Regular and punctual attendance to school is essential to a student's academic achievement. Parents or guardians should call the Attendance Office before 12:00pm on the day their child is absent to verify and excuse the absence. Any parent or guardian who does not call must write a note and send it with the student within 2 days of the absence, otherwise the absence will be considered unexcused. We have an automated phone service that will notify parents of classes missed by their student. The system calls the home phone number of any student who has an unexcused absence or tardy to any class that day. If you receive a call and would like additional information about the absence or tardy, call the Attendance Office after 10:30am the following day.

After three unexcused absences, the student receives a failing mark in his/her classes. Lee High School adheres to Policy 2232.1 of the Fairfax County School Board by excusing absences and tardies only for illness, death in the family, physician or dentist appointment, observance of a religious holiday, suspension, or any reasons for which the principal considers that exemption from attendance is in the best interests of the student.

Students must present a note written by their parent or guardian to the attendance secretary between 7:00 and 7:15 a.m. After the note is verified, students will be issued a checkout pass. This pass must be picked up at the attendance office before leaving school. Upon returning to school, students must check in to the attendance office for a pass to return to class. Failure to check out will result in disciplinary action, and the absence from class will not be excused.

Students who arrive at school after 7:40 a.m. must report to the attendance secretary in the attendance office, with a note from a parent or guardian, sign in and receive an admission slip to class.

Students must present to the attendance office a note from their parent or guardian at least a day in advance to pre-arrange a one day absence. To arrange for an absence of two or more days, the note must be presented at least five days prior to the absence, and the student must complete a pre-arranged absence form. The student must have each of his/her teachers sign this form and return it to the attendance office. The appropriate administrator will review the request. Approval of pre-arranged absences will be based on academic standing in all classes.

All students are expected to be punctual to class. When students are tardy unexcused, disciplinary measures will be taken. These include, but are not limited to, detention, forfeiture of grade, and suspension. Two unexcused tardies will be the equivalent of one unexcused absence.

Class cutting is an unexcused absence which is referred to a student's administrator for disciplinary action. Detention or other disciplinary consequences will be assigned, and no credit will be given for missed work. When a class is cut, the student is responsible for making up the class time with the classroom teacher. Three unexcused absences in any class will result in forfeiture of credit for that quarter and a grade of F.

If an absence is excused, the student has one day for each day absent to make up missed work for credit. If students are absent for an extended period of time (three or more days) the guidance department will gather assignments upon parental request. An extended period of absence within a grading period may result in an a incomplete for the period. Work missed during this time must be made up by the end of the following quarter. Otherwise, an F is given for the quarter. Students with unexcused absences are expected to make up missed work although they will not receive credit.