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Attendance Mattters

Attendance Matters:
Let's Get Present Together

Regular school attendance is essential for student success. Each missed day is a lost learning opportunity, impacting not only the absent student but also the entire classroom. To emphasize the importance of attendance and meet the accountability standards of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Hicksville Public School District is introducing Attendance Matters—an initiative dedicated to improving student attendance across all schools.

Let's Be Present Together

Thank you to the students of the WINGS program for their work on the slogan.

The Hicksville Board of Education emphasizes that regular attendance is essential for academic success. The district’s attendance policy aims to reduce unexcused absences, encourage full attendance, track attendance patterns, and implement interventions as needed. The policy is communicated to students, parents, teachers, and administrators and is available in district publications.



Did you know?

Missing a day at School here and there may not seem like much, but the absences add up!

When a student misses 2 days a month...

 They will miss 20 DAYS a year.
They will miss 30 HOURS of math over the school year.
They will miss 60 HOURS of reading and writing over the school year.
They will miss over 1 YEAR of school by graduation.

When a student misses 4 days a month...

 They will miss 40 DAYS a year.
They will miss 60 HOURS of math.
They will miss 120 HOURS of reading & writing.
They will miss over 2 YEARS of school by graduation.


10 Facts About School Attendance

1. Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school.

2. Over 7 million U.S. students (1 in 7) miss nearly a month of school each year.

3. Absenteeism and its ill effects start early. One in 10 kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent.

4. Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade or be held back.

5. By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.

6. Research shows that missing 10 percent of school days, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence.

7. Students who live in communities with high levels of poverty are four times more likely to be chronically absent than others often for reasons beyond their control, such as unstable housing, unreliable transportation and a lack of access to health care.

8. When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.

9. Attendance improves when schools engage students and parents in positive ways and when schools provide mentors for chronically absent students.

10. Most school districts and states don’t look at all the right data to improve school attendance. They track how many students show up every day and how many are skipping school without an excuse, but not how many are missing so many days in excused and unexcused absence that they are headed off track academically.



We're here to help!

Whether you have questions about attendance, need support, or require additional resources, don't hesitate to reach out. Contact the appropriate staff member below for guidance.

For a list of District and Building Administrators, visit our District Directory Page.

For our Elementary Principals and Nurses, visit our Elementary Directory Page.

For our Secondary Principals and Nurses, visit our Secondary Directory Page.

For  our social workers, school psychologists, and Bilingual services, visit our Student Support Page.


Family Partnership Program

With the Family Partnership Program, you'll find valuable information about your school, community, and available services—all with the compassionate support of someone who truly cares about you and your family.

Our Family Partnership Specialist is a dedicated advocate with the knowledge and experience to support your family. Committed to building a strong relationship, they are here to guide and assist you throughout your time in the district.

Maritza Quintero
Family Partnership Specialist
516-733-2191
[email protected]


How to Track Your Child’s Attendance

Parents can view their child's attendance on the Parent Portal by logging into PowerSchool. 

Hicksville Public Schools' Parent Portal