For the past two years, finals have been optional for students. That all changes this year when final week begins Dec. 12. 

Students will have to take finals and each one will count for 10 percent of their semester grades. In previous years, finals counted toward 20 percent of their grades.

Sophomore Grace Duncan, like many, is taking her finals for the first time this year. She feels a little better about the finals being only 10 percent this year.

“I don’t have to worry as much,” Duncan said.

The percent of the finals was cut in half to have less impact and ease the kids back into taking big exams since it’s been so long.

“Those decisions come from Humble ISD,” principal Wes Solomon said. “That’s not a Kingwood Park decision.”

This announcement was made to the students the second week of school and it was reiterated during class assemblies and to parents. It was announced this way to make sure there will be no surprises.

“The best form of letting people know is communication, and communicating to the kids that we didn’t spring this on you,” Solomon said. “We didn’t wait until December to tell you.” 

Since the spring of 2020, finals could only improve students’ grades. Teachers were required to have a final. If students took the final, it would replace a low summative grade. Grades were not impacted negatively if students skipped the final or did not do well on it.

Seniors remember the last time finals were normal, which was the fall of their freshman year.

“Study the curriculum that you had the most trouble on and study the easy stuff too,” senior Stalyce Green said.    

Exemptions will be in place for some students, allowing them to exempt up to two finals each semester. To be allowed to exempt, students must have an 80 for the semester, and not have been assigned more than one Saturday or Thursday class.. 

In previous years, attendance was also an exemption requirement. Students couldn’t miss more than three days of school to exempt a final. Attendance is no longer part of the requirements though. 

Solomon said one of the benefits of returning to normal finals is to better prepare college-bound students.

“A lot of times that’s all you take,” Solomon said. “There are no formative grades. So in college you might have a midterm exam and a final exam. Those are the only two grades you’re gonna have the entire semester.”