At some schools, students do not have to take end of the semester final exams if they have a high enough grade in the class. Typically, they may be exempt from taking finals if they meet the required curricular achievements as well as stay within the number of maximum tardies allowed.

All WCA students take spring exams yet, in typical fashion, many would like a way out. This exemption could be beneficial to WCA students and encourage better work habits. If students know that they will not have to take a final, they may be willing to work harder in the class. In addition, having an attendance requirement could potentially motivate students to not skip classes.

A viable plan with academic merit would be needed. For instance, each grade level could have specific requirements for exam exemption based off of different responsibility levels that come with age. For example, freshman exams would count for 15% of their grade, and in order to be exempted they would need to have at least a 95% in the class. Sophomore exams would count for 20%, but they would only need a 90% or higher to avoid the final. Juniors’ exams would count for 25% but require a 85% to be exempted. For seniors, exams would count for 1/3 of their grade, but in order to be exempted, they would only have to maintain a 85% or higher all semester. The tradeoff is that since seniors are about to leave for college, they should have more responsibility for maintaining their grades and not slacking off. In exchange for failing to maintain a B in the class, they would have to take a weighty exam that could pose a risk to their overall grade. While this is not an official proposal, it represents the type of approach a school could take.

Noah Brink, assistant head of school – academics, indicated this is a project that is likely two years out and would take a lot of work to get done. Students and staff would have to approve of the change in requirements for final exams and would have to be vocal in their opinions for and against the possibility of exam exemption.

The opportunity for this change is possible, and the administration is not entirely opposed to the idea, but meetings and time are needed to put these actions into motion.