Silver Bluff High

The Communications Department at Aiken County Public School District (ACPSD) is excited to share a new video centered around attendance awareness created in collaboration with ACPSD Student Services.

This video project was possible thanks to the many student and teacher volunteers who graciously gave their time during fall break. We also extend our thanks to North Augusta High School for allowing us to film at their location and gather additional footage during normal instruction.

This project reflects our district's ongoing commitment to providing support, preparedness, and clear communication. Watch the video below to learn more about why attendance matters and how we can work together to maintain supportive learning environments across Aiken County Public Schools.

Consistent attendance is essential to student success. When students attend school regularly they are able to keep up with cumulative academic lessons, build key reading and math skills, create/maintain relationships, and develop lifelong habits of responsibility and time management which contribute to future career success.

What exactly constitutes an absence? By definition, "a student is absent if he or she is not physically on school grounds and is not participating in instruction or instruction-related activities at an approved off-grounds location for the school day."

Chronic Absenteeism VS Truancy

Any student in grade K-12 who misses 50 percent or more of the instructional day for any reason for 10 percent (or more) of the enrollment period is considered chronically absent.

• All types of absences contribute to chronic absenteeism.

  • Excused Absences

  • Unexcused Absences

  • Suspensions

The 10 percent is based on the individual student's environment:

• 40 days enrolled = 4 days absent

• 90 days enrolled = 9 days absent

• 130 days enrolled = 13 days absent

• 180 days enrolled = 18 days absent

A student between the ages 6-17 who has accumulated unexcused absences on three consecutive days or has accumulated a total of five or more unexcused absences during the academic year is considered truant.

• Only full-day unexcused absences contribute to truancy.

• Excused absences and suspensions do not affect truancy.

We are here to support you. If something is contributing to your student missing school, don't wait until the absences begin piling up. Talk with you child's teacher, counselor or school administrator for support.

If you would like to learn more about Attendance or our Attendance Policy, please visit our website.