Submit an absence using our attendance form below or by calling our 24/7 attendance line: 703-207-4019.

ONLY Online attendance forms with an email address on students' records will be accepted and processed. Please make sure you are using the email address in your student's records.

Students placed on Pause due to COVID exposure should not be reported to the attendance office unless sick and unable to work asynchronously. Here are the Pause instructions. 

Policy and Procedures

Students are expected to report to class on time and remain for the entire instructional period. The teacher, not the bell, will dismiss students each period. Attendance is taken daily before the end of each period. Excused absences are for approved reasons and with parent notification. Hall passes will NOT be issued during the first 20 minutes.

School begins promptly at 8:10 a.m. and ends at 2:55 p.m.  Students who arrive to school after 8:25 a.m. should report to the Attendance Office immediately upon arrival to obtain a check-in pass. A note or telephone call from a parent/guardian must be provided for a student’s absence or tardy to be considered excused.

Examples of Excused Absences

• Student Illness  
• Medical Appointment- please provide a doctor’s note       
• Death in the family  
• Observance of a Religious Holiday    
• Prearranged Absence 
• Court Appearances
• Unusual Circumstances 

Examples of Unexcused Absences

•  All day truancy, skipped classes, sr. skip days
• Oversleeping/Power outages
• Missing the bus or ride
• Car trouble or traffic problems
• Failure to check-in or check-out
• Other reasons unacceptable to administrator

When it is necessary for a student to be absent from school, the parent must notify the school.  The school will classify the absence as excused or unexcused.  There is a FIVE- DAY limit to clear absences after which the absences remain unexcused. Use the online attendance form or call the automated attendance line to report a student’s absence, leave a voice mail and PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE STUDENT'S ID#. If a call is not made to the attendance line on the date of the absence, a note must be brought from the parent/guardian stating the reason for the absence within 48 hours of the date of return. Please include the following information:

• Correct spelling of student’s legal name
• Student ID# (very important)
• Grade level of the student
• Date(s) of absence
• Reason for the absence
• Parent/legal guardian’s daytime  telephone
• Parent/legal guardian’s signature (note only)

NOTE:  In accordance with state law and school board policy, any student who is absent for fifteen (15) consecutive school days must be withdrawn from school. If a student has excessive absences, parents/guardians will be requested to attend an attendance conference with their child’s administrator to create an attendance plan. 

Excused Absences 

After the student has missed three consecutive days for medical reasons, the guardian must provide a doctor’s note indicating that your child has been evaluated or treated for a specific medical concern. This policy is in accordance to FCPS Regulation R2234.13 that states “Principals may request medical documentation for students for whom parents report health, mental health, or behavioral health reasons for absence to ensure that appropriate supports are in place at school should the absences become chronic.”

Early Departures From School

If a student needs to leave school/class early, a parent/guardian must notify the attendance office before 8 a.m. the day of. A parent/guardian will need to provide the time and the reason for leaving and a phone number for verification. If a student is part of an in-person learning cohort, they must always sign out with parent/guardian permission before leaving school grounds. There are no exceptions to this rule. Leaving school without checking out will result in an unexcused absence in the classes missed.

Check-Out for Early Dismissal due to Illness- Students are to report to the clinic with a pass from their teacher if they are ill during the school day. If the student needs to check-out due to illness, the clinic aide will contact the parents for permission.  If the parents/guardians are unavailable, the emergency contacts designated on the emergency care card will be contacted. Only parents/guardians and the emergency contacts may pick up students or authorize clinic staff to release students.

Pre-Arranged Absences 

Students who know that they will be absent for more than THREE consecutive days must notify the attendance office at least 3-5 days in advance of the absence. A pre-arranged absence form will be given to the student, after receiving notification from parent/guardian identifying the specific reason for the absence. After receiving the pre-arranged form, students will take this form to all of their teachers for signatures and comments. Additionally, the completed form must be submitted to the attendance office prior to the absence. If a student fails to follow this procedure, the absence(s) will be recorded as unexcused. 

Frequently Used Attendance Codes

The chart in the file below outlines many of the codes that you can see on your student’s attendance in ParentVUE. 

Attendance Codes.pdf

**Parents should check attendance regularly and class period attendance will be visible in ParentVUE within a class period.

UNDERSTAND OUR ATTENDANCE CODES

FCPS Regulation 2234 states that “regular attendance is necessary for maximum school achievement. In addition, punctuality and dependability in meeting assigned responsibilities are personal behavior habits valued in our society. To help students develop desirable behavior patterns, as well as maximize their classroom learning, Fairfax County Public Schools requires that students be punctual and regular in school class attendance. When attendance problems develop, the school system’s resources are made available to aid in solutions to these problems.” It is the responsibility of a parent or guardian to excuse absences within three days

Helpful Information for Caregivers

Virginia Attendance Law 

In Virginia, all students aged five (5) through eighteen (18) are required to attend school regularly.

Bell Schedule 22-23

Falls Church High School Attendance Policy

• See Policy and Procedures above

FCPS School Calendar 22-23

Student Attendance Record

Prompted to log in to ParentVUE

Attendance codes

• See Policy and Procedures above

Reporting an absence

Faculty that support attendance

• School Counselors