Parents: It’s up to you – make sure your child is at school every day 

Years ago, when model, actress, and TV personality Tyra Banks showed up at a high school in New York to give a motivational speech, her most important piece of advice to students was this: “It’s so important to understand your good attendance ups your chances of graduating.”

When it comes to school attendance, her words still ring true today.  Showing up every day is the most important aspect of school, and it has a direct link to a student’s academic and future success.  Bottom line, you cannot learn if you are not at school.

That’s why Gaston County Schools is putting an emphasis on good attendance.  For 2025-2026, our schools, so far, are right on target for meeting the monthly attendance goal of 95 percent; for the first month of school, Gaston’s overall attendance rate is 94.99.  Typically, attendance is higher during the first few months of school, but as the year goes on and cold and flu season hits, attendance declines.

“It is important for students and parents to understand that good attendance is necessary all school year long so students finish strong and can say that they’ve had a productive and successful year,” stated Dr. Bobbie Mills, director of school social work for Gaston County Schools.  “When students come to school every day, they keep up with their classwork, build social-emotional skills, stay connected with their teachers and peers, and improve their overall well-being.”

Good attendance starts in kindergarten; when parents make education a priority early on and set the expectation that their children will attend regularly, the mindset carries through to middle school and high school and ultimately contributes to students crossing the graduation stage.  When students miss two days per month, they end up missing 10 percent of the school year, which sets them up for falling behind.

■ By the third grade, poor attendance may result in a child not being able to read proficiently.

■ By the sixth grade, poor attendance becomes a top indicator that a child may drop out of high school.

These are just two of many factors that indicate why attending school regularly is crucial.  “Students have to be at school to participate in class activities, be involved in discussions, grasp new concepts, and stay engaged,” added Mills.  “Showing up every day is an essential life skill that benefits students now when they are in school, but it also benefits them when they go off to college and enter the workforce.”

Mills points out that when a student is sick, the student should stay at home, returning to school after being fever-free for 24 hours.  “Sickness is a legitimate reason for not being at school,” she said.

“It really is up to our parents to stress the importance of going to school,” added Mills.  “We need our parents to make sure their children are at school, they arrive on time, and they are ready for class every day.”

WAY TO GO! We would like to give a shout-out to the following schools for achieving a 95 percent or higher attendance rate for the first month of school.

H.H. Beam Elementary School
W.B. Beam Intermediate School
Belmont Central Elementary School
Belmont Middle School
W.A. Bess Elementary School
Brookside Elementary School
Carr Elementary School
Catawba Heights Elementary School
Cherryville Elementary School
Costner Elementary School
Cramerton Middle School
W.C. Friday Middle School
Gaston Early College High School
Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences
Gaston Virtual Academy
Hawks Nest STEAM Academy
Highland School of Technology
Holbrook Middle School
Kiser Elementary School
Lowell Elementary School
McAdenville Elementary School
Mount Holly Middle School
New Hope Elementary School
North Belmont Elementary School
Page Primary School
Pinewood Elementary School
Pleasant Ridge Elementary School
Rankin Elementary School
Robinson Elementary School
South Point High School
Stanley Middle School
Tryon Elementary School
Woodhill Elementary School