End of Year Information

Extract from email sent by Principal Ashley Agans on March 27, 2025.

EOC Testing: April 28 – May 2
Students in an End of Course (EOC) class (Algebra I, Biology, 11th Literature, and/or United States History) will be testing this week.  The EOC test is a mandatory test by the state and will count for 20% of the spring semester grade.  It is imperative that your child be here on the test day.  More information, including the bell schedule for EOCs, will be posted on our website.  Students who do not have an EOC are not required to be at school during the testing window if they can provide their own transportation.

AP Testing: May 5 – 16
AP students will take their College Board tests over these weeks.  These tests can be stressful, so all students who are marked present for an AP test will be marked as “student activity” for the day, meaning they may rest up or study at home in the morning before their afternoon test or leave after their morning testing.  No notes are required.  A reminder that students who do not show up to take a test will be fined $40 per test.  Makeup exams are not given except in extreme circumstances and will require documentation.

No Pre-Approved Absences in the Last Two Weeks of School
Pursuant to board policy, there are no pre-approved absences in the last two weeks of school (May 9 – 22).  Students must be in school to take final assessments as prescribed in the information below for seniors and underclassmen.  Final Assessments will not be given early.

Device Check-In 
Seniors:
Seniors will turn in their devices on May 13th in the Media Center during their 4th or 5th period lunch.  Seniors who have AP exams or need devices for recovery will turn in their device on May 14th, 15th, or 16th to allow them use for academic purposes.  Seniors who do not turn in their device by May 16th will be subject to device fines and will not receive their graduation tickets until all fines have been paid or school property returned.

Underclassman:
All 9 – 11 grade students will return their school-issued devices on May 15th through their English classes.  The only exceptions for device return will be for student who need their device for recovery, making up work, or AP exams; students in those situations will return their device to the Media Center by May 22nd.  Students who do not turn in their device are subject to device fines.  The district is taking over the device fine process and this could result in a referral to collections if not paid before the end of the school year.

At this time, it is unclear as to whether or not students taking summer classes will be allowed to keep their devices.  We reserve the right to amend the plan above, as needed, for possible summer school needs.

Senior Final Assessment Days*: May 12 – 13 
In order to finalize transcripts for diplomas, seniors will take their final tests on Monday, May 12 (periods 4/5, 6, 7) and Tuesday, May 13 (periods 1, 2, 3).  For those seniors who have an AP exam, makeup days for senior final assessments will be Wednesday, May 14.  Senior final grades are due on Thursday, May 15 at noon; so, any recovery for final assessments will also be done on Wednesday, May 14.  No senior work will be accepted after May 14th.   

Final Assessment Days and Half-Days for Underclassmen*
For underclassmen, we will have an asynchronous review day on Monday, May 19th so that all teachers and staff may attend Graduation.  All underclassmen will then be on a half-day schedule on Tuesday, May 20, Wednesday, May 21, and Thursday, May 22.  On Tuesday, students will take final assessments in periods 1, 2, and 3. On Wednesday, students will take final assessments in periods 4/5, 6, and 7. On Thursday, students who need recovery from their final assessments will come in to recover grades; all other students will not be required to attend on this day.  Optional recovery will also be available in the afternoons of May 20 – 21 from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm for any who can provide their own transportation and do not wish to come in on Thursday, May 23.  More information, including the bell schedule, will be posted on our website.  No work or recovery will be done after May 23rd.

*An in-person final assessment will be given to every student in every class.  Teachers may give an assessment in the minor or major grading category.  Reminder that minor assessments are not eligible for recovery.  All makeup work, missing assignments, missing tests, or recovery should be turned in / completed by May 12. 

Please remember, Cambridge does not allow pre-approved absences in the last two weeks of the semester (May 9 – 22).   

Seniors and Senior Parents:
Currently, there are 201 courses being failed by 120 senior students (over 28% of our senior class), thus putting them in jeopardy of not graduating.  57 of the 120 students have “chronic absenteeism” in the class they are failing, meaning they have missed the class between 11 – 36 times this semester.  Keep in mind, this number of 201 course failures does not include virtual numbers, which would make the number much higher. 

Parents and seniors, please do not “play chicken” with your graduation.  It is imperative that all seniors and their parents check their grades and get in touch with teachers NOW.  All seniors failing classes needed for graduation on May 15 at 12:00 pm (senior grade deadline) will not be able to walk in Cambridge graduation on May 19.  These seniors will have to enroll in summer classes and graduate with the summer school cohort.   

Underclassman and Underclassman Parents:
Unfortunately, you are not immune from the statistics above, though your students are faring better.  There are 108 underclassman (9 – 11 grade) courses being failed by 72 9th – 11th grade students.  98 of the 108 students have “chronic absenteeism” in the class they are failing, meaning they have missed class between 11 – 45 absences in that course.   Virtual failures are not included in this list of 108 failures, which would make the number of failures much higher.  Attendance habits have far-reaching implications to their academic success.  Please take the time to go over grades with your student, as well as attendance habits ASAP.  If you need help, please reach out to your student’s teacher.