• Missed School? What to do when your student is absent with email and hand holding pen icon

Missed School?

  • Within 5 school days after the absence:

    • Email an absence note to the school's attendance clerk
    • Turn in the absence note once the student returns to school

    Absence notes must be received by the Attendance Office within 5 days of returning to school, or it will result in an unexcused absence. Parents can attach supporting documents, such as doctor's notes, to absence note emails.

Attendance Policies and Procedures

  • General Fort Bend ISD Attendance policies and procedures can be found in the FBISD Student/Parent Handbook.

    Welcome to the George Bush High School Attendance Office, located in the main hallway at the front of the school. 

    All Day Absences

    When a student misses one or more days of school due to illness or personal reasons, he/she will upload or email an excuse note to the Attendance Office upon their return to school. Please provide a specific reason for absences. "Personal" or "Family Emergency" is not an excused absence and will be marked unexcused.  Family emergencies must be explained in the note for the absence to be excused.

    • The absence is excused only if a note is uploaded or emailed to the Attendance Office within five (5) days of the student’s return to school.  If a note is not received within five (5) days, the absence will be coded unexcused.
    • A student who has had surgery or been hospitalized should upload or email a physician-signed release to return to school. The form should contain any restrictions or limitations regarding the student’s physical functioning capacity while in attendance at school.
    • If a student misses 20 minutes or more of a class, they are considered absent for that class. 

    Tardies

    • Class period that does NOT contain the official attendance time (10:00 a.m.):
      • If the student arrives at a class period after the bell but during the first 20 minutes of class, the student will be marked Tardy for that class period.
    • Class period that does contain the official attendance time (10:00 a.m.):
      • If the student arrives at this class period up to 20 minutes late but before the official attendance time, the student will be marked Tardy for that class period.
      • If the student arrives at this class period after the first 20 minutes but before the official attendance time, the student will be marked Late for that class period. 

    Arriving Late to School

    • Students who arrive at school after school has started and have missed a class period or at least 20 minutes of a class period will be marked absent for those periods by their teacher.
    • Repeated tardies may be subject to a discipline referral.

    Leaving School Early

    Students may leave school early for the following reasons:

    • Dental or doctor appointment
    • A reason excused by any of the principals
     
    No students may be picked up after 2:20 p.m.  Parents should plan to arrive at BHS no later than 2:10 in order to sign out the student through the Front Office.

    If your student is in athletics, please plan to pick them up before or after the athletics period or send them with a note ahead of time so the coach can be alerted.  

    Students must adhere to the following procedures:

    • The student must present his/her note to the Attendance Office prior to first period.
    • Any student leaving school for any reason must check out at the attendance office or clinic if ill. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action.

    For your student's safety, parents/guardians picking up the student MUST be on that student's emergency contacts list.

    Anticipated Absences

    When you know in advance that you will need to be absent, it is to your educational advantage to talk to your teachers and arrange to get your assignments ahead of time. Notes for preplanned absences should be sent to the Assistant Principal at least three school days before the absences occur to determine if the absences will be excused.

Contact

  • Attendance Clerks

    Marisol Argueta
    Alpha Split A-F
    (281) 634-0420

    Wendy Cartagena
    Alpha Split G-N
    (281) 634-1636

    Jessica Castillo
    Alpha Split O-Z
    (281) 634-6105

    Attendance Office Email: AttendanceBHS@fortbendisd.gov

    Drop Out Prevention & Recovery Case Worker

    Picture of Mrs. Dennis
    Daniela Dennis
    (281) 634-0671
    Daniela.Dennis@fortbendisd.gov

High School Attendance Counts!

  • Daily attendance in school is a strong indicator of future success.

    Per the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook provided by Texas Education Agency, a student is considered either present or absent at the official attendance-taking time, known as snapshot.

    Each campus attendance is determined by the number of students present at this important designated snapshot time. The high school snapshot time is 10:00 a.m.

    To ensure academic engagement and successful learning, all students should be present daily by snapshot and remain academically engaged all day.