Principal's Message

September 15, 2026

Greenwood High School Family,

We are well underway in the 2026–27 school year, and I want to thank our students, families, faculty, and staff for helping us get off to a strong start. Many things contribute to a student's success, but one of the most important is also one of the simplest: being at school every day and engaged in learning.

Research consistently connects regular attendance with stronger academic achievement and higher graduation rates. Students who miss 10% of the school year—about 18 days in a typical school year—are considered chronically absent by KY, regardless of whether those absences are excused or unexcused. Missing just two days per month can put a student on track to become chronically absent.

At Greenwood, our attendance goal is 96%, and our students have already demonstrated that we can reach it. During the district's High Attendance Day, GHS finished in first place with 97.2% attendance! We are proud of that accomplishment and want to build upon it throughout the year.

We understand that students get sick, appointments are necessary, and families sometimes face circumstances outside their control. Our goal is to partner with parents and guardians to address attendance concerns early and help students be successful.

For the 2026–27 school year, students may use up to five parent notes and seven doctor's notes for qualifying absences. Once the allowable doctor's notes have been exhausted, additional medically related absences require the student's medical provider to complete the district's long-form medical documentation.

It is also important for families to understand the potential consequences of excessive unexcused absences. Students who accumulate more than nine unexcused attendance events may be limited in participating in certain co-curricular and extracurricular programs. For eligible students, nine or more unexcused absences in the same semester can also affect driving privileges under Kentucky's No Pass/No Drive requirements. Under Kentucky law, students who accumulate 15 or more unexcused days during the school year are referred to the county attorney’s office for appropriate intervention.

We do not want our students to reach these points. If your student is beginning to struggle with attendance, please reach out to us early. We want to understand the circumstances, identify barriers, and work together to find solutions. Every day at school is another opportunity to learn, connect, and grow. We appreciate the partnership of our Greenwood families as we work toward our 96% attendance goal and an outstanding 2026–27 school year for every Gator.

Thank you for being supportive and an integral part of the team!  

Adam Hatcher
Principal

Greenwood High School