Exam Exemptions: An Incentive for School

At the beginning of the 2025/2026 school year, the Charlotte Catholic administration announced the return of final exams for seniors. However, students in the classes of 2026 and 2027 are now eligible to exempt from their final exams in any class where they maintain a 93% average for the third and fourth quarters. Additionally, they can have no more than nine absences in that class during a semester.

Principal Kurt Telford explained the reason exams have returned for seniors. “We found that there was a drop off in senior attendance at the end of the second semester,” said Mr. Telford. “It is an incentive to come into school.”

The Charlotte Catholic administration noted that there was a correlation between in-class attendance and good grades. Exam exemptions are intended to make sure students are in class and paying attention. Some seniors tend to cut class because of “senioritis,” according to Mr. Telford.

Credit: Charlotte Catholic High School

Some students have reported good feelings about these changes, such as junior Mateo Quintanilla-Burgos, who said that he is glad about exam exemptions. “I feel pretty happy about having the chance to be exempt, and I feel lucky because there were no exam exemptions last year for juniors,” Mateo said. When asked if he agrees that there is an incentive to come to class and do well, Mateo responded, “I think I am incentivized to make above 93% and come to school now, because most people like me want to skip their final exams.”

Other students, such as senior Owen Traynum, were frustrated that they had missed a year of exam exemptions. “I think it’s weird that we missed out last year,” Owen said. When asked if he felt motivated to show up, Owen replied similarly to Mateo: “I would say that there is still an incentive to come to class, even if we are seniors now.”

Students should note that exemptions apply to only juniors and seniors, at least for now. The administration has not confirmed that this policy will continue next year, but Mr. Telford and Mrs. Danser, a Dean of Students, stated that exemptions may remain in place. “We will have a look at the data at the end of the year,” Mr. Telford said. Students can review the student handbook for additional information.