In recent years, Toll Gate High School offers little to no senior privileges. Currently there is only one senior privilege, that is the ability to skip the final exam if one has a final average of an A- or better in a class. However, even this privilege used to be something for all grade levels in high school here.
While Toll Gate seniors will get written up for going out for lunch, seniors at East Greenwich High School are allowed to do so. North Kingstown High School gives seniors a more flexible schedule allowing them to arrive at school late or leave school early, depending upon their class schedules and credits earned. Interestingly enough both East Greenwich and North Kingstown High Schools are ranked in the top six of Rhode Island High Schools. On the other hand, Toll Gate High School is only ranked 32th out of 62 high schools in RI according to US News.com. While there might not actually be a connection between school rankings and senior privileges, adding privileges might increase attendance and student motivation at Toll Gate High School.
In addition, senior privileges offer students a way to learn about independence and could encourage students to work harder in class. This is because senior privileges often have requirements connected to a student’s GPA or academic performance. Seniors would likely put in more effort in order to be able to meet the requirements that often go with the senior privileges, and as a result, may increase the school´s academic performance. Seniors often put less effort into school after securing a college to go to because they often feel a lack of encouragement for attaining good grades. According to Jordan Scaglione, “I would most definitely come to school on time if I could go out to lunch. I have to pay for lunch anyway so I might as well get food that I like rather than paying for cafeteria food that I don’t like.” While skipping finals does somewhat incentivize good performance, a more immediately attainable privilege may be better encouragement for good performance.
Toll Gate High School has notably few senior privileges. Senior privileges involving leaving campus or going outside are not permitted citing student safety as the primary concern. However there are other privileges such as Senior parking where seniors get their own parking spots or even a separate space for students to eat lunch. These privileges don’t cost anything and can be easily granted.
In conclusion Toll Gate High School has deprived seniors of so many privileges with the argument being “safety” and “behavior”. Denying senior privileges has proven to not better the school as the school is still ranked so low compared to schools that do offer senior privileges. There are even senior privileges that do not impact safety that students could be given. Giving more senior privileges could positively affect students’ performance, encouraging them to try harder, increase their enthusiasm for school, and as an effect, increase the overall quality of Toll Gate and help its ranking.
