• Absence excuses submitted after 3 days will not be excused
• Absences longer than 3 days require a doctor's note
• An early departure from school OR leave and return requires the submission of a physical note to the attendance office
• Students who have accumulated 10 or more days of absences (including approved educational trips) will require an excuse note signed by a doctor
• Acceptable Absences
  • Illness, quarantine, or obtaining professional health care or therapy from a licensed practitioner
  • Family Emergency
  • Required court appearance
  • Death in the family
  • Observance of a religious holiday by a bona fide religious group, upon prior written parental request
  • Education trips with required approval

• "A Period" begins at 7:20 a.m. Students are expected to be in their "A Period" class BEFORE it begins.
• Students arriving late to school MUST obtain a SmartPass from a hall aide or management assistant in either East or West's front lobby, bus dock lobby, or attendance office. Students who do not obtain a SmartPass will be marked absent for the day.
• Students who arrive late to school due to a medical appointment MUST obtain documentation from their doctor for the lateness to be excused. Please bring the note to the attendance office or email phsattendance@pennsburysd.org. Notes may also be faxed - 215-949-3896 (East) / 215-269-4864 (West)
• Students arriving late for any other reason MUST present a valid, signed excuse note from a parent/guardian with the following information:
  • Student's full name
  • Date
  • Valid reason
• Students who do not present a valid excuse note from a parent/guardian or doctor will be marked unexcused tardy.
• Request for early dismissal MUST be submitted in writing and physically delivered to the attendance office in East or West. A phone call from a parent/guardian is permitted in the absence of a note.

As per the Student Code of Conduct, parents/guardians may request permission to take ONE (1) educational trip per year not to exceed five (5) days. Days in excess will be considered unlawful and/or unexcused, and legal notices may be issued. Only one educational trip will be approved each school year. 

• Parents/guardians requesting permission to take their student out of school for an educational trip MUST notify the attendance office at least TEN (10) days prior to the trip.
• Please do not call the school. All trip requests must be made in writing.
• The student must come to either attendance office to obtain a yellow absent request card. The front side needs to be filled out by a parent/guardian and the back side signed by all of their teachers.
• For the absences to be excused, the student must return the card to the attendance office after both sides have been completed.

PHS student-athletes absences will only be excused if:

• The student is rostered on one of our PIAA-sanctioned sports (the schedules that come out of the HS office).
• The student MUST be representing Pennsbury High School at the event they are attending.

If the above is not met, then the absence is unexcused. 

The following events DO NOT meet the criteria and, therefore are unexcused absences:

• College Showcases/Scouting/Recruiting Events
• Club team tournaments & competitions (cheerleading, soccer, swimming, gymnastics, baseball, track etc.)
• Anything travel/club team sponsored

PHS students' absences will only be excused due to school-sponsored activities if:

• The student is on a list provided by the club/team/group advisor or teacher.
• The student MUST be representing Pennsbury High School at the event they are attending.

If the above is not met, then the absence is unexcused. 

• Students are allowed three (3) college visits per academic school year.
• Students must provide written verification of the visit on an official college/university letterhead from the college/university within three (3) school days to the attendance office in order for the absence(s) to be excused (email confirmations will NOT be accepted).
• For college applications, click here for fast facts for the graduating class of 2025.