Park announces grading change
Students to receive credit or no grade for second semester
Park administration announced grading would be changed to a credit/no credit system in 6425 News May 1. According to the update, neither of these grades will factor into students’ grade point averages.
May 1, 2020
Following the closure of schools for the rest of the school year, Park announced in 6425 News that the grading system will change for the remainder of the school year. Park will issue credit or no grade for second semester, according to 6425 News.
“Circumstances under which we are teaching and learning has created many barriers and disruptions for our students and teaching staff. Students continue to struggle to connect with digital content due to internet access and devices,” according to 6425 News. “Learning from home, even when connected, has caused challenges and stressful situations for both students and their families.”
According to 6425 News, neither a credit nor no grade score will affect a student’s grade point averages, and while percentage scores will be recorded, they will not be reflected on transcripts.
“The modified grading structure provides the most equitable way to assess students at this time,” according to 6425 News. “While researching the impact on post secondary plans, many institutions are also adjusting their student grading systems. We believe there will be minimal impact on students’ future plans.”
Echo will continue to provide updates as the situation develops.
Katie Fredrickson • May 2, 2020 at 2:13 pm
While I am no longer a student at SLP, my brother is, so this change certainly hits close to home. I think this policy is absolutely ludicrous. While the school district has successfully acknowledged the fact that this crisis has had a tremendous effect on everyone’s lives and therefore will certainly impact grades, the lack of option in the credit or no credit system is unacceptable. I understand how the crisis could have potential effects on people’s capacity to complete their school work to the best of their abilities. Thus, if you are going to continue with the credit/no credit option, the option to receive grades should also remain open. Students should be allowed to “opt-in” and receive grades.
I currently attend a small, prestigious liberal arts college on the East coast where half of my peers attended private or prep high schools. Students who attend those private high schools automatically have a leg up because of the basic rigor the schools provide. Students from public high schools must perform at a higher level in order to gain admission to elite higher education institutions. A lack of grades for an entire semester of high school, especially your junior or senior year, could potentially have a drastic effect on the chances these students have to get into those institutions. Even if colleges say they ignore it, it doesn’t matter. If a single student in this country is receiving a letter grade, which I know for a fact some are, there is an innate bias for admissions counselors that places a letter grade on a level above a pass fail mark. Those kids will have an advantage over a student who has only credit no credit marks for an entire semester. St. Louis Park should be rewarding kids who work hard and want to attend schools where they will be competing for admission with kids who attend private school. To not amend this policy could potentially have a negative affect on the future of some students, a burden which the school board does not want to take on.