WOODBURY — The Nonnewaug Class of 2025 most likely has an enigma of feelings towards graduation in a few weeks, but before that excitement of leaving, some seniors have to take finals.
Anyone with a 90 or above and is under a specified threshold of absences may be exempt from the final. Everyone else will not be.
The criteria for exemption is tighter than it’s been in the past. Last year, juniors could be exempt from final exams, too.
But now, being a senior means doing everything so you don’t have to take the final. It adds another stress onto your end-of-the-year plate, especially for those in the mad dash to raise grades up right before the test.
“I think the most aggravating part is that many students put in a lot of effort to raise their grade throughout [the year],” says James Assard, a senior. “Especially at the end of the year, I think they should lower the grade that lets you be exempt so seniors can focus on their college preparation and finishing projects and such.”
Seniors are the only grade in school to be able to be exempt from any sort of final exam, and in return, are expected to have good attendance and a grade of 90 or higher.
Sometimes it reaches a level where a student needs one or two more points to raise a grade up to the minimum requirements. Counselor Gail DeFrancesco thinks final exemptions can be a positive reward for hard work.
“I think it’s fair as long as they have good grades. It shows commitment and that you’ve done the work for the class,” explains DeFrancesco. “I think that by the time you reach finals in your senior year, you already have a plan that you’ve done for four years, you’re already accepted into colleges and you’ve mastered the skills in your classes throughout your time here.”
Some students, though, have a lot of study halls, so some finals aren’t particularly necessary.
“Study halls are always a good break,” says senior Justin Longo. “You can make up work in this period or prepare yourself like study for a quiz and simply catch up on homework. It is also a mental refresher and gives you experience to be around all your friends and talk without getting in trouble. Skipping the finals, on the other hand, can actually make students determined to up their grades so they don’t have to show up for it. It is mostly a reward for good students and is a way schools can show hard work that isn’t unnoticed.”
While seniors may see it as motivation, some underclassmen think it’s unfair though when only upperclassmen are allowed to skip finals.
“I think it’s unfair because if you have above 90, it already proves you know the subject,” says junior Juliana Morriar. “It’s pointless to have to take the final if you know the material. Especially as a junior, we already have some privileges like seniors, for example, driving. So if we are able to drive to school and be able to have some freedom, why can’t we get exempt?”
The opinion on whether taking the final or not shows differences between students, though the general consensus is a positive one, seniors should be exempt because of all the hard work they’ve completed.
“After four years of being in high school, I think it is an award that they are able to be exempt and have the opportunity to skip out on a long test,” junior Chase Knapp said. “Also, if they want to take it for fun, it should not be graded.”
DeFrancesco adds her opinion that underclassmen should not be added into the final exemption.
“It should be an option to be exempt at that [upperclassman] level,” states DeFrancesco. “I have mixed feelings about juniors. I believe it should just be a senior privilege. It should be an option and privilege, but it also depends on the teachers. If it is a class you haven’t been keeping up with work, and you have a 90, then you didn’t really put in effort to get that grade. It won’t be a good idea for juniors because you want to do the best you can. Colleges look at your junior year and it is a very important year to prove yourself.”
