93-100     3 absences or less per semester
    85-92       2 absences or less per semester
    77-84       1 absence or less per semester
    Note: this is an incentive program to encourage attendance; all absences, whether excused or not, are counted for exemption purposes. Absences may not be made up or waived for exam exemption.

     This is all written under the exam exemption policy in the Northwood Student Handbook, which is included on every student laptop. It clearly states that it’s a program to encourage attendance, and it’s definitely effective. Some might even say too effective.
     Students in all grade levels here at Northwood feel the pressure to attend school so that they don’t have to take non-required exams. This means to us, as students, that no matter how sick we are, how high our fever is, how much we’re coughing or how many times an hour we have to blow our noses, we have to go to school so that we don’t chance having to take a 200-question exam.  Some students really work hard to keep their attendance up no matter what the consequences may be for themselves or other students who they could be infecting with illness. Teachers complain when students come into their classrooms when they’re sick. They contaminate everyone in the room and fall asleep during class. But as annoying as it is to the teachers, many students feel like they don’t have a choice.
     The policy should be changed. If you have a legitimate reason to miss school, it should definitely be excused for exam exemption purposes. If a student brings in a doctor’s note explaining that she really was sick, or a note from a parent explaining a family emergency or funeral, it should by no means count against her. Having to miss school for the death of a family member should not be the reason you have to take an exam that could bring down your semester grade.
     Chatham County Schools wants us to do well, and they want to entice students to get good grades and not be absent. But when we have no choice but to miss school, it should be taken into consideration and excused.