With a week left in the third marking period, junior students and parents were sent a brief email from Hawthorne High School’s principal, Mr. Daniel LaGrone, stating that updates to the final exam exemption policy had been made and  exemptions for juniors were no longer being granted.

In the 2013-2014, the junior class was granted the opportunity to be excused from final exams, if students met certain requirements such as maintaining a final average of 90 or higher. As stated from the beginning of the year, the Class of 2016 would also have the opportunity to earn an exemption.

Until March 28, all junior students with high scholarly achievements who met the prerequisite expected to be awarded exemptions from their final exams in June. With this surprise from the administration, the junior class (as well as parents and faculty) are in an uproar, with all 156 students confused as to why they are being forced to take finals, and why they are just being told now.

Most students are more upset with the way in which the drastic change was presented, than the actual news itself. The announcement, which has great effect on most juniors’ already-hectic schedules, was presented in an email, consisting of a short, 23-word explanation. Not only was the email brief and curt, but it was sent out, not at the beginning of the school year, but with just one marking period left. Students, having been told they would not be taking finals, are now panicking with the fear of unpreparedness. Brianna Garcia, an HHS junior, expressed her opinion on the recent announcement, stating, “All juniors are upset and angry. We feel as if we were tricked and want to know why students are being stripped of their right to be exempt.”

Mr. LaGrone takes responsibility for the timing of the email, which is what has mostly upset parents and students. After analysis, LaGrone, as well as other administrators, realized that the exemptions would put a negative impact on the Class of 2016. As it turns out, the grade point averages (GPAs) and class rankings of the top percentage of the graduating class would be hurt by exemptions from junior finals. LaGrone stated that the only way to avoid hurting the future graduating classes, is by reinstating the rule of only senior exemptions. “Your junior year is a student’s most important academic high school year. If you take away the chance for a high-achieving student to do well on exams and potentially bring up their grades, you are slowing them down in the process of determining class ranks,” explained LaGrone.