Attendance

State law requires attendance at school for all students under the age of seventeen. The primary responsibility for ensuring that such attendance takes place rests with parents or guardians. It is the Drake expectation and parent/guardian’s responsibility to contact the school within 24 hours or the absence will remain unexcused. See Code of Conduct for attendance policy/procedures.

• Excused Absence: Acceptable reasons for excused absences include temporary illnesses, injury or family emergencies, absences approved by a school administrator, absences for an extended period due to physical, mental or emotional disability, or absences due to being in the custody of court or law enforcement authorities.
• Unexcused Absence: Any absence from school or class without approval of the school, principal and parents will be considered an unexcused absence.
  • A letter will be mailed home when a student has accumulated 10 or more absences or beginning of the day tardies. Further absences can lead to administrative contact, contact from the Student Engagement Office, and/or Truancy Court. 
• Tardies: Students are to be in their first class by 9:00 a.m.  Excessive unexcused tardies may be subject to review by administrators and result in being labeled “unexcused”, placed on a “No Pass List”, or detention.

If an absence is necessary, have your parent or guardian call the attendance number— 303-982-1517—to notify the school of the reason for your absence.  Report absences within 24 hours or we will consider your absence to be unexcused. 

• Parents will be notified via an automated phone system if their student is marked  “unexcused” for any part of the school day.  
• Make-up work for all absences is your responsibility.  Assignments can be found on the teacher’s google classroom. Please contact your teachers if you cannot find the needed assignments.
• If you have an excused absence, you have 2 days for each day you were absent to turn in your work.  Assignments turned in after that time will be considered late and will not be given full credit.  Students who receive unexcused absences are expected to do the work missed.
• For extended absences or pre-arranged absences, please contact our attendance secretary to get an approval form.

The importance of regular, daily school attendance as a basis for academic achievement cannot be overemphasized. Attendance is a shared responsibility of the student, the families and the school.

It is the family’s responsibility to ensure their student attends school and to notify the school when their student is absent for a legitimate reason, such as an illness or family emergency. Each family should also ensure their student’s school has their correct contact information so that the school is able to communicate about any attendance issues that may arise.