Yes, our schools have something similar. An A average over the 2nd semester gets you exempt from the final.

Anonymous wrote:I’m hearing from my DC that if he has an A in a class in his high school, he’s exempt from the final exam and can miss class that day. Is this true? It seems crazy to me!

PWCS? yes, and if they passed an sol with a 500-600 they get a 100% On the final exam, and if they passed between 400-499 they don't have to take the final and they don't get graded for it.

Its an A average per semester.

Anonymous wrote:The final exam in my classes is only 10% of their grade for the year. A student with a solid A average for the year would have to tank the final to lose their A. Seems like a reasonable carrot to dangle in front of kids.

I don't do it, but I do tell kids if they pass advance the associated SOL I will add 10% to their final exam score.

I took a survey course my senior year as a space filler, and had something like a 97 average going into the final (that was worth 25% of our grade). I talked to the professor, told him that I already had been accepted to law school, and if I got a 0 on the final I'd still pass the class. If I got 50%, I'd still get a B (maybe even an A, can't remember), which I could do without cracking a book, but I wouldn't feel good about that, so I'd still feel compelled to study, so . . .

He shook my hand, and let me out of the final.

Anonymous wrote:The final exam in my classes is only 10% of their grade for the year. A student with a solid A average for the year would have to tank the final to lose their A. Seems like a reasonable carrot to dangle in front of kids.

I don't do it, but I do tell kids if they pass advance the associated SOL I will add 10% to their final exam score.

That read poorly. I don't allow kids to opt out of the final, but I do add points to their score if they do well on the SOL.

The final exam in my classes is only 10% of their grade for the year. A student with a solid A average for the year would have to tank the final to lose their A. Seems like a reasonable carrot to dangle in front of kids.

I don't do it, but I do tell kids if they pass advance the associated SOL I will add 10% to their final exam score.

Two of the four classes my DC is taking in college have this rule. One of his classes is a collaborative class and has no final. As a result, he only has one final this semester.

This is a teacher-by-teacher decision

We were told if DS has an A for all 4 quarters, then he can skip the final. And then will have an A in the class.

For classes with an SOL, if all 4 quarters are A or B + you pass advanced on the SOL you can skip the final. Or, preferably, take the final to see if it improves your grade but if it would lower your grade can retroactively opt out and have it not count.

That was the policy in my high school when I was a student. The sentiment was that an A average across the year demonstrated sufficient mastery of the material that a final exam was unnecessary to confirm it. The policy also encouraged kids who could make an A but didn't feel motivated to work for it to put their noses to the grindstone a bit more all year and really learn the material so they wouldn't have to take the final.

I’m hearing from my DC that if he has an A in a class in his high school, he’s exempt from the final exam and can miss class that day. Is this true? It seems crazy to me!