Is high school attendance important for college admissions?

So my high school attendance hasn't been the best, and I'm a little worried it might affect my college applications. How much importance do colleges place on attendance, and can it be a deal breaker if my grades and other stuff are solid?

Attendance in high school is generally not a major factor in college admissions. However, if your high school includes attendance records as part of your official transcript, colleges may use it to evaluate your overall responsibility as a student. If your attendance is poor but your grades and extracurricular activities are strong, colleges might overlook occasional absences, especially if you have a valid reason for them.

It's crucial to remember that colleges are more interested in your academic performance, course rigor, extracurricular involvement, and other factors that demonstrate your dedication and potential for success. If your attendance issues have not affected your grades, standardized test scores, or participation in extracurricular activities, colleges may not consider it a significant concern.

However, if your poor attendance has resulted in disciplinary action or significantly impacted your academic performance, this could be a red flag for college admissions officers. In such cases, it's essential to address the situation in your application, such as through your personal statement or additional information section. Explaining illness, family matters, or other circumstances that led to attendance issues can help put it in context for the admissions officers.

In summary, while attendance is not usually a primary consideration in college admissions, it can become a concern if it has negatively impacted other aspects of your application. To mitigate any potential issues, ensure your grades, test scores, and extracurricular involvement are strong, and address any relevant attendance concerns in your application.