The air conditioning had been off for days, and the open doors did little to move the still, humid air in the Atlantic City High School cafeteria Monday morning.
School had ended the week before, but more than 100 sluggish students sat alone at tables, making up time they missed by skipping school, being chronically late or just having too many unexcused absences.
Teacher Dan Smith had the attendance sheet and a box of magazines for the freshman group, but there were few takers. A few kids doodled, most just sat, half dozing, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"We don't want them to be too comfortable," Smith said, citing the "no electronics" and "no socializing" policies.
It's called "credit completion," and unlike summer school, has nothing to do with grades. These are students who passed their courses but had more than 10 days of unexcused absences during the 180-day school year. Their choice was to go to school and sit, or lose credit for the entire school year.
Statewide, about 95 percent of high school students attend school every day, according to Department of Education data for 2009-10. But the data show that attendance at almost every high school in Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and southern Ocean counties was below the state average, although most reached at least 90 percent attendance daily.
Three high schools -- Atlantic City, Middle Township and Pleasantville -- fell below 90 percent.
Middle Township guidance director William Orr said most students stay within the 10-day limit. He said because so many families work in businesses that are busiest during the summer, it is very common for them to take vacations during the school year.
"Then they are taken aback when told that taking a vacation is considered an unexcused absence," he said.
School officials said students need to learn that good attendance is part of becoming an employable adult. While online courses may be a modern option for some, students attending a regular high school are expected to follow the rules, and that includes showing up on time every day.
Excused absences are typically limited to illness, family obligations such as a funeral, or religious observances. Even college visits often fall under the "unexcused absence" category.
State-education code defines a student as "truant" if they have 10 or more days of unexcused absences. Local school districts determine at what point students can lose credit for the year because of unexcused absenteeism, and typically set that trigger at 10 days. Some of those days can be made up in after-school detention or credit completion. But if they are not, students can -- and do -- lose credit for the year. Policies typically are outlined in student manuals, although many students often are still surprised to discover that three late arrivals equal one missed day.
Oakcrest High School's student-attendance policy lists a driver's test or court appearance as an excused absence, but a college visit is not. Any student who ends the year on a "no-credit" status can appeal, but otherwise is rescheduled for the same classes for the following year and is ineligible for athletics and activities. The district offered Saturday or after-school credit completion during the school year.
Atlantic City High School guidance director Walter Wilkins said students often do not submit the documentation required for excused absences, and then complain when they are assigned to credit completion.
"The computer just kicks out everyone who's missed 11 days or more," he said. That 20-page list of more than 400 names this year was then reviewed for students with legitimate reasons for being out of school, such as illness. Students who have between 11 and 20 days of unexcused absences -- about 170 students this year -- can make up the time. Seniors were offered after-school credit completion in the spring so they could walk at graduation, but a few still had to attend this week.
Principal Oscar Torres said the number of affected students has dropped in recent years because they are using the student-tracking system and Internet access to notify parents earlier when their child misses school or is chronically late.
"But we'll still have parents who say they're already at work, or just can't get their child out of bed in the morning," Torres said.
Atlantic City freshman Cesarin Avila admitted he missed "a lot" of school days and now regrets it. He had nine days to make up at credit completion, so he would be at the high school all four days. He came prepared with a book.
"I just didn't feel like coming some days," he said, explaining his absences. "I'm sorry now."
He said he will attend all four credit-completion days because he definitely does not want to repeat freshman year, but admits he's not sure he will do a whole lot better with attendance next year, although he does plan to try.
"I don't like being here," he said, noting his friends were at the beach.
Senior Raymond Diaz said he moved a lot during the school year and as a result missed school days. Minhaj Kashem said senioritis got the better of him, and now he is paying for it. He planned to stay up late at night and catch up on his sleep during the day at school. What do his parents think?
"They're just happy I graduated," he said.
Smith said the students are not a problem. He optimistically hopes his box of magazines, such as Popular Mechanics, might even capture some interest.
"These aren't bad kids," he said. "They just didn't come to school."
Contact Diane D'Amico:
609-272-7241
DDamico@pressofac.com
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