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Daily School Attendance Matters: Why It Matters

At Salt Lake City School District, daily school attendance is one of our top priorities. And with good reason: daily school attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success!  

  • Academic Success: Students who attend school at a rate of 95% or better are significantly less likely to fail classes or experience behavioral challenges. 

  • Early Impact: Attendance habits form early. Children who regularly miss school in elementary grades are less likely to read at grade level and more likely to struggle later in their education. 

  • More Than Academics: Daily school attendance gives students access to more than just academics. Attending school every day helps students build important social, emotional, and life skills that last far beyond graduation. 

One in Four Students Is Chronically Absent 

Right now, about one in four Salt Lake City students is chronically absent. Chronically absent means our kids are missing 18 or more days of school per year. That’s just two days a month! That may not feel like much, but over time, those absences add up to almost an entire month of lost learning by the end of the year. 

And this isn’t just a local issue. Across Utah, 27% of students were chronically absent in the 2021–22 school year. Among students living in poverty, the number was even higher—37%.  

What Families Can Do 

We’re asking families to help us make daily attendance a top priority this school year. Here’s how you can help: 

  • Reach out for support early. Our school staff are here to help. 
  • Talk to your child about the importance of showing up every day. 
  • Schedule family vacations around school breaks. Check the district calendar 
  • Build routines at home to support your student getting to school on time. 
  • Stay informed about your child’s attendance record. 
  • Schedule doctor appointments after school, if possible. 

Even excused absences count toward chronic absenteeism, so staying engaged matters every step of the way. 

When students are absent, the whole school community feels the impact. Teachers have a harder time keeping lessons on track, and students miss out on shared learning experiences. Prioritizing daily school attendance helps your child, and every student in Salt Lake City School District, build a stronger foundation for learning, growth, and long-term success. 

Resources

Barriers Are Real, But So Is Our Support 

We know every family’s situation is different, but we also know every day counts. We understand that when students are absent, it isn’t always about skipping school. Many of our families face real challenges, including: 

  • Health challenges (physical or mental) and lack of access to proper care; 
  • Food and housing insecurity; 
  • Lack of transportation; and 
  • Difficulty affording household needs like clothing, shoes, or hygiene items. 

If your family could use help with any of these, talk to your school principal or counselor. They can connect you with local resources to help your family access food, clothing, transportation, and healthcare. 

Our dedicated school administrators, teachers, and staff are also ready at any time to support your student if they are experiencing other difficulties at school. Challenges, including academic struggles, bullying, and even boredom or lack of interest, can be obstacles to students coming to school every day. If your child is facing challenges, we are here and ready to help. 

  • Parkview Vision Clinic

    Liberty Community Learning Center medical clinic 

    • 1078 South 300 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84111  
    • 801.578.8588 

    Liberty Community Learning Center dental clinic 

    • 1078 South 300 East Salt Lake City, Utah 84111 
    • 801.578.8588 

    Rose Park Community Learning Center medical clinic 

    • 1105 West 1000 North Salt Lake City, Utah 84116 
    • 801.578.8554 

    Glendale-Mountain View Community Learning Center medical clinic 

    • 1388 South Navajo Street Salt Lake City, Utah 84104 
    • 801.974.1902 

    West High School Clinic 

    • 241 N. 300 W. Suite T-104 Salt Lake City, UT 84103  
    • 801-646-9378 
    • 8 AM - 5 PM | Monday - Friday  
    • Services provided: pediatrics, internal medicine (pediatrics), psychiatry, psychology, social work 
    • Student authorization form
    • Spanish authorization form

    All students are eligible to receive health care services. Minor-aged students must have a current authorization form signed by their legal guardian. Any student who is over the age of 18 or is an emancipated minor can receive care without parental consent. 

    Appointments cannot be scheduled until after an authorization form has been submitted. There are several ways to make an appointment: 

    Call the clinic at 801-646-WEST (9378) 

    Request an appointment via MyChart 

    Please note: when you or your student makes a request to be seen at the clinic, you cannot schedule a specific appointment date or time. Rather, your student is added to a list of patients needing to be seen. Students will be called out of class based on the priority and urgency of their visit. This means your student may not be seen on the same day the appointment request was made. In the event of a medical emergency, we will contact emergency medical services. We will provide emergency care according to the laws of the State of Utah. 

    Students can be seen by our providers without a parent or legal guardian present. If you would like to be present at your student's appointment, you are encouraged and welcome to join visits in person or virtually.  

    How Do I Submit an Authorization Form? 

    You can drop off paper copies of the authorization form in a physical lockbox on campus. The secure lockboxes are located in both the counselor’s office and the main office at West High School. 

    You can drop digital copies of the authorization form in our HIPPA compliant U box folder.   

    Only University of Utah Health West High School Clinic clinical staff will have access to view these forms. For more information on how to submit a form, please see our authorization form instructions. Instructions are also available in Spanish. 

    • SLCSD bus passes
    • Hive pass (SLC/UTA resource)
    • Add info for teen center/washrooms at our HS
    • McKinney-Vento liaison(s)
    • Emergency gift cards
    • Affordable Housing Resources
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  • Reach out to your teacher, principal, or a trusted adult for help with these matters:

    • Being bullied
    • Academic struggles
    • Unwelcoming school environment
    • Lack of Engagement or Motivation
    • Boredom or lack of interest