Ida B. Wells High School

At Ida B. Wells High School, we believe that being on time is essential for academic success and a positive school culture. Tardiness disrupts the classroom, impacts academic performance, and creates negative habits that may persist into adulthood.

To reinforce punctuality, we have implemented TIP, a structured lunch detention for students who are repeatedly late to class. To support consistent and fair accountability, this program uses attendance data to track student punctuality and provide appropriate outcomes for repeated tardiness.

What does it mean to be tardy (L)? Not present at the start of class and arriving prior to the completion of 25% of the class period.

What does it mean to be late after tardy (LAT)? LAT means a student missed more than 25% of a class. On A/B days that is more than 23 minutes late. On Flex days, it is more than 20 minutes late.

How It Works

• Attendance is tracked daily in Synergy.

• Students who accumulate four (4) or more tardies in a single week (across all periods) will be assigned TIP

• TIP is served during lunch in the cafeteria on Tuesday or Thursday.

  • Students can choose which day they attend- either TUESDAY or THURSDAY.

  • It is the students’ responsibility to check-in with the VP/designated staff in the Cafeteria to have their attendance recorded.

  • If a student DOES NOT show up for one of the TIP sessions that week, an after-school detention will be assigned.

Student Expectations

• Report to the designated cafeteria area within 5 minutes of the start of lunch (by 11:50 AM (or 12:12 on a Flex day)).

• Check in with the VP/staff on duty.

• Bring your lunch! If you are getting a school lunch, you must check in before getting on the lunch line.

• No phones, electronics.

Why being on time matters

• Improved learning

• Higher academic performance

• Builds time management skills

• Reduces disruptions to the classroom community

• Establishes good habits for future academic and career success