Attendance Reporting
Full-day absence, late arrival or early dismissal
Important Attendance Reminders from Rachel Carson Middle School
The school year is underway, and we want to remind everyone of the importance of regular attendance. A key part of our mission is that every student is an everyday student.
Did You Know?
- Students who miss more than nine daysof school each year may not be on track for graduation.
- By the 6th grade, being absent 18 or more days in a school year is a sign that a student may drop out of high school.
- By the 9th grade, regular attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th-grade test scores.
- Missing 10% of the school year, or about 18 days, can drastically affect a student's academic success.
- Being chronically absent can happen even if a student only misses a day or two every few weeks.
Every day of learning is a day toward success.
What You Can Do
To help your student succeed, please:
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Prepare the night beforeby laying out clothes and packing backpacks.
- Avoid scheduling trips or appointments during school hourswhen possible.
- Don't let your child stay home unless they are truly sick.Keep in mind that complaints of a stomachache or headache can be a sign of anxiety.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school,talk to teachers, school counselors, or school clinicians for advice on how to make them feel comfortable and excited about learning.
Ways to Report Attendance
You can report an absence in one of three ways:
- Use your SIS ParentVUE account
(preferred).
- Learn more about attendance reporting through ParentVUE .
- Email us at [email protected] .
- Call us at 703-925-3636 .
Absences of four days or more require an email to @email AND a prearranged absence form that can be picked up by the student from the front office to be signed by all of their teachers.



