Why The Community Wants a High School Senior Exempt from Exams

Final Exam

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Summit High School Senior, Drew Griffus is a straight A student. He’s at the top of his class, but in August, he suffered the terrible tragedy of losing his father. He missed 8 days of school. Despite his situation, Drew continued to excel in his academics, maintaining straight A’s and remaining in the top of his class.

Now Drew is getting ready for final exams, something many of his peers will be exempt from. Seniors in Williamson County Schools are able to be exempt from final exams if they have maintained an A average in that subject and have not been absent for more than 6 days during the semester. Because Drew missed 8 days, he was not eligible to be exempt. Read his letter he posted on Twitter.

Drew’s classmates and much of the local community have rallied behind Drew, starting the hashtag #GetDrewExempt to bring attention to Drew’s situation and the current policy, even reaching out to WCS Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney via social media.


Twitter User @equalizer_anon is even conducting a poll:

The board policy that governs exam administration reads as follows:

Semester and final exams in a subject shall not be required for those high school seniors who have maintained an A average in that subject, have been absent no more than 6 days during the semester, (not counting absences for college visitation days approved in advance by the Principal or absences on semester and final exam days when the student is exempt), and have not been suspended during the semester. Unless mandated by the State of Tennessee, seniors who meet the criteria for exemption are not required to take the final exam. Teachers will report the number of exempt students for each course to their Principal.

Dr. Looney has stated on Twitter that he will address changes to this policy at the January board meeting, “I love that WCS students are willing to engage my office about board policy and social justice issues. I agree the exam exemption policy needs to be reconsidered. It takes 2 months to have a policy change and I will begin the process at the January board meeting.

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