The term "cutting classes" refers to the practice of missing a designated class without permission. Another slang term for avoiding class attendance is "skipping class." The official word for an intentional, unauthorized absence from class is "truancy."
Punishments for cutting class range from detentions to fines to summer school, with repeated offences potentially preventing graduation. Truancy is more prevalent in middle schools and high schools, although the practice appears in various forms on college campuses as well. Attending school is mandatory in the United States for minors until they obtain a high school diploma or reach the age of 18.
