Final Exam Exemption Guidelines

Per Henrico County Schools Policy

All students eligible for graduation in June shall take examinations. Seniors eligible for graduation in June may request an exemption from any second semester examination if the following criteria are met:

Grade Criteria:

1. The senior must have a cumulative course average of at least 80 when grades and other specified criteria are compiled to determine exam exemption near the close of the fourth nine weeks.
2. The senior must maintain a minimum fourth nine-week average of 80 in the course to be exempted.

Attendance Criteria

1. The senior cannot have been absent from the class more than ten times during the school year (semester class - not more than five times). Religious holidays and school-related absences (field trips, SODA, athletics, documented college visits, etc.) do not count within those absences.
2. Three unexcused tardies to class equals one absence as related to the exam exemption criteria. Six unexcused tardies to school immediately removes the senior from the eligibility. Six unexcused tardies to an individual class eliminates the student from exam exemption eligibility in that class.
3. The senior must attend at least 75% of a class in order to be counted present in that class as related to exam exemption eligibility.

Integrity Criteria

1. Any integrity violation which results in disciplinary action removes the student from eligibility in the class in which the violation occurred.

Note: There is no automatic exemption from any class, elective or otherwise. Exemptions are granted to seniors only and only with compliance to the criteria listed above. Nothing in the policy shall be construed to exempt any student from the end-of-course SOL testing requirements set forth in the State Board of Education's Standards of Accreditation, or alter the requirements for earning a diploma.

SOL Exam Exemption

Students enrolled in a class for which a SOL test is administered, must pass the SOL in order to be considered for exemption from the final exam. The students exam score will be determined by the sliding score (score on SOL).

AP Exam Exemption

A student taking an AP exam that meets the attendance and integrity requirements is automatically exempt from the exam.

Prior to May 30th, teachers will receive a list of seniors who have lost their exam exemptions because of school attendance and/or disciplinary reasons. Each teacher will also need to check his/her records to determine that individual class attendance and grade criteria are met for each senior requesting exemption. This information should be shared with seniors during class on May 31^st and June 1^st.

Final Exam Information (Tentative/ Subject to Change)

Senior examinations will be administered starting June 5^th as scheduled:

Tuesday, June 5^th - 1^st block and 7^th block; review 3^rd and 5^th blocks

Wednesday, June 6^th - 4^th block and 6^th block; review 2^nd and 5^th blocks

Thursday, June 7^th - 3^rd block and 5^th block; SOLs as needed

Friday, June 8^th - 2^nd block; make-up exams and SOLs as needed

Monday, June 11^th - Make-up exams and SOLs as needed

• All outstanding fees, library fines, fundraisers, etc. should be paid prior to taking exams.
• Teachers will provide more specific exam information after May 22, 2015.
• Senior exam review days are Tuesday, May 29^th, Wednesday, May 30^th, Thursday May 31^st, Friday, June 1^st and Monday, June 4^th.
• The final day for seniors to meet senior exemption status, i.e. attendance, grade average, etc. will be Friday, May 30^th. Seniors will be informed of their exam exemption eligibility May 31^st and June 1^st during regular classes.
• Seniors who must take exams are required to be in class on exam review days and exam days. They need only attend during senior exam days in the class in which they will take an exam.
• Seniors who come to school for an examination or an exam review will not loiter in the building between classes. Seniors are to report to their exam and to exit the building promptly at the end of that class if that is the end of their day or report to the auditorium.
• Textbook collections should occur by June 1^st for seniors who do not have exams; otherwise, textbooks are due at exam time.
• Senior Clearance Forms must be collected by Wednesday, June 6^th.

Senior Clearance Form – to be distributed when you turn in your laptop May 31^st through June 4^th. The Clearance Form is needed to get graduation tickets for the Siegel Center. The Clearance Form allows you to clear all of your obligations from teachers and school staff. All fees need to be paid in order to clear school obligations. No graduation tickets will be distributed without the completed Clearance Form.

Senior Permission form – (included with the Clearance Form) needed to board a school bus from Highland Springs High School on graduation day to travel to the Siegel Center [You MUST check in at the Auditorium and ride the school bus down to the Siegel Center in order to participate].