Students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirements may not receive credit for the class(es) in which requirements were not met. Credit is not denied automatically, only administration can deny a student’s credit. Students with attendance problems will receive written notification when their credit is in jeopardy. Students may have the opportunity to recover attendance through Saturday Attendance Recovery. Students should listen for announcements and check their email with instructions on how to sign up for these Saturday’s, if they are notified that recovery time is needed.

Seniors are eligible for this privilege. Younger siblings do not share this privilege! To receive permission for early dismissal/late arrival for work/study programs, students must submit a written request to the principal and have parent permission.  Students with late arrival may not arrive more than 5 minutes prior to the start of the next period, must wait in the Commons area prior to their first class and may not access the hallways or their lockers prior to the bell.  Students with early dismissal must leave campus upon dismissal and may not return to campus without permission.  Administration may revoke this privilege and assign a work detail if early dismissal/late arrival privileges are abused.  

Lawful and Unlawful absences are defined specifically in the Aiken County Public School Code of Conduct. When a student returns to school after an absence or early dismissal, a note of explanation from the parent, guardian, physician, or other health provider to the attendance office. Notes must be submitted within five (5) school days. They can be dropped off in the front office or emailed to SAHSAttendance@acpsd.net

Students are allowed 10 parent notes per year within their first 10 unexcused absences.

Failure to submit notes for absences within the allowed time shall result in the absence being marked unlawful regardless of reason. All absences, whether lawful or unlawful, are charged against the maximum allowed.

Once a student has 3 consecutive or 5 non-consecutive unexcused absences they are considered truant. You and your student will be notified and will be ask to meet with an Assistant Principal for an Attendance Intervention. Continue absences will result in a referral to the district.

Students who arrive at school after 8:25 should sign in at the front office, no matter the reason.

Other than students arriving on late buses, any student arriving late to school will be considered unlawfully tardy without an excuse in writing from a doctor or from the court. While traffic jams, car trouble, flat tires, slow carpools, and oversleeping do happen, excessive instances will be coded as unexcused.

Students who need to leave school early or temporarily must be signed out in through the front office in person by a parent or an approved person listed in your students PowerSchool. ID must be provided.

Requests for early dismissal for students who drive may be submitted before noon to SAHSAttendance@acpsd.net or a handwritten note can be brought by the front office and a student will be given an early dismissal slip to show their teacher.

Parent letters requesting routine dismissals will not be approved by administration.

Students who miss more than half a class period (45 minutes) are unexcused unless for the entire period unless they turn in a lawful excuse. The codes UNEX, DSML, and UDEM are all unexcused codes in PowerSchool.

Students have 5 minutes to change classes.

Any student who arrives after 8:25 should sign in at the front office, no matter the reason. They should then report immediately to class.

Numerous unexcused tardies will result in referrals/disciplinary actions according to the code of conduct.

Occasionally we will run a Tardy Blitz. During this time any students found in the hall after the tardy bell rings will be required to serve lunch detention.