Finals Faux Pas?

I'm not allowed to issue a final exam that students can't pass... But wait, here's how my final went down this year...

1. It was 1 page (8 x 14 inch), double-sided.
2. There were 11 questions.
3. I gave my classes 2 days! The first day they would answer what they could and whatever questions they left blank they would answer the next day. I would grade their answered responses from day 1.
4. Students still bombed it...

Students frequently "accidentally miss" the day a final is given (usually with amazing coincidental precision - the planets lined up or there was a solar flare that prohibited students from going to school that day). Having the final over 2 days means there's really no excuse for missing the final because you could still answer these questions in a single period if you're motivated.

It's scary to see how students have little to no actual interest in learning science. They still think the sun is a living thing despite spending several weeks on classifying living and non-living things. That idea that the sun is a star in the sky is an idea pulled from the NY State Science Standards for ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!

It's moments like this that reinforce my feelings that teaching standardized science classes to this group of low-performing students is an effort in futility. I guess my grading policy should be based on whether or not students can keep track of what day of the week it is... Or what team their $45 hats represent...