Hopewell High School

Attendance at a Glance

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Illegal Absence occurs when a student is absent from school and does not turn in an excuse or a parent note. 

• Counts against the student’s overall attendance at Hopewell High School
• Counts towards social suspension
• Student is considered truant

Legal Absence occurs when a student is absent from school and turns in a note from the parent/guardian within three days of the return to school. 

• Counts against the student’s overall attendance at Hopewell High School
• Counts towards social suspension
• Student is not truant

Excused Absence occurs when a student is absent from school and turns in an excuse from a doctor/hospital/dentist office, courthouse/magistrate, funeral notice, college/trade school admissions office within three days of the return to school.  Arrangements for excused absence due to extenuating circumstances can be approved by the principals as well. 

• Does not count against the student’s overall attendance at Hopewell High School
• Does not count towards social suspension
• Student is not truant

Legal Vacation Absence occurs when a student turns in a vacation request form and receives approval prior to the vacation. 

• Counts against the student’s overall attendance at Hopewell High School
• Does not count towards social suspension
• Student is not truant

Health Room Absence occurs when the nurse sends a student home due to illness.  This absence is automatically Excused. 

• Does not count against the student’s overall attendance at Hopewell High School
• Does not count towards social suspension
• Student is not truant

Hopewell High School Attendance Requirements

• More than ten illegal/legal absences in a semester = the student fails any semester (half credit) courses he is taking that semester.
• More than twenty illegal/legal absences in a school year = the student fails for the year. 
  • Students who become attendance failures may be issued an attendance contract which allows for them to make up lost time after school and not fail. 
• Social Suspension
  • Students on social suspension are ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activities such as athletics, band, musical, field trips, etc.  This includes attendance at any event.
  • Five illegal/legal absences in a nine week grading period = ten day social suspension. 
  • Six or more illegal/legal in a nine week grading period = 45 day social suspension. 
  • Ten days of TOC and/or out of school suspension and/or Saturday detention = 45 day social suspension.
  • Students can makeup time and have an attendance social suspension lifted.
  • Discipline based social suspension will not be lifted. 
• Truancy
  • At six illegal absences a student is considered truant.
  • When a student reaches six illegal absences, a letter will be sent home alerting the parent/guardian and inviting them to schedule a TIP (truancy intervention program) meeting with a Hopewell High School principal and representatives from CYS and Juvenile Services in an attempt to address the issues causing truancy and provide resources and support when needed.
  • If illegal absences continue, students seventeen and younger will be charged with truancy by the District through the Magistrate’s office.  
• Tardies
  • Students are tardy (late to school) if they are not in their homerooms at 7:35 AM.
  • When a student is tardy five times in a semester, they are assigned an office detention.
  • When a student is tardy six or more times in a semester, they are assigned Saturday (8:00-12:00) detention.
  • When a student is tardy eleven or more times in a semester, they are suspended out-of-school.  
  • If a student does not attend Saturday detention, two additional Saturday detentions will be assigned. A second absence will result in a five day out-of-school suspension.