Attendance
Attendance
Parkview High School encourages and promotes good attendance. School attendance is the responsibility of both parents and students. Regular attendance in school helps develop good habits that will carry over later in life. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation between good school attendance and academic performance.
This Fall…Final Exam Exemption
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) wants to recognize students who attend school every day, do well in class, and show honesty in their work. To support this goal, Parkview is one of the ten GCPS high schools that will participate in the Final Exam Exemption Pilot (similar to the one for grades 9-11 in Spring 2026).
This policy will apply to all students in grades 9-12 who meet the guidelines below:
Have an "A" average, 90 or greater in the course
Have no more than 7 total absences (excused and unexcused) for the course during the semester
Have no academic integrity infractions, specifically rules 11F: Cheating and 11H: Plagiarism
NOTE: Absences due to school-related activities (code ACT) are not included in this total. Students who exceed seven total absences at any point before the final exam will lose eligibility for exemption in that course.
Check-In Procedures
Students arriving after the 7:15 a.m. tardy bell must enter through the main building entrance to go through the Evolv security system. Students will check in at the Attendance Office and receive a tardy slip, which is required for admission to class.
*To be considered for an excused check-in, the student must check in with a parent/guardian present or provide official documentation upon arrival, which may include—but is not limited to—medical or legal documentation. For a complete list of approved absentee reasons, please refer to the school or district's website. Students arriving late without proper documentation or a parent will receive an unexcused tardy.
Check-Out Procedures
Parent/Guardian must come to the front entrance and use the Visitor Management System ('Buzz-in' system).
Provide a government-issued ID (driver's license, state ID, passport, etc.).
Only individuals authorized in the student's file may check out the student.
Your student will be called down by our attendance office to meet you. Parents/Guardian will remain in the vestibule or in their car.
If a student needs to check out due to illness, they must obtain a hall pass from their teacher and report to the Clinic.
STUDENTS CAN NOT BE CHECKED OUT AFTER 1:30PMPreplanned Check-Outs
Before 7:15 AM, students should provide the Attendance Office with a note from a parent/guardian including:
Student’s name and ID
Date and time of the check-out.
Parent contact number.
Reason for the check-out.
The absence will only be excused if it meets approved reasons in the GCPS Handbook. Students will receive a check-out pass to show their teacher and must bring it to the Attendance Office to complete the process. If the parent cannot be contacted, the student may not be allowed to leave. Students must follow proper check-out procedures or they will be considered AWOL and disciplined accordingly.
Self-Checkouts
Only students registered as Self-Responsible may check themselves out. Being 18 years old does not automatically grant this privilege. All check-out procedures must still be followed.
Tardy Policy
All students are expected to be in school and/or class on time. This means being inside the classroom at the conclusion of the tardy bell. If a student is tardy and does not have a note to excuse the tardiness, the student must report to the tardy station closest to his/her class. Arrivals after 7:45am are considered a 1st period absence.
An unexcused check-in will be counted as an unexcused tardy to school, and students will receive consequences based on their total number of accumulated tardies (both tardy to class and tardy to school combined)
AWOL (Absent Without Leave)
Students are considered AWOL…
if they leave campus without properly checking out through the Attendance Office.
Leave class or school grounds without permission at any time.
Skipping part or all of a class without authorization.
Being on campus but missing class due to illness without notifying a teacher or administrator.
Any student who leaves campus without following check-out procedures may face disciplinary action, including the revocation of driving and parking privileges.
Once a student arrives on campus, they are officially considered present and must follow proper procedures to leave, even if classes have not yet begun.Thank you for your continued support. Student safety and security are our top priorities, and knowing where students are throughout the day is essential to maintaining a safe and secure learning environment.
Chronic Absenteeism
A student is considered to have critical attendance when they have missed 10% or more of their enrolled school days. Chronic absenteeism may trigger a series of interventions designed to support the student and ensure compliance with attendance expectations.
When this threshold is reached, the following actions may be taken:
Revocation of parking privileges
Requirement of medical documentation to excuse future absences or tardies
Referral to a Student Attendance Review Committee
Referral to the school counselor
Referral to the school social worker
Referral to Juvenile Court
Possible withdrawal from school
House Bill 1190
Section 10: Minimum Number of Unexcused Absences Notification
Schools must notify parents/guardians after five unexcused absences for children under 16. Parents must sign a statement acknowledging the consequences of violating attendance laws. HB1190 also affects students under 18 applying for or holding a driver's license. Refer to the 'Teens Must Stay In School To Keep Driver’s License' document on Georgia.gov for more information.
Additional Attendance Information
- Documentation for absences must be submitted via ParentVUE application.
- No checkouts are allowed by phone or email.
- More information regarding Attendance policies and procedures are available on the Parkview High School website.
Q&A
Q: What time does school start and end?
A: School begins at 7:15 AM and ends at 2:10 PM. Students are expected to be in their classrooms and ready to learn by the start time.
Q: What is considered an excused absence?
A: Excused absences are defined by state law and include ONLY the following areas:
When a personal illness or attendance at school endangers a student’s health or the health of others. Documentation may be required within five days of a student’s return to school.
A serious illness or death in a student’s immediate family necessitating an absence from school. Documentation may be required within five days of a student’s return to school.
A court order by a government agency, including pre-induction physical examinations for service in the Armed Forces, mandating absence from school.
Observing county-approved religious holidays which necessitate absence from school. In some instances, documentation may be requested.
Visiting with a parent or legal guardian prior to or during leave from deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting as a member of the Armed Forces or the National Guard (maximum of five school days per year).
Q: What is considered an unexcused absence?
A: Unexcused absences are defined by state law and include the following areas:
Unexcused Absences occur when the student fails to attend school, with or without the knowledge of the parent/legal guardian, for reasons other than those specifically outlined as excused absences.
Skipping class or leaving school without permission
Oversleeping
Missing the bus or having car trouble
Babysitting
Vacations
Q: How do I report my child’s absence?
A: You can now submit information regarding recent absences, such as doctor’s notes, in ParentVue. You will have 5 days to provide a note. If the excuse is not provided, the absence is considered unexcused. Work given/due on the date(s) of the absence(s) will be assigned a grade of 0, if the absence remains unexcused.
Q: What happens if my child is frequently tardy?
A: Tardiness disrupts learning. After seven tardies, parents may be contacted, and disciplinary actions may be taken. Disciplinary action include but not limited to after school enrichment/detention to losing on campus parking privileges.
Q: What is a pre-approved absence?
A: A pre-approved absence is one that is arranged in advance and meets the criteria for an excused absence. To request a pre-approved absence, the student must notify the attendance office in writing before the absence occurs, stating the reason for the request.
The student will then receive a Pre-Arranged Absence Form, which must be completed and signed by both the parent/guardian and the student’s teachers.
Please note: Students may be approved for up to five (5) school days per year for pre-arranged absences. Of those, up to two (2) days may be used for college visits, and only by juniors and seniors. Keep in mind, if the reason does not fall under the district approved reasons, the absences will be unexcused even if this form is completed.
Q: Will attendance affect my child’s grades
A: A student’s final course grades will not be negatively affected by absences if the following conditions are met:
The absences are excused and properly documented.
All missed assignments and classwork due to the excused absence are completed satisfactorily within the allowed timeframe.
Q: How do I check in/out my student?
A: Students checking in/arriving after the 7:15 a.m. tardy bell must enter through the main building entrance to go through the Evolv security system. Students will check in at the Attendance Office and receive a tardy slip, which is required for admission to class.
A: All student check-outs will be completed using the Visitor Management System ("buzz-in" system and tablets) located in the front entry of the school.
Please note: To be considered present for the school day, a student must attend at least half of the instructional day. Also, if a student becomes ill during the school day, the school nurse may check the student out through the clinic following proper procedures. Also, students may ONLY be released to individuals identified in the student's profile. Please update accordingly.
Q: Who should I contact with attendance questions?
A: Please reach out to the Attendance Office at 770-806-3820 or 770-279-6502 for any attendance-related concerns.
Q: Is there anything else I should know regarding attendance?
A: Yes. Please refer to the district's attendance protocol for more details at https://www.gcpsk12.org/schools/attendance. Families may also see why Every Day Counts in GCPS at https://www.gcpsk12.org/about-us/every-day-counts-in-gcps