Absences in a semester may be excused for students falling into one of the following categories:

• Illness, injury or other insurmountable conditions
• Illness or death of a member of the student’s immediate family (Official documentation required)
• Recognized (or established) religious holidays and/or religious instruction
• Medical appointments (Documentation from medical office required)
• Participation in an approved activity or class of instruction held at another school site
• Prearranged absences of educational value with the principal’s or designee’s prior approval
• Head Lice infestation (up to four (4) days during the school year)

If a student is not in class or attends less than half of the class time, the student is considered absent.

Please click on the link below to obtain a copy of the note that needs to be returned within 48 hours of an excused absence. 

OCPS Absence Note

Excessive Excused and Unexcused Absences 

Unexcused Absences: Students with more than nine (9) unexcused absences in any given class within a semester will automatically receive a failing grade for that semester. The principal can waive this policy in extreme circumstances.

Excused Absences: Students with more than nine (9) excused absences in any given class within a semester must earn a 70% or better on the semester exam to receive credit for the semester.

• Parents and students must provide documentation within forty-eight (48) hours of the student’s return to school to the attendance office for any absence to be considered excused. The documentation must be a district and school approved reason.
• It is the responsibility of the student and parent to maintain track of the student’s attendance period by period.
• After a student is absent for five (5) consecutive days the student must provide the school with a doctor’s note.
• After a student is absent for ten (10) consecutive days the student may be recommended to hospital homebound.
• It is recommended that personal appointments are scheduled during non-school hours to avoid missing class instruction
• Students will not be allowed to make up class work until the absence is excused through the attendance office.
• Students are allowed the number of days absent plus one to make up class assignments upon returning to school. Make-up assignments and tests are the student’s responsibility. Evidence of truancy may eliminate any credit for make-up, i.e., homework, tests, etc.
• Written notices will be sent to parents/guardians of students having five (5) unexcused absences.
• Attendance will be taken each period by the teacher.
• Students under the age of eighteen (18) with more than nine (9) unexcused absences for the school year will be reported to the school social worker.
• Students under the age of eighteen (18) with fifteen (15) absences for the school year may be reported to the Department of Children in Need of Services/Family in Need of Services as a habitual truant.
• Students between the ages of fourteen (14) and eighteen (18) years of age with fifteen (15) unexcused absences (within a 90 day period) will not be able to acquire or maintain a Driver’s License.
• Students cannot be added to a class roll or allowed in class without an add/drop form or administrative approval.
• No student will be permitted to sign into school after 4^th period without the presence of a parent or doctor’s note. Parents will be notified by the attendance office if the student is not going to be permitted to school because he/she arrives after 4^thperiod.

The use of electronic devices is prohibited upon the time the first bell rings through the dismissal bell. We do not encourage students to bring any electronic devices such as cell phones, CD players, iPods, digital cameras, video recorders, etc. to school.

If any of these items are on or visible, they will be confiscated and held for parental pick-up during regular school operating hours. 

Final Exam Policy

Comprehensive semester and/or final exams will be given at the end of semester.  Exams will not be administered early.  It will be the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with his/her teachers to make up these exams.  First semester exams must be made up by the fourth (4^th) week of the second semester.  Second semester exams must be made up before the start of the next academic year.  Any missed exam will receive a 0% until the exam is made up by the deadline.

Excessive Excused and Unexcused Absences

Unexcused Absences: Students with more than nine (9) unexcused absences in any given class within a semester will automatically receive a failing grade for that semester. The principal can waive this policy in extreme circumstances.   

Excused Absences: Students with more than nine (9) excused absences in any given class within a semester must earn a 70% or better on the semester exam to receive credit for the semester.

Grade Forgiveness

Under state policy, students who receive a grade of D or F in a class may retake the class to improve their grade. The higher grade (C or better) will replace the D or F in the transcript and affect the GPA. Otherwise, the D or F grade received will be reflected on the transcript, as well as, affect the GPA. This policy only applies to final grades of D or F. 

The dress and appearance of Freedom High School students contributes to the health and safety of the individual, promotes a positive educational environment, and will not disrupt the educational activities and processes.

According to Orange County Public School policy, clothes shall be worn as they are designed - suspenders over the shoulders, pants secured at the waist, belts buckled, etc. Although not all inclusive, some highlights of the Code of Student Conduct are listed below.

1. Bare midriffs and bare sides shall not show.
2. Clothing normally worn when participating in a school- sponsored extracurricular and sports activity may be worn to school ONLY when approved by the sponsor, coach, and principal. 
3. Clothing that is too tight or revealing is unacceptable.
4. Garments and/or jewelry that display or suggest sexual, vulgar, drug, alcohol or tobacco related wording/ graphics, or that may tend to provoke violence or disruption in school, shall not be worn. Clothing should not display offensive pictures, words, or phrases.
5. Gang paraphernalia, jewelry, tattoos, or other insignias that display, suggest, provoke, or may tend to provoke violence or disruptions are not allowed.
6. The following items are prohibited:
   1. Any headgear such as, but not limited to, hats, caps, do-rags, visors, sunglasses, sweatbands, or bandanas.
   2. Heavy chains hanging from the neck, belt, pocket or attached to a wallet.
   3. Jewelry that has any sharp or pointed areas.
   4. Pajamas, slippers, or boxers.
7. Hemlines of shorts, dresses and skirts shall be no shorter than mid-thigh.
8. Shoes shall be worn. Cleated shoes are not acceptable.
9. Shoulders must be covered and garments must have sleeves. Garments worn under see through material must meet dress code requirements.
10. No torn or tattered clothing.

The principal and his designees have the responsibility and authority to make the final determination as to the appropriate dress of any student.

Students who are are not in their class when the bell rings are considered late and will report to Dean's Reception where they will receive an unexcused tardy pass. Each infraction of the tardy policy is cumulative for the 9 week marking period. 

Tardy Policy- All tardies are considered unexcused and will result in the follow consequences:

Tardies 1-2 will result in a warning

Tardies 2-5 will result in H.O.T. lunch detention

Tardies 6-8 will result in a 1 hour after school detention

Tardies 9-11 will result in a 2 hour Wednesday school

Tardies 12-15 will result in a 3 hour Saturday School

16 or more tardies will result in suspension