3 Ways to Avoid Going to School - wikiHow (2024)

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1Faking Sick to Avoid School

2Finding Alternative Learning Programs

3Overcoming Your Desire to Avoid School

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Last Updated: November 13, 2023References

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When school becomes overwhelming or exhausting, boring or slow, taking a day away from the classroom can help you recharge and refocus. You can avoid school for short periods of time by taking an educational field trip with your parents, joining a club or team the meets or competes during the school day, requesting a personal day, or faking sick. If you are interested in avoiding traditional school for longer amounts of time, consider dual enrolling at your local college, registering for a semester long placement or service project, or taking classes at a vocational school.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Faking Sick to Avoid School

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  1. 1

    Select an illness to fake carefully. When you want to avoid school, faking an illness is an effective way to stay out of the classroom. The success of your scheme depends largely on the illness you decide to fake. Choose an illness that has to “run its course” and has relatively easy symptoms to feign, like the flu or a headache. Don’t fake an illness that will require a doctor’s visit, like strep throat or mono—the doctor could blow your cover![1]

  2. 2

    Fake a headache. A headache is an exceptionally easy and safe illness to fake because the symptoms are not visible. Choose a specific part of your head that hurts, such as your forehead or at the base of your skull. Pretend that you are sensitive to sounds and light. Lay on a couch or in your bed—avoid excessive activity. This also works when you are at school, for example, you have a big math test that you didn't study for, simply just put your hand over your eyes and say something along the lines of “Man my head is killing me, and my vision is blurry” this works about 75% of the time.[2]

    • Place a cool washcloth over your eyes.
    • Rub your temples to alleviate the pain.

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  3. 3

    Fake the flu. Pretending to have the flu requires commitment and skill. To successfully fake the flu, you must pretend to have a variety of symptoms.

    • Pretend to have the chills. Bundle up in blankets and sweaters; take hot baths or constantly drink warm beverages.
    • Complain to your parents of aches and weakness. To sell these symptoms, avoid excess activity.
    • Fake a variety of common cold symptoms, such as a sore throat, dry cough, and runny nose.
      • Blow your nose constantly.
  4. 4

    Fake a fever. Pretending to have a fever requires careful planning and constant vigilance. To fake proof of high temperature, you will need to expose a thermometer to something warm. Instead of relying on an obscure method, like holding it over a light bulb, simply place it against a warm beverage. As the thermometer rises, monitor it to ensure it does read over 103°F (39°C).[3]

    • Tell your parents that you felt feverish throughout the night and often woke up in a cold sweat.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Finding Alternative Learning Programs

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  1. 1

    Consider homeschooling. For students who struggle to learn or socialize in a traditional school environment, homeschooling is an excellent alternative. As a homeschooler, you will have the luxury of studying within the safe and comfortable confines of your home. You will receive one-on-one instruction and a personalized curriculum. This alternative learning program benefits both the student that requires additional attention and the student that requires more challenging coursework.[4]

  2. 2

    Enroll in an online education program. Virtual learning is increasing in popularity. It is providing students across the world with access to excellent educators, customizable curriculum, and exposure to a diverse student body. This is an excellent option for students that excel in non-traditional academic settings.[5]

  3. 3

    Dual enroll at your local college. Taking a course at your local college in place of a high school class is an excellent way to challenge yourself—and it allows you to leave campus! Meet with a high school counselor to discuss the possibility of dual enrolling at your local college. Express that you wish to challenge yourself and that you want to prepare yourself for a successful collegiate career.[6]

    • Very few college courses meet 5 days a week, which means less time in the classroom.
  4. 4

    Register for a semester-long service project or placement. Ask your teachers or school counselors if your school offers semester-long internships, service projects, and or placements. Work with the counselor to register for the program. Finding opportunities for hands-on learning will allow you to develop personal and professional skills. Your participation in one of these programs not only looks great on college applications, but it also gets you out of the classroom![7]

  5. 5

    Attend a vocational school. Enrolling in a vocational school is an excellent option for students who wish to start their careers immediately after high school or teens who simply prefer hands-on learning. Instead of taking traditional courses, take classes that teach you a set of practical and transferable professional skills. Work with your school counselors to register for courses or transfer to your local vocational school.[8]

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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Overcoming Your Desire to Avoid School

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  1. 1

    Address your bullies. Dealing with bullies at school is scary, overwhelming, and exhausting! When a bully belittles you, remain strong and confident—remind yourself that you are a valuable and wonderful person. Report the incident to a trusted adult, like your parents, a teacher, or a school administrator. Meet with the principal, school counselors, and teachers and develop a plan to address the bullying.[9]

  2. 2

    Seek help for focus problems. Sitting in a desk for 6 to 8 hours a day is quite the task! If you are struggling to remain focused, actively seek positive solutions to your problem. Meet with your teacher and parents to devise a personalized learning plan. Schedule an appointment with your doctor to explore possible medical explanations for your inability to focus.[10]

  3. 3

    Reduce your risk of feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork. Throughout a semester, you may feel overwhelmed by the endless cycle of reading assignments, homework, projects, and exams. As your stress increases and feelings of inadequacy creep in, actively seek to regain control of your life.[11]

    • Make time for self-care.
    • Think positive thoughts. Never tell yourself you can’t achieve a goal or complete an assignment on time.
    • Tackle your homework one step at a time. Focus on completing one problem or reading one section at a time,
    • Set small, achievable goals for yourself.[12]
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      Tips

      • Oversleeping or forgetting to set an alarm is a great way to be intentionally late for school!

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      • If for some reason you have to skip school, running away for a few hours, which is a very bad idea, is an option.

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      Tips from our Readers 3 Ways to Avoid Going to School - wikiHow (18)

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

      • If you feel like you struggle with anxiety about school, talk to your doctor, therapist, parents, or even a school counselor. They'll be able to help you cope, which can make it easier for you to go to school.
      • Sometimes, all you need to do is "oversleep." If you're not ready to go by the time your parent needs to leave for work, they might just let you stay home.
      • If you're trying to avoid school because you're worried about fitting in, just take a deep breath and be yourself! People are drawn to confidence!

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      About This Article

      wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 44 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 142,428 times.

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      3 Ways to Avoid Going to School - wikiHow (2024)

      FAQs

      How do you skip school successfully? ›

      Turning in an excuse note before you skip helps you avoid detection. Practice your parent's signature so it looks authentic. Give a simple reason for why you will be gone. Say you are visiting a relative out of town, taking a one day vacation, or doing some work around the house.

      What can I do instead of going to school? ›

      What are practical alternatives to college?
      • Get a part-time job. ...
      • Get a full-time, entry-level job. ...
      • Earn a real estate license. ...
      • Become a caregiver. ...
      • Become a personal trainer. ...
      • Coach a sports or special interest group. ...
      • Enlist in the military.
      Feb 3, 2023

      Is it okay to skip school sometimes? ›

      No, it's never ok to skip school for minor reasons like that. The only time you should ever miss school is if you're very sick, and your parents allow you to stay home to go see a doctor.

      Should I skip school if I'm tired? ›

      Sometimes you just need a break to get on top of your own thoughts. If you feel like taking a day off will help you, then I definitely support it. You just have to be able to catch up on any work you've missed, and don't use it just for the sake of not having to sit a test or hand an assignment in.

      Why do students skip school? ›

      There are many possibly causes for a teen's refusal to attend school, including anxiety, depression, social anxiety, problems with peers or teachers, bullying, or exposure to a traumatic incident at school that causes school avoidance. What should I do about a kid who refuses to attend school?

      Is it OK to skip 1 class? ›

      In general, it's not terrible to miss a single class — as long as you're not skipping the midterm or final. But skipping can become a problem if it's chronic. Missing multiple classes often means a lower grade. In classes that include attendance or participation in final grades, skipping means missing points.

      How can I skip school without school calling? ›

      Depending on your school's attendance policy, you might need to make sure they don't contact your parents about your absence. For instance, you could forge an excuse note from your parents, or even block the school's number on your parents' phones in case they call.

      How to miss school with strict parents? ›

      Instead, alternate different excuses. For example, if one day you don't want to go to school, fake a cold. And then if you don't want to go to school again, pretend you have a stomach ache. Sometimes it works to just be honest tell them the real reason you want to stay home.

      What if I don't wanna go to college? ›

      Whether you choose to go to a trade school or do an apprenticeship, vocational training is a cheaper, more practical alternative to college.

      What is a gap student? ›

      A gap year is when you take a year off, typically between high school graduation and college. So instead of beginning college the fall after you finish high school, you'd start the following fall. Gap years are meant to give students a break from academics.

      What if college isn t for me? ›

      There are plenty of options for successful careers where you don't have to earn a college degree. Trades are a viable option that often offers on-the-job training. Pursuing a trade gives you an entry point to your career without the burden of spending a lot of money paying for training.

      Is skipping school illegal in America? ›

      In the U.S., young people who are school-aged are required to attend school, whether it's public, private, or even home school. The number of unexcused absences you can rack up during a school year before you are labeled “truant” depends on the truancy laws in your state and your school district's policy.

      Is it bad to skip school for 1 day? ›

      There is a “linear relationship” between school attendance and academics, and missing even one day is associated with lower test scores, says Michael Gottfried, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.

      Is it common to skip a grade? ›

      It's a wide margin, sure, but the point is clear. Roughly 1 in 3 students—a full third of the class—are already prepared for the next grade up when they walk into class at the beginning of the school year. By comparison, only about 1 percent of students skip grades at some point in K-12.

      What is the best grade to skip? ›

      In general, the earlier a child skips a grade, the better.

      Skipping kindergarten or a grade in elementary school is typically less difficult socially than skipping a grade in middle school or high school.

      What is a good excuse to get out of school? ›

      Examples of Excused Absences:
      • Illness (absences exceeding three days may require a physician statement).
      • Medical/Dental appointments (we highly encourage you to make these appointments outside of school hours).
      • Required county/state court appointments.
      • Religious instruction (Not to exceed 3 hours in one week).

      How do you convince parents to let you skip school? ›

      Sometimes it works to just be honest tell them the real reason you want to stay home. For example, if you're really stressed and you need a mental health day, some parents might sympathize and let you take a day off.

      Is it possible to skip school years? ›

      Grade skipping is a form of academic acceleration, often used for academically talented students, that enables the student to skip entirely the curriculum of one or more years of school.

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