to attend any dance, including the prom. If extenuating circumstances occur, an appeal must be requested by the student and granted by the building principal or designee. 

Students must have permission from their legal parent/guardian and school official to leave school during the school day. Students who leave school without permission from the attendance office or administration are considered to be truant and may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including out of school suspension. Students who have been seen on school grounds before school begins and who do not return for classes will also be considered as leaving school without permission and truant from school. 

If a student desires to be excused from school before the end of the school day, he/she must bring a note from a parent/guardian to the attendance office before school. Students must sign out of school in the attendance office before leaving school grounds. Upon returning to school the same day, a student must sign-in at the attendance office. Students and parents are requested to schedule medical appointments when possible after the close of the school day. Students who cannot make these arrangements will be expected to attend school before and/or after such appointments, including Court appearances, as time permits. 

A student must be present in all 7 periods of the school day in order to participate in any extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, and performing arts. This includes school sponsored events such as games, after-school field trips, and dances. A student may attend these activities if part of the day is excused by official medical documentation, court appointments, and family bereavement circumstances.

If a student is absent for all 7 periods of the instructional day he/she will not be eligible to participate in after-school activities. The administration may exercise discretion in special cases. Student athletes should refer to the Student Athlete Handbook for further information concerning eligibility. 

The School Accountability Coordinator will proactively collaborate with the administration to assist with the enforcement of the ACPS attendance policies and procedures when addressing excessive absences and reporting truancy violations. 

The following procedures will be implemented relative to attendance of students eighteen years of age and older: 

• Regular attendance procedures will be followed. 
• Absentee notes must be written by the parent or guardian as long as the student is a resident of the family home and is not an emancipated minor (as shown by satisfactory court order) and is living in the school division not solely for school purposes.