Senior privilege gives seniors the opportunity to drop one or two classes for a shortened schedule. Graduating early is for seniors who complete all of their classes in the first semester of their senior year.

“I graduated early because I realized that the two credits that I would need to take second semester could easily fit into my first semester schedule,” senior Rachel Longren said.

Most seniors only have two required classes second semester to graduate– english and social studies, and all of their college applications have been turned in. Therefore, they fill other hours with electives that don’t really count for anything.

“I took senior privilege because it’s my last semester and I wanted to enjoy it,” senior Zade Safadi said. “School honestly doesn’t count anymore either, so it’s not really necessary to keep taking classes.”

Most elective teachers are not fond of senior privilege, because most students drop a music class or language during second semester.

“I totally understand that seniors have a much lighter load,” teacher Hilary Morton said, “[but] I don’t like that students quit year-long musical ensembles. That hurts their ensemble and kills the momentum we were all building together.”

A few teachers chose to talk to their students concerning their choice to drop a class.

“I think it’s totally cool for teachers to give their input, especially if it’s necessary,” Safadi said. “Some kids just want to screw around senior year and that’s not always a good thing.”

Photography teacher Marsha Poholsky believes there should be a high standard that is kept for senior privilege, in which seniors are only allowed to drop one class.

“I do think seniors deserve a break,” Poholsky said, “[but] second semester of senior year is not disposable, there is still plenty to learn and experience.”

Although some teachers may see dropping classes as a poor choice, the students still have the right to do it.

“Teachers can express their feelings about a student’s choice,” Poholsky said. “But it’s not their place to try and make them stay.”

The policy for senior privilege is that the student must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and no OSS on their record. As long as they meet this criteria, they can drop one or two classes with permission from their parents, counselor and vice principal.

“If we have a policy and the students are following that policy the teacher needs to accept the situation,” Poholsky said.

With or without teacher’s inputs, the policy on senior privilege is not going to change according to Principal Ed West.

“At the end of the day, the student and [their] family make the decision.”