Regular school attendance is essential to student learning, achievement, and graduation. Students and families should make attendance a priority and communicate with the school promptly when an absence is necessary.

South Carolina law requires parents or guardians to ensure that children attend school regularly beginning with the school year in which the child is five years old before September 1 and continuing until the student reaches age 17 or graduates from high school.

Students should attend school every day possible. Absences in excess of 10 days—whether lawful, unlawful, or a combination of both—are subject to district review and approval. High school students must meet instructional-time requirements and complete required make-up work in accordance with Clover School District policy.

Under South Carolina regulations, a child ages 6 through 17 is considered truant after three consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five unlawful absences. When a student meets this definition, school staff will work with the student and parent or guardian to identify barriers to attendance and develop a written intervention plan. The plan outlines the steps the student, family, and school will take to improve attendance and connect the family with available support.

For daily attendance procedures—including reporting an absence, late arrival, dismissal, and return-to-school documentation—please visit the Attendance Procedures page. For complete district requirements regarding lawful and unlawful absences, parent notes, chronic absenteeism, and attendance procedures, visit the Clover School District Attendance Policies page.