BY JAMES T. NORMAN
This year’s Clear Creek ISD freshman class and classes to come are in for a change in how their high school careers are graded as the district is implementing a new grade ranking system. The new grade ranking system, which will affect the class of 2027 and those that follow it, will put less emphasis on electives and, as a result, weigh core classes more heavily on students’ individual grade point averages, or GPA. The goal is to allow students to pursue interests and passions in their extracurricular activities they might otherwise forgo due to worries on how they will affect their GPA and class ranking, said Dava West, director of counseling and student services. “We are always looking to do what’s in the best interest of our students,” West said. Elizabeth Blome, a parent who has a sophomore and freshman in the district, said her oldest has to consider what taking an elective will do to their class ranking, while her youngest won’t need to. On that note, she is “always” encouraging her students to take electives that interest them. Changing how grades stack up is a growing trend in education that many districts are considering across the state and country, West said. There’s also not much concern on how it will affect the way colleges look at CCISD students since colleges have their own systems anyway. “Colleges review thousands of applications and have to find some way to equalize that,” West said. “They have some sort of system of comparing apples to apples.” CCISD begins new grading system
What they're saying
Grading out Incoming and future freshmen students will now have their cumulative GPA be based around core classes, such as language, math, science and nonelective social studies courses. Below are example report cards comparing what a student’s GPA might look like before and after the new system. Report card example is based on GPA of students taking Level 2 courses, or general education courses.
“We want our students to follow their passion and interest without limitation. [This new system] opened up those options.” DAVA WEST, CCISD’S DIRECTOR OF COUNSELING AND STUDENT SERVICES
Before
Class
Grade
GPA
“I’m hopeful that the new ranking system will allow my youngest [student] to explore different electives without worrying about the class ranking impact.” ELIZABETH BLOME, CCISD PARENT
Geometry English II Chemistry
95 91 90 95 89 79 85 89
4.5 4.2 4.0 4.5 3.9 3.0 3.0 3.9
World History
Spanish II Fine Arts II Athletics II
Average
The takeaway
After
Class
Grade
GPA
More elective options open up in sophomore and junior year, West said. Whether the new system results in higher attendance for certain electives won’t be seen until this year’s freshmen reach those grades. Meanwhile, there isn’t any concern of any drawback from the new system, West said. A failing grade will still mean no credit but no longer result in a student falling out of the top percentage of their class, which can mean guaranteed admission to many state schools.
Geometry English II Chemistry
95 91 90 95 89 79 85 92
4.5 4.2 4.0 4.5 3.9 3.0 3.0 4.2
World History
Spanish II Fine Arts II Athletics II
Average
SOURCE: CLEAR CREEK ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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