Student tardies can lead to at most an administrative meeting, activity restriction, or administrative detention. Reaching five unexcused tardies will start the consequences with a student and parent conference according to the official Tracy Unified School District website. Most tardies happen because of family emergencies, medical issues, or vehicle problems. Others are caused because of the students not being in their seat when the bell rings. Is it reasonable to mark a student tardy if they are not in their seat?

On a regular day at West High, the passing period is six minutes with a 40-minute lunch break. Although classes such as Physical Education, usually known as P.E., requires the students to be on their attendance number to be accounted present (which is reasonable if the teacher did not see the student) sometimes this is taken so seriously that some P.E. teachers mark their students tardy even if they are right next to their attendance number. Attendance numbers are like seating charts.

Classes with substitutes can validly require being in your seat if there is a seating chart. Most classes use seating charts to take attendance. This is effective if teachers do not verbally take attendance or, of course, the class is disruptive without a certain seating arrangement. Teachers may want students at their desks before the bell not only because it is more organized, but it can also speed up the start of class.

Freshman Liam Acelar says that usually only a few people are late in his 1st period verses his 6th period. Acelar says they are usually late because they take their time walking during passing period, or they came from off campus. Freshman Charlotte Ngyuen also agrees that only a few people are late during her first and last period. Though tardies are important mark off, being late to class only goes so far.