Laurel Hill Attendance Line (24 hours a day, seven days a week): 703-551-5353

Absences & Attendance Policies

If your child is going to be late or absent for the entire day, you must let the school know. You can call the Laurel Hill Attendance Line above anytime day or night and leave a message. Alternatively, you can call the Front Office before 9:20 a.m. in the morning to report the absence to one of our office staff.

If you do not call the school, our staff will call you to find out the reason for the absence. If they are unable to reach you in the morning, the absence is reported to FCPS, and you will receive an automated phone call and an e-mail from the County reporting the absence. Absences are considered unexcused until the absence or tardiness is explained. Parents have 48 hours to report a reason for the absence before the unexcused designation becomes part of the permanent record.

After five unexcused absences, you will be required to attend an attendance conference with an administrator.

Absence for the following reasons is considered excused:

• illness of the student
• death in the family
• doctor’s or dentist’s appointment
• observance of a religious holiday.

Absence for these reasons is considered unexcused:

• family trips*
• childcare situations
• non-school–related activities
• missed school bus

* As we value family time and opportunities to experience traveling, we encourage you to schedule family trips during regular school vacations as to not take away valuable instructional time from your child. Extended absences may interfere with your child’s sequential learning. Please note that students who are absent from school for 15 days or more will be withdrawn from our enrollment. Upon the child’s return, the parent will have to officially re-enroll him/her.