West Allegheny school directors are considering changes to the district's grading system that would relax the grading scale and eliminate class rank and valedictorian status in favor of recognizing a larger number of top students.
Beginning with the graduating class of 2010, the district would recognize the top 20 percent or 25 percent of students with the highest grade point averages, instead of selecting a valedictorian and publishing class rank.
All top students would be honored on graduation day and have the opportunity to be considered to give a commencement speech.
Starting next school year, the districtwide grading scale would use lower percentage cutoffs for the assignment of letter grades. The lowest A would drop from 93 percent to 90 percent; the lowest B from 85 percent to 80 percent; the lowest C from 73 percent to 70 percent; and the lowest D from 65 percent to 60 percent.
In other words, the policy 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 school board was expected to act on the first reading of the policy last night. The policy would have to pass after a second reading in July to take effect.
A 35-member committee of parents, students, teachers and administrators recommended the changes after more than 17 hours of research and discussion since November.
The group said the changes would allow West Allegheny students to stay competitive with those in other school districts and promote a level playing field as students apply for college admission and scholarships.
About 15 parents and teachers attended the school board's policy and programs committee meeting June 11 to support the changes.
Several parents and teachers noted the discrepancy between grading at West Allegheny and other districts. For example, in West Allegheny, a score of 92 percent would earn a B, while in Mt. Lebanon, 92 percent would earn an A. Despite the same numerical score, the A student would have better shot at college admissions and scholarships, they said.
"It hurts every kid at West Allegheny, especially at the high school level," parent Kimberly Petrick said. "I want my son to have the same chance as kids in South Fayette or Mt. Lebanon. We've got to change this."
Parent Robin Buck supported the grading scale change to stay competitive with students in other districts. "We need to be as equal to everyone else as we can," she said.
She said many other parents agreed. "If you need more proof, give me your e-mail addresses, and you'll be bombarded," she told school board members.
Committee member Jerry Cavalovitch disagreed with school director John Scott's concern that a revised grading scale could mean "an easier A."
"It's an equal A," he said.
School administrators agreed.
"It won't be an easier A because we're getting more rigorous with our curriculum and what our expectations are," said Christine Assetta, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.
Board member Ed Faux questioned the change.
"No matter where you put the cutoff line, someone is going to feel disadvantaged," he said. "The real world is not a level playing field."
The grading committee's research -- including surveys of local school districts and regional college admission offices -- found that 19 of 20 surrounding districts use a lower percentage cutoff for letter grades than West Allegheny. Meanwhile, schools are increasingly adopting a 90-80-70-60 scale, and eliminating class rank and valedictorian status.
School districts that have eliminated both valedictorian and class rank include Fox Chapel, Hampton and Mt. Lebanon. Additionally, North Allegheny and Quaker Valley do not have a valedictorian, and Upper St. Clair does not compute class rank.
Dr. Assetta said honoring the top quarter or fifth of academic achievers would mean that "more students would be identified for excellence."
High school Principal Dan Smith said eliminating the valedictorian would free students from vying to meet the requirements of that position, such as completing certain advanced and weighted courses, and allow them to explore their interests more.
Superintendent John DiSanti illustrated the problem of class rank with this example: If a class had 100 graduates, and 25 had a 4.0 grade point average, ranking a student with a nearly perfect 3.96 GPA as 26th in her class would be misleading.
Class ranks would continue to be available for college and scholarship applications if required, but they would not be publicized. Students could continue to earn the distinction of graduating summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude.
The committee also recommended:
• Adding 27 more Advanced Placement courses to the high school over the next three years. West Allegheny offers only four AP classes, fewer than all but one of the local school districts surveyed.
• Limiting the amount that extra credit can raise a nine-week average to a maximum of 3 percent, and requiring that extra credit work relates to the curriculum and provides opportunity for academic enrichment. Currently, the district does not regulate the type or amount of extra credit that teachers may offer.
• Improving elementary report cards to provide more details to parents about the progress their children are making toward specific standards. Percentages would be added to kindergarten and first-grade report cards, while both percentages and letter grades would be added to second-grade report cards.
• Allowing teachers to develop individualized instruction plans for students who earn less than a 50 percent failing grade at the end of a nine-week grading period. This would give students another chance to master class material and raise their grade to at least 50 percent, thereby increasing their chance of passing the course at the end of the school year.
First Published: June 19, 2008, 9:30 a.m.