At Allen High School, high school seniors with an A in a class may have up to 3 absences, and students with a B in a class may have up to 2 absences in order to be exempt from final exams in spring. These absences currently include any absence not included in an approved student activity, like UIL events or AP testing. However, many seniors got COVID this spring and were absent for 1-2 weeks. Even though it wasn’t these students’ ill intentions to be out of school, these absences will be counted against students wishing to earn a final exemption according to current administration.

This is simply unfair towards the class of 2022 because no one asked to be sick with COVID, and students who followed CDC guidelines were only being responsible and engaged citizens, which is outlined in the AISD graduate profile.  Seniors who worked hard for A’s and B’s should have earned final exam exemptions; it is a shame that once again, COVID ruins the high school experience for the class of 2022.

It should be noted that although usually any illness-related absences count against senior final exam exemption, COVID was not a normal circumstance, and everybody involved in the COVID situation is only trying to lessen the effects of a worldwide pandemic. Allen High School, being the largest high school in Texas, is far better off having students sick with COVID stay at home rather than come to school and contribute to the growth of a pandemic solely for final exam exemptions.

Absences due to COVID should not be counted against senior students who made genuine efforts towards final exam exemption.