Confusion On York High's Final Exam Policy

ELMHURST, IL – Confusion appears to exist over whether York High School has put an end to traditional final exams.

Earlier this year, an official told a resident that no policy exists that eliminates traditional finals. Yet in late 2021, York's own newsletter said such exams had largely ended.

A spokeswoman for Elmhurst School District 205's administration acknowledged Patch's inquiry two weeks ago, but did not respond with a comment.

In the newsletter, the high school noted it eliminated finals in 2020. By doing so, the school said, it was able to focus at the end of the semester on students' mastery of skills.

The newsletter said that "in lieu of traditional Final Exams," it would offer "Relearning & Redevelopment days" instead. Only those with Ds or Fs would be required to attend.

The only exceptions were classes involving certifications and dual-credit courses, which are when students get high school and college credit at the same time. Even with those classes, the school said it would no longer keep a separate grading category for finals.

"Our focus remains on student learning and time spent to administer traditional final exams should be used to reinforce, reteach and remediate any skills or topics that are essential for future success in high school courses," the school said.

In an email in February, a parent asked a top District 205 official to verify whether York had traditional final exams.

In response, Associate Superintendent Scott Grens said he contacted York officials about the issue.

"For further clarification, no district policy exists regarding the elimination of traditional final exams," Grens said. "While the culmination of a summative exam or project is standard, for last year (21-22) and this year (22-23), traditional exams may vary between departments and courses, which is what is communicated here."

Grens cited the part of the newsletter that indicated the limited exceptions in which final exams would continue.

At the May 9 school board meeting, member Jim Collins said he spoke with a group of York juniors and seniors who had never taken final exams. He described them as "terrified" that this lack of experience would hurt them in college.

Collins recommended the district require final exams in certain courses. Member Kara Caforio agreed.

Here is the section of a fall 2021 York High School newsletter on final exams: