Attendance Office

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"When it comes to school, students who miss school... miss out. Attendance boosts student achievement, improves the quality of your child's educational experience, and it prepares them for college, good careers, and successful adulthood.
For every day of school missed, it takes two or more days for a student to catch up. Except in the case of illness, many school absences can be avoided with a little extra effort. "
​- from AISD Attendance Office

Please refer to the school calendar and bell schedule when making appointments and planning travel. Try to plan events and travel so your child does not miss instructional time and school days. Absences for personal reasons and personal appointments are not excused absences.

Please know we are obligated to follow the Compulsory Attendance & 90% Rule per Board Policy FEA — Attendance: Compulsory Attendance. If a student has five or more unexcused absences in a class, they will fall below the required 90% attendance and will need to make up the missed hours to receive credit for that class. This involves attending sessions outside the regular school day, such as Saturday School or four hours of tutoring with the teacher of record, to compensate for the lost instructional time. Each Saturday school will give students credit lost in one class, as long as they are no longer absent. However, this process does not remove the absences from their record; it only restores the credits. It's important to note that make-up hours are not guaranteed to be accepted if the student's attendance issues persist. In such cases, the student may be required to complete a performance log as an intervention to improve their attendance. Visit Austin ISD’s FAQ page for additional Attendance Information.

Understanding the district’s attendance codes can help clarify how absences are recorded. A full list of AISD attendance codes can be found here: Local Attendance Codes. Please see our Absence Guide for more information.

See the following FAQs on Attendance & Corrections.

Arriving late to campus or returning from an appointment? 

  • Students should check in at the 1st floor Main Office to receive a pass to class.
  • As of January 2025, Austin High School has switched to digital only submissions for absence notes. Families have the following options for submissions:
  • Please note that when there are high amounts of submissions, it may take up to 8 school days to see your student’s absence excused once you submit an absence note. Thank you in advance for your patience!

Leaving campus early?

Starting in Fall 2026, we are updating our early release protocol. The following changes have been made:

  1. Early release form operating hours: The Google form for early releases (linked here) will be closed during the school day, 9:05 AM to 4:30 PM, and will reopen after school ends. Students cannot fill out the dismissal form themselves, even with parental permission.
  2. Paper early dismissal notes: Your student can receive an early dismissal pass with a valid note from a parent or guardian 2 hours prior to an early dismissal. Parents/guardians will receive an email alert with their student’s AP copied when a paper request is received. We will not be issuing early dismissal passes for paper requests after 2:30 PM.
  3. Dismissals after 2:30 PM: If a student did not receive an early dismissal pass earlier in the day prior to 2:30, a parent/guardian or authorized contact will need to come inside the school and present an ID to sign out a student.

We also understand that life events happen unexpectedly and may impact the ability to check out a student. We will work with these families on a case-by-case basis when these situations happen.

Parents should park in the short-term visitor parking on the West side of the school.

  • Enter the building on the West side of the school and present your driver's license or any official identification.
  • Go to Room 148 to complete the checkout process.
  • The office staff will have your child brought to the office for departure.

EXCUSED ABSENCE PROCESS

Following an excused absence, parents/guardians should submit  to "School Absence Note" and Documentation Submission Portal, along with any supporting documentation, within TWO days of the absence. The "School Absence Note" and documentation can also be accepted by email at austin@austinisd.org or by fax at 512-414-7254. Starting January 2025, physical notes will NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED; please only submit absence documentation to the previously listed avenues!

PLEASE NOTE: While a parent/guardian note for an illness will excuse an absence, it will still count against your student’s attendance. An illness documented with a note from a doctor’s visit will NOT count against your student’s attendance.   

ALSO IMPORTANT: While typical turnaround is 3 to 4 business days for attendance processing, it may take much longer due to the high number of submissions the office receives. This includes home and in school suspensions, medical notes, college visits, etc. Thank you in advance for your patience!

COLLEGE VISITS

All Juniors and Seniors are given 2 excused absence days per school year to visit a college campus. In order for your absence to be approved you must complete this process: 

  • REQUIRED: Request a letter from the college/university stating that you were visiting their campus on a specific date(s) and confirm that it includes a school official's signature. This cannot be a brochure, flyer, or an email. It MUST be a letter on school letterhead with your name and student ID written on it. 
  • Excused absences will only be honored if the student follows all directions for the college visit. 
  • Submit a scanned copy of your letter to austin@austinisd.org within 2 days of returning. Be sure to write your student ID# at the top of your letter. 

**Only Juniors and Seniors are allowed 2 full days per year for college visits. Excused absences will only be honored if the student follows all directions for the college visit.

ATTENDANCE & CREDIT RECOVERY

Students have different options to recover attendance/credit. Please direct questions about Credit Recovery options to your student’s Academy A.P. 
and include the Administrative Assistant for Assistant Principals: Maria Quick, 512-414-2505 ext. 71567

  • Academy for Classical Studies (ACS): David Perez  512-414-2505 ext.73886
  • Academy for Global Studies (AGS): Beatriz Fernos, 512-414-2505 ext. 72501 
  • Academy of Science and Innovation (ASI): Charlsie Johnson, 512-414-2505 ext. 71549
  • Academy for Design and Technology (ADT): Dr. Jonathan Purser, 512-414-2505 ext. 71601