Why Attendance Matters
NHA Communications TeamNHA Communications Team
Articles by NHA Communications Team
Showing up matters—whether it’s for work, a special event, or meeting a friend. The same is true for your child’s education. Regular attendance is important for academic success, social growth, and building lifelong habits. In fact, studies have shown that student attendance is one of the most important, if not they most important, factors that influence student academic success.
Did you know that missing just two days of school a month adds up to an entire month of lost learning over the course of a year? A couple of absences here and there may seem small, but they add up quickly and can have a big impact. Why? Missing a day of school means that students miss out on the content and skill practice introduces on that day, but they also lack context for new material over the new few days once they are back in school. Missing a day school is like missing several.
Research by National Heritage Academies (NHA) shows students who attend school regularly are 2 to 3 times more likely to reach grade-level expectations in reading and math than those who miss two or more days a month. Even missing a little as 7 or 8 days of school in a year can have a significant negative impact on student learning.
But school attendance isn’t just about grades. It’s also where students learn teamwork, make friends, and build essential life skills like responsibility, time management, and communication. When students miss school, they miss out on group projects, class discussions, and all the activities that make learning engaging.
As Ms. Kiera, the attendance liaison at Walton Charter Academy, explains, "Every day at Walton counts in a child's academic life. Missing a day of school means a missed opportunity for students to grow and learn."
As parents, caregivers, and educators, we can help support student success by emphasizing the importance of showing up every day. It’s one of the simplest ways to help students build a strong foundation—academically and in life.
Did you know that missing just two days of school a month adds up to an entire month of lost learning over the course of a year? A couple of absences here and there may seem small, but they add up quickly and can have a big impact. Why? Missing a day of school means that students miss out on the content and skill practice introduces on that day, but they also lack context for new material over the new few days once they are back in school. Missing a day school is like missing several.
Research by National Heritage Academies (NHA) shows students who attend school regularly are 2 to 3 times more likely to reach grade-level expectations in reading and math than those who miss two or more days a month. Even missing a little as 7 or 8 days of school in a year can have a significant negative impact on student learning.
But school attendance isn’t just about grades. It’s also where students learn teamwork, make friends, and build essential life skills like responsibility, time management, and communication. When students miss school, they miss out on group projects, class discussions, and all the activities that make learning engaging.
As Ms. Kiera, the attendance liaison at Walton Charter Academy, explains, "Every day at Walton counts in a child's academic life. Missing a day of school means a missed opportunity for students to grow and learn."
As parents, caregivers, and educators, we can help support student success by emphasizing the importance of showing up every day. It’s one of the simplest ways to help students build a strong foundation—academically and in life.