Students’ admission to Prom this year will depend on their second semester attendance, a change made to discourage chronic absences.
Principal Jason Caudill explained students will be required to have fewer than 12 hours of unexcused absence between Jan. 6 and May 8. The purpose of allowing 12 unexcused hours is to cover absences that aren’t communicated to the school, he explained.
He added excused sick days will not count toward the 12 allowed unexcused hours.
Caudill said he was inspired to implement the policy by other principals in the area who have taken similar action to encourage students to attend school.
He added Assistant Principals Kristen Kearns and Willie Cook were also involved in the decision to tie attendance to Prom admission.
The intent of the change is to highlight the importance of students being in class, Caudill explained.
“The more you come to school, the better you do,” he said. “The better you do in school, the better you do in life.”
Published and digitized December 2025.
