• Attendance Office Phone: 210-356-3200

    Attendance Requirements

    State law requires that a student may not be given credit for a class unless the student is in attendance for at least 90 percent of the time the class is scheduled to meet. If student attendance is less than 90 percent of the days the class meets, students will lose credit unless each and every class is made up in an acceptable manner.

    At the middle school level, students may lose credit on the 19th absence of the year. This will be recorded as an NC “Non Credit” in Skyward. At Driscoll, students may make up time by attending Saturday school, which is offered on Saturdays after Spring Break. For more information about what your child needs, please reach out to their assistant principal.

    Attendance Documentation

    All attendance documentation must be original and turned in to the attendance office in person. Emailed documentation will NOT be accepted. There are no exceptions that will be made to this policy.

    Acceptable/Unacceptable Reasons for Absences

    ***Both excused and unexcused absences count towards the state 90% attendance threshold. Once a student accumulates 18 excused or unexcused absences they will lose credit for that grade level  and a non-credit will be applied.***

    Acceptable Reasons for an Absence as Defined by State Law with approved documentation to verify absence:

    • Required court appearance (including travel time if necessary - one day to and one day from county/city of the court requesting the student's attendance).

    • Religious holy day(s) (including travel time if necessary).

    • For the purpose of sounding “Taps” at a military honors funeral held in Texas for a deceased veteran.

    • A portion of a school day is missed for a doctor/dentist appointment and the absence is verified by a signed note or form by the doctor within the time allotted for the student or the student’s child.

    • Activities related to a student obtaining United States citizenship.

    • Student serving as an election clerk (maximum of two (2) days per school year).

    • Documented health-care appointments, including absences for recognized services for students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

    • District-approved school business based on State guidelines and required documentation.

    • Meets requirements as outlined in the Military Interstate Compact (maximum of five (5) days per school year within a window of 60 days prior to deployment and 30 days after the date of return from deployment).

    Acceptable Reasons for an Extenuating Absence as Defined by the District with approved documentation to verify absence (X Code):

    • Hospitalization.

    • Death in the family.

    • Sport-related competitions for approved off-campus physical education credit.

    • Olympic try-outs.

    • Shadowing district magnet programs.

    • Visit by a religious leader or a major religious event that is not considered a holy day.

    • Visa renewals-up to three (3) days only if necessary for the travel (one day to, day of renewal, and one day return).

    • A full day’s absence due to a doctor/dentist appointment that is verified by a signed note or form by the doctor within the time allotted.

    Acceptable Reasons for an Excused Absence as Defined by the District with approved documentation to verify absence (E Code):

    • Personal or family illness verified by a note from parent/guardian

    • Natural disasters, weather or road conditions as declared by the District making travel dangerous.

    • Death outside the family.

    • Attending a special school function, without a school sponsor and identified by the District (ex: State playoffs).

    • Emergencies recognized and approved by the principal or District.

    Unacceptable Reasons for an Absence and will be documented as an unexcused absence (U CODE):

    • Truancy.

    • Parent/guardian notes for personal or family illnesses

    • Any absence not listed above.

    Examples of a common unexcused absence:

    • Vacations/pleasure trips.

    • Missing the bus.

    • Car problems.

    • Overslept.

    • Babysitting.

    • Birthday or other personal celebrations.

    • Jobs.

    • Rare special circumstances not approved by the principal in advance.

    • Youth programs not associated with the District, including but not limited to, athletics, cheerleading, dance, theater, fine arts, and other similar programs.

    ***Both excused and unexcused absences count towards the state 90% attendance threshold. Once a student accumulates 18 excused or unexcused absences in an individual class they will lose credit for that class and a non-credit will be applied.***

    Late Arrival During School Hours

    Students who arrive late to campus during school hours must sign in at the attendance office.

    Permission to Leave School

    For safety reasons, students will be released ONLY to parents/guardians or persons listed on the emergency form. Picture identification is required prior to students being released. A parent/guardian or approved adult must sign the student out in the attendance office and wait until the student reports to the attendance office prior to departure from campus. No student checkouts will be permitted after the attendance office closes at 3:20 PM.

    We encourage all students who know in advance that they will need to leave the building during school hours to present a written request from their parents/guardians to the attendance office prior to the start of the school day. A blue pass will be issued and will serve as the pass for students to report to the attendance office prior to leaving the building.

    UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHOULD STUDENTS LEAVE THE SCHOOL CAMPUS WITHOUT PROPER PERMISSION FROM ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL/ATTENDANCE OFFICE. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINARY ACTION. ALL STUDENTS WHO LEAVE CAMPUS DURING SCHOOL HOURS MUST SIGN OUT THROUGH THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE BEFORE LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS.

    Monitoring Student Attendance

    It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to monitor their student's daily attendance. This can be done by utilizing the district’s Skyward Family Access Application. In addition, NEISD will send automated notices when a student is absent from school. Please ensure that all contact information on Skyward is up to date in order to ensure communication. If you receive an absence email or phone call, please check your student’s attendance in Skyward. If your student was marked absent while they were here at school, please contact the attendance office for verification of the absence.

    School Business

    Students who participate in school activities during the school day will be marked “S” for “School Business.” These absences DO NOT count towards the student’s attendance. This coding could take up to 2 days after the school activity to be entered in Skyward. Please check Skyward for adjustments before calling to see if the absences have been updated.