The research and analysis completed for this study focuses on one variable and its relationship to student achievement: school wide student attendance. It is a variable that is often overlooked or taken for granted as an interesting but meaningless statistic, however, the positive impact of good school attendance on academic achievement may be greater than historically thought (Johnston, 2000, Lamdin, 1996). Coutts (1998) suggests student attendance should be charted and monitored weekly, since high attendance rates are indicators of effective schools. The initial focus of this research study was to determine if there was a significant, positive relationship between student achievement in Ohio schools, as measured by the Ohio Proficiency Tests, and student attendance in grades 4,6,9, and 12. All data used for this study were taken directly from the ODE web site. The study is based on the most recent information available to the public (1999 data) for school building proficiency test and attendance averages. Table 1 displays results of the correlational study for each grade level taking the Ohio Proficiency Test. This overview study of school attendance and its relationship to student achievement provides an initial forum for discussion, debate, and further research. Continued studies may provide additional information that may lead to strategies for improving student attendance and academic achievement. (Contains 7 tables.)