Absence Reporting

Will your student be absent? Tell us!

Skyward Family Access (instructions on this page)
Call the attendance office

360-412-4824

Attendance Office Professional
Lisa Beckley

Absences will be recorded as excused only if appropriate documentation is received. Students are expected to attend all classes each day. A student returning to school after an absence reports directly to class and is expected to make up all missed work.

How Attendance Works at Ridge

Consistent school attendance is vital for student success. It helps students fully engage with lessons, build relationships with peers and teachers, and develop important life skills. Excessive absences can create significant challenges for a student.

Missing more than one day a month adds up. For example, missing just a few days in September can lead to nearly a month of missed school by the end of the year.

Chronic absenteeism (missing two or more days a month) significantly increases the likelihood of a student dropping out.

School begins promptly at 7:30 am. If your student rides the bus, they will arrive with enough time to get breakfast and be in class before 7:30 am.
If you are dropping your student off, please allow enough time for traffic and aim for a drop-off time of 7:25 am.

The first bell rings at 7:25 am. Attendance is taken at 7:30 am in the classroom.

If a student is late, they must check into the office to obtain a pass to class. Late bus? Obtain a pass to class, but it will not count as a tardy.

Students are responsible for missed work due to absences.
Excused Absences: Absences are excused only in the case of illness, medical or dental appointments, bereavement, family emergencies, court appearances, or pre-approved absences.
To excuse an absence, notify the school of the absence before or up to 5 days after the absence.
Unexcused absences are for reasons not listed above. Sleeping late is not an accepted reason for an absence.
If there are unexcused absences for one-half day or more on seven or more days in a calendar month and/or ten in a year, NTPS may file a petition with the juvenile court.

Attendance Matters at NTPS

Regular Attendance During Winter

As winter weather and seasonal illnesses arrive, getting students to school can sometimes feel more challenging. Regular attendance is important for students to continue learning and to feel connected to their school community. We have tips to help plan ahead for weather, keep students healthy, and stay engaged in learning when in-person attendance isn’t possible.

What can parents and caregivers do?

Develop backup plans for getting your student to school in bad weather. If transportation challenges are too much, reach out to your school leadership for assistance.
If your student walks, talk to other families in your neighborhood about organizing a “walking school bus” to help students get to school safely together.
Keep your children healthy by ensuring they get plenty of rest, eat a nutritious diet, and wash their hands.

What if my child is sick?

Ask your children's teachers or the school office for resources you can use at home to support your child's learning.
Encourage your children to contact classmates or the teacher to learn what they missed.

What is good attendance?

Why is good attendance important?

When attendance is good, students tend to perform well in school. Regular attendance ensures that:

Preschoolers build skills and develop good habits for showing up on time
Elementary students read well by the end of 3rd grade
Middle & high schoolers stay on track for graduation

When do absences become a problem?

Satisfactory: 9 or fewer absences means your student can keep up and keep learning!
Warning Signs: 10 to 17 absences in a school year mean your student will miss a lot and struggle to keep up!
Chronic Absence: 18 or more days in a year (2 days a month) is enough to warrant meeting with the student and your family to discuss any challenges that we may help overcome.

Three levels of absence issues, from satisfactory, warning, and chronic absence issues.

What happens if a student misses too much school?

Too many absences—excused or unexcused—can keep students from succeeding in school and in life. Students who miss more than 1 school day a month become at risk for longer-term challenges. For example:

Half of the students, who miss 2 to 4 days in September, go on to miss nearly one month of school;
Chronically absent (2 days a month) students are more likely to drop out of high school;
Chronically absent kindergartners score 20 percent lower in reading and math in later grades;
Student absences in 8th grade are 8 times more predictive of 9th grade course failure than test scores;
Chronic absenteeism is the strongest 6th grade predictor of not graduating from high school.

That’s why if your student has two unexcused absences in one month, state law (RCW 28A.225.020) requires that schools schedule a family conference with the student to identify barriers and supports available to ensure regular attendance.