LEA REVIEW GVHS GPA/CLASS RANK

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Maria DeysherSchool Board Member Mary Kay BierneSchool Board Member Victoria RuchStudent Council Representative Ray CrozierStudent Council Representative Garrett EhmannStudent Council Representative Pam TrowbridgeParent Damian BurkeParent Lisa DaughenParent Tim DunleavySchool Counselor Aaron MillerSchool Counselor Christie PiascikSchool Counselor

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Carol Anne BlairScience Teacher Ed CartwrightScience Teacher Christine GumpertSocial Studies Teacher Stephanie PennucciLibrarian Amanda ReidSocial Studies Teacher Diana StevensonArt Teacher Sharon SwanickEnglish Teacher Brian UrsoneBusiness Technology Teacher Tracy VendittiFrench Teacher Pat DunnAssistant Superintendent Janet GiolamiPrincipal Greg HildenAssistant Principal

PROCESS Met on 8 occasions between January and May Discussed the Pros and Cons of the current GPA/Class Rank system Reviewed GPA systems from local and nationally known schools Examined college admissions processes and contacted a variety of college admissions counselors Identified the essential elements of a GPA and Class Rank system particular to Garnet Valley

PROCESS Obtained input from various stakeholders Students Parents School Board members Faculty Administration College admissions representatives Developed an equitable system for all students Unanimous recommendation to the School Board of Directors Presented to the High School Faculty for input

PURPOSE The purpose of a grading system is to measure and communicate student progress.

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF A GPA SYSTEM Simple to understand Comparable to other local schools Acknowledge the rigor of the course/ value of electives Leveling Valuing all disciplines Encourage students to take courses that fit their interests while stretching academically Fairness and focus Motivating/competitive Credit where credit is due State regulations and NCAA Vo-tech/medical careers/etc.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recommend that the School Directors take the following actions: Eliminate the 4 major rule Apply weighted quality points to all eligible courses Maintain the following practices: Utilize the current Quality Points Calculation Chart (p.4 of the Course Selection Guide) Calculate exact class rank Identify a class Valedictorian and Salutatorian

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Additional considerations Reclassification of weighting for a specific course will occur during the annual Course Selection Guide review process Eligible courses for NCAA qualification will remain unchanged

COURSE WEIGHTING RATIONALE Simple to understand Comparable to other local schools Acknowledge the rigor of the course/ value of electives Valuing all disciplines Encourage students to take courses that fit their interests while stretching academically Motivating/competitive Credit where credit is due

GRADE POINT AVERAGE CALCULATION/REPORTING Maintain current method of averaging year-end grades to calculate GPA Include all courses in the weighted GPA Continue to report both Weighted and Unweighted GPA on the transcript Continue to report exact rank on the transcript and on college applications

IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATION Implementation plan is being developed simultaneous to the School Board review with sub-committee Will be presented at a future Board Meeting Communication Plan to be developed Policy Adoption First Reading: Second Reading And Possible Adoption