By J1 Student Izzy Campie 

In a groundbreaking move, Marian has revamped its grading scale to better reflect its students’ hard work and dedication. The decision, according to Assistant Principal Mrs. Jen Christen, was motivated by a desire to ensure that students tackling rigorous courses receive the recognition they deserve.

“The motivation came from the fact that the students work really hard and take rigorous courses. Before, students were not being seen in the same light as others [from other schools] that have similar course loads and less rigorous courses yet still have higher GPAs than our students.” 

One significant change is the extension of the grading scale, which used to max out at 4.5 but now reaches up to a 5.0 for honors or AP courses. This alteration aims to put students in a more favorable position for college applications and scholarships.

“I think they will still have to work just as hard, but the increase in GPA could motivate them further to take harder classes or more APs,” Christen said.

However, this shift has its challenges. PowerSchool, Marian’s learning management system, displays percentages instead of letter grades, creating a mix of transcripts for sophomores, juniors and seniors. Administrators anticipate confusion temporarily but believe that the rewards of the new grading scale heavily outweigh its minimal challenges. 

Despite these potential challenges, Marian administrators remain confident that the change aligns with their overarching educational goals and philosophy of preparing students for the future.

“I think it will align really well. Marian is all about being ready for the next step, whatever that might be for the individual student. The rigor of our school warrants change to positively impact students in the future,” Christen said.

Among the students, the reactions are positive. Junior Callie Verzal expressed excitement, highlighting the newfound potential for achieving up to a 5.0 in select honors and AP classes.

“I like that if you are in honors or AP, you can achieve a higher GPA than ever before. It inspired me to take more challenging courses this school year.” Verzal said. 

The change has also sparked increased motivation among students to enhance their GPAs.

“I think it will give me a better chance at earning better scholarships now that our grading scale is lined up with other schools in the area,” Verzal said. 

While some students note an increase in teachers’ expectations for heightened effort, the general sentiment leans toward a positive embrace of the new grading scale, seen as a step towards acknowledging and rewarding the hard work of students at Marian.