When West Allegheny seniors attended their commencement ceremony last month, five students were honored as valedictorians.

But many more academic achievers could be honored when this fall's junior class graduates in 2010.

West Allegheny school directors gave their first approval June 18 to a policy that would eliminate valedictorian and class rank status in favor of recognizing the top 20 percent to 25 percent of students.

School board members approved the measure 7-0, with Tracy Kosis and Jeff Sweet absent.

The policy would have to pass again, after a second reading on July 16, for the changes to take effect.

The grading system changes would include lowering the percentage cutoffs for the assignment of letter grades, starting with the 2008-09 school year.

The revised grading scale would make 90 percent to 100 percent an A; 80 percent to 89 percent a B; 70 percent to 79 percent a C; 60 percent to 69 percent a D; and 59 percent and below an F.

The policy also would limit the type and amount of extra credit teachers may offer, expand the number of Advanced Placement courses in the high school, add more information to elementary report cards and give teachers more tools to help students who earn a failing grade.

School director Ronald Pasic said revising the grading scale could help West Allegheny students get an edge on other college applicants. Other main points that colleges examine, he said, were students' SAT or ACT scores and curriculum rigor.

Christine Assetta, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said West Allegheny has gone beyond state standards and intensified its curriculum and academic expectations over the past few years.

She said the grading scale change would put West Allegheny on par with other districts where the lowest A is a 90 percent.

"We're not lowering the grading scale, but leveling the playing field," Dr. Assetta said.

Currently, the lowest A in West Allegheny is 93 percent, the lowest B 85 percent, the lowest C 73 percent and the lowest D 65 percent.

A 35-person committee of parents, students, teachers and administrators recommended the changes after months of discussion and research that found schools are increasingly adopting a 90-80-70-60 grading scale, and eliminating selection of valedictorian and publication of class rank.