About Our School

Student learning is the chief priority for our school.
Students' learning needs should be the primary focus of all school planning.
Students need to apply their learning in meaningful contexts.
Students learn best when they are actively engaged in the learning process.
Exceptional students (e.g., special education, limited English proficiency, talented and gifted, etc.) require special services and resources.
A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes student learning.
Cultural diversity can increase students' understanding of different peoples and cultures.
Various technologies are utilized to enhance student learning.

Southaven High School is a public high school in rapidly growing Desoto County, MS. It serves students in grades 9 - 12. The school is part of the DeSoto County School District. It has a current enrollment of over 1800 students. Shane Jones is principal.

The school was completed in 1972 and was originally the site of a junior and senior high school. With the tremendous population growth, a new middle school was constructed in 1996, and the junior high was moved to this new site. The high school expanded into the previous junior high building to better accommodate the increased enrollment.

In 2004, citizens of DeSoto County voted to pass a school bond proposal worth $115 million to help expand or replace some of the district's aging schools. Southaven High School was one of two high schools that was replaced with a new facility (the other being Horn Lake High). Ground was broken during the summer of 2005 on a plot of land directly east of the original school. The facility was completed in the fall of 2006, and was opened in January of 2007. The original facility was renovated and opened as Southaven Middle School.

Descriptor Title: ABSENCES AND EXCUSES K-12

Descriptor Code: JBD
Adopted Date: July, 2008
Reviewed Date:
Revised Date: June, 2013

Instructional Day

HB 1530 is an act to amend section 37-13-91, Mississippi code of 1972, to provide that a compulsory-school-age child who is absent more than 37% of the instructional day must be considered absent the entire day. Therefore, for the purposes of determining and reporting attendance, a pupil must be present for at least sixty-three percent (63%) of the instructional day to be considered present the entire school day.

The instructional day is therefore defined as a school day in which both teachers and pupils are in regular attendance for scheduled classroom instruction for not less than sixty-three percent (63%) of the required instructional time, as fixed by the local school board for each school in the school district. The school board will review and approve the instructional time for each school in the school district annually prior to the beginning of the school year.

Each of the following shall constitute an excused absence:

1. Illness or injury which prevents the student from being physically able to attend school.

2. When isolation is ordered by the county health officer, the State Board of Health, or an appropriate school official.

3. Death or serious illness of a member of the immediate family, which includes grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, stepbrothers, and stepsisters. The absences must be approved by the principal or his/her designee.

4. A medical or dental appointment documented with the proper excuse from the attending physician/dentist upon return to school.

5. Attendance at the proceedings of a court or an administrative tribunal if the student is a party to the action or under subpoena as a witness.

6. Observance of a religious event, with prior approval of the principal or his/her designee. (Approval should not be withheld unless, in the professional judgment of the principal or his/her designee, the extent of absence would adversely affect the student’s education.)

7. Attendance at an authorized school activity with the prior approval of the principal or his/her designee.

8. Participation in a valid educational opportunity, such as travel including vacations or other family travel, with prior approval of the principal or his/her designee.

9. An absence may be excused when it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the principal or his/her designee, that conditions are sufficient to warrant the child’s non-attendance. However, no absences shall be excused by the principal or his/her
designee, when any student suspensions or expulsions circumvent the intent and
spirit of the compulsory attendance law.

Elementary School Students (K-5)

Ten (10) absences may be excused by a note from a parent/guardian.
Any additional absence after the ten (10) excused by a parent/guardian note must be
excused by a note from a doctor or other documentation excusing said absence.
Any documentation being given for excuse of absence(s) must be submitted to the
principal or his/her designee within three (3) school days of returning to school,
unless granted an exception by the principal for extenuating circumstances.
When a student has exceeded five (5) unexcused absences, the DeSoto County
Attendance Officer shall be notified in writing within two (2) days by the school
principal or his/her designee.

*6th graders who are housed on an elementary campus will follow elementary
guidelines.

Middle School Students (6-8)

Seven (7) absences may be excused by a note from a parent/guardian.
Any additional absence after the seven (7) excused by a parent/guardian note must be
excused by a note from a doctor or other documentation excusing said absence.
Any documentation being given for excuse of absence(s) must be submitted to the
principal or his/her designee within three (3) school days of returning to school,
unless granted an exception by the principal for extenuating circumstances.
When a student has exceeded five (5) unexcused absences, the DeSoto County
Attendance Officer shall be notified in writing within two (2) days by the school
principal or his/her designee.

High School Students (9-12)

Five (5) absences may be excused by a note from a parent/guardian.
Any additional absence after the five (5) excused by a parent/guardian note must be
excused by a note from a doctor or other documentation excusing said absence.
Any documentation being given for excuse of absence(s) must be submitted to the
principal or his/her designee within three (3) school days of returning to school,
unless granted an exception by the principal for extenuating circumstances.
When a student has exceeded five (5) unexcused absences, the DeSoto County
Attendance Officer shall be notified in writing within two (2) days by the school
principal or his/her designee.

Make-up Work Policy

When a student is absent from school (excused or unexcused), the number of days allowed to complete any required make-up work is commensurate with the number of days missed to a maximum of five (5) days.

For example, if a student is absent from school for one (1) day, the student has one (1) day to complete the required make-up assignments. If the student is absent for five (5) days, he/she will have five (5) days to complete his/her make-up work. If the student is absent for twelve (12) days, the student has five (5) days to complete the missed work.

The principal has the discretion to allow additional time or limit the number of required assignments in extreme situations.

Parents of SHS students have the right to know the professional qualifications of classroom teachers who instruct their child.

Federal law allows parents to ask for certain information about their child's classroom teachers:

Whether the Mississippi Department of Education has licensed the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.
Whether the Mississippi Department of Education has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed under state regulations because of special circumstances.
The teacher's college major and whether the teacher has any advanced degrees.
Whether any teachers' aides or assistants provide services to your child, and if they do, their qualifications.

Any parent of an SHS student who would like to receive any of this information should send a written request to the Principal's attention.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE CLASS OF 2014

(Entering 9th graders in 2009 and after)

**26 Carnegie units are required for graduation**

English 4 Units

Mathematics 4 Units (Algebra I, and 2 higher)

Science 4 Units (Biology and Physical Science)

Social Studies 4 Units (MS Studies, Intro. to World
Geography, World History, U.S. History &
U.S. Government, Economics)

A Fine Art 1 Unit (Band, Theatre, Music, Art, Chorus)

Comprehensive Health .5 Unit

Business & Technology 1 Unit (Keyboarding .5 Unit and Computer
Applications .5 Unit)

Physical Education .5 Unit (Fall semester Band will substitute for PE credit)

Additional Electives 7 Units (Only 6 total credits of Band/
Athletics can count toward the total 26 credits)

ALL REGULAR EDUCATION STUDENTS MUST PASS ALGEBRA I, BIOLOGY, ENGLISH 10, & U.S. HISTORY SUBJECT AREA TESTS TO GRADUATE.

About Our School

Mission Statement

About the School

Absences and Excuses K-12

School Report Card

Teacher Qualifications

Graduation Requirements

Student Grades