As seniors look ahead to graduation, the last few months of high school become a blur of college decisions and extracurriculars. However, now that the final exemption policy has been released, some seniors are experiencing a sense of relief.
“Senior year is already really busy,” senior Kate Hessong said. “It’s nice knowing that I have one less thing to worry about at the end of the year.”
Although the exemption policy is a release from exams for many seniors, there are restrictions that depend on the student’s grade in a given class and the number of absences in that class.
“I think the senior exam exemption policy is a great thing to have in place because I think it rewards seniors who have done a great job in the classroom and who have taken care of their business with attendance and discipline,” assistant principal Chris Mayfield said.
Providing the quota of grades and absences are met for each individual class, and other requirements are met, final exemptions can be a great relief. However, there is fine print that comes with the exam exemption policy: all library books and fines must be taken care of and no school suspensions can be received during the second semester.
“I think it’s good that we have an exemption policy,” senior Sam Semmer said. “But I think that it should apply all year, and you shouldn’t have to take them first semester.”
On May 20, the last check is made to ensure that the requirements have been met. Only the second semester finals can be exempt- first semester exams must be taken regardless.
“I think one of the things that, even the reason that we do exams for seniors in the fall, is really because that is really the model that they are going to see when they get to college,” Mayfield said. “Almost every class has a midterm and a final.”
Although there are some rules in order to be exempt, the reward of being exempt from the stress of studying is enough to outweigh the rules.
“For most people, I don’t think it’s too difficult to abide by those rules,” Hessong said. “At least we have the chance to be exempt.”
Final exam exemption is a right reserved solely for the senior class. Juniors, and first semester seniors are still required to take the exams in preparation for college.
“We think that’s good training for what life is really going to be like when students go to college, so that’s why we do that practice,” Mayfield said.
In the end, the exam policy is a way to reward seniors for the work they have done throughout high school to prepare for college.
“We do want to reward seniors in their spring semester when they get the opportunity to show that they have done everything the right way, and to make it a little easier on them at that time,” Mayfield said. “It’s just a great reward for them as they finish out their senior year.”
