The exemption policy is pretty stupid to begin with. The better students in the class need to get used to being required to perform in pressure situations - like a midterm being worth 30% of your grade and a final worth 60%. They are teaching them the opposite thing here. Not to mention - why should they be exempt if they have an 88 average? I can understand if they have a 95% average and it's almost impossible for them to drop to a B or something. "This policy, it makes no sense!"
If your son is getting 88 for two weeks and he wants to still take the optional finals He will ace it for sure. You don't just suddenly screw up on a math final, if you had learned the material well during the semester, you will not do badly on it.
This is a good point. Do all teachers have this lax of an exemption policy? Back in the day we had to have 95+ in order to be exempt.
In my daughter's school, it's a combination of grade, TAKS score, attendance record that give the students exemption. It's a reward for a job well done and incentive for other students to get their grade up early next year. Plus, they've already performed in pressure situations like TAKs very recently.
Update: he got a 94 on the English final and 100 on the Math final- so both semester grades went from 89 to 90. THAT'S why you take the risk! And that's why I love this board- I could kiss you all.
