Potomac Shores Middle School is required by the Virginia Compulsory Attendance Law 22.1-254 and PWCS Regulation 724-1 to uphold the attendance rules outlined in these documents.
Regulation 724-1- Attendance, Absences, Excuses, and Tardies was revised June 17, 2025. View updates to the regulation.
The information below is also listed on the PWCS website here: https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/student_services/attendance/guidelines#
Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) follows the provisions of Virginia law (Code of Virginia § 22.1-254) regarding compulsory attendance for all school-aged students.
Parents are notified daily when students are absent from school and the school has not received prior notification of the absence. Text messages are sent to elementary school parents in the morning and to middle/high school parents in both the morning and evening.
Daily attendance notifications remind parents to contact their child's school within five school days of the student's absence. Student attendance records are updated from unverified to excused or unexcused after the school receives parent verification of the absence. Unverified absences are changed to unexcused if the school does not receive parent verification within five school days.
Attendance letters are sent to notify parents of truancy status beginning when students accrue three unexcused absences. Letters are also sent to notify parents of excessive excused absences and if their student becomes chronically absent. Learn more about PWCS attendance letters.
Parents should notify the school before, or at the start of, the school day when their child will be absent. Parents must send written or electronic communication citing the reason(s) for the absence to the school no more than five school days following the date of the absence. Student attendance while participating in school-sponsored activities will be updated by the school.
Some situations may prevent a student from attending school. When justified and verified through parent/guardian contact, these absences are considered excused and carry no consequences. The principal or designee may request appropriate documentation or explanation.
Examples of an excused absence may include, but are not limited to, the following reasons:
An unexcused absence is an absence where a student misses their scheduled instructional school day in its entirety and no indication/notification has been received by school personnel within five days of such absence, that the student’s parent/guardian is aware of and/or supports the absence, or the parent/guardian provides a reason for the absence that does not fall within the scope of an excused absence.
Examples of unexcused absences include, but are not limited to, the following reasons:
It is important to attend school every school day and arrive on time. Students arriving after the official start of the class or school day will be considered late. When students arrive late at school they must use appropriate school-based, check-in procedures. Records regarding tardiness will be maintained, and appropriate discipline will be imposed for recurring tardiness.
Anytime a student arrives to school after 8:10 a.m., the student is tardy to school. A tardy to school is only excused with a doctor's note for appointments or by a parent or legal guardian note for emergency situations. Oversleeping, traffic, missing the bus, family discussions, and failure to bring in a note will all result in an unexcused tardy to school. Late students must check in at the lobby desk and receive a tardy pass.
If your child needs to leave school early, please come into the building to sign your child out using the tablet. You MUST have your photo ID out and ready when you come into the office. A student will not be released until the parent/guardian or other individual designated on the Emergency Card, has presented a photo ID and signed the student out in the office.
We are unable to accommodate early dismissal requests after 2:20 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact the front office at 703-291-3590.
Students will be withdrawn from PWCS student membership rolls after 15 consecutive days of absence, regardless of whether their absences are excused or unexcused (as required by the Virginia Administrative Code).
Withdrawn students are not excused from compulsory school attendance requirements and are expected to re-enroll as soon as possible. Students who withdraw to attend a non-PWCS school should notify the previously attended school as soon as possible and make reasonable attempts to follow the withdrawal procedures.
Chronic absenteeism is when a student misses 10% or more of school, excused or unexcused. For example, if by the end of the first quarter, which is typically about 40 days long, a student has missed 4 days of school, that student has been chronically absent from school. If your student misses just two days of school per month, by the end of the school year, they will have been chronically absent from school.
If your student is chronically absent from school, you may be contacted by school staff to discuss ways to get your student back on track. You may also receive a letter regarding absences. Learn more about PWCS attendance letters.
Truancy is when students incur multiple unexcused absences. PWCS addresses truancy following Virginia Department of Education regulations.
Revisions were made to Regulation 724-1- Attendance, Absences, Excuses, and Tardies
Key updates include:
