Student survey looks at grading system

Whitefish High School has long been known for its unique grading scale. Unlike Flathead, Glacier and Columbia Falls high schools, Whitefish grades its students on a 92-83-74-65 scale rather than a 90-80-70-60 scale. This scale designates an A minus as a 92, a B minus as an 83, a C minus as a 74, etc., and sets Whitefish apart from many schools in the nation.

But is it time to change that scale for the sake of conformity?

In a recent survey, the students at Whitefish High were asked their opinion. Out of 130 randomly interviewed students, an overwhelming 82 voted "yes," that they would like to see Whitefish change its grading scale to the 90-80-70-60 scale. Thirty-six students voted "no," while 12 students stated that they were unsure on the issue.

The arguments on the matter were quite diverse. Many students who selected "yes' commented that changing the current scale would simply make sense and make it easier to achieve "better" grades.

"If the grading scale was changed, I would have all A's instead of all A's and one B," one surveyed student said.

"There are people who deserve A's, but due to the current scale do not achieve those A's," another said.

Supporters of changing Whitefish's grading scale also argued that the high school's standards are set too high and place the students under too much pressure. Even though changing the grading scale is viewed as a 'small change" to some students, proponents stated that doing so would make an enormous difference.

"Teachers are always telling their students that grades are much less significant than what one learns in the class," one student said. "Most students are concerned about their grade in that class, while some quite honestly could care less about their grades. This disagreement causes a dispute between the teachers and students, whether it's in class or one-on-one in the student's free time. Lowering the grading scale will lessen this conflict and allow students to focus on what they learn rather than the 91.9 percent the student has in that class."

New students from other schools also mentioned that the 90-80-70-60 grading scale is what they're used to, and that changing Whitefish's scale would make it easier for incoming students to adapt in the way of 'switching" credits.

Opponents of changing the grading scale also hold persuasive arguments. Students against the change stated frequently that lowering the grading scale would be equivalent to lowering the high school's standards.

"The school is preparing us for achievement and college by holding us to higher standards in high school," one interviewee said.

"I think this scale is more of a motivator for students to achieve better grades, and to truly earn a grade for their work," another commented.

A frequent argument was also that these "higher standards' make Whitefish High School students more appealing to colleges, and that changing the scale might cause students to not try as hard.

"The grading scale doesn't need to be easier; that would just show that we're not smart enough to handle the current one, and that's not true," one student said.

"If a student cannot get back an A, then he or she does not deserve one," another student said. "Higher intelligence calls for higher academic standards."

Some students agreed that the grading scale should be kept, but that rounding grades should be allowed.

"We don't round, so if one has a 91.9 percent, one would have worked hard to still only have a B grade in the class," one student said.

The arguments for both sides are strong, but when it comes to majority, most students do feel that the scale should be changed. So should Whitefish High School conform for the idea of equality, or continue to keep its high standards?

It's a difficult question to answer. Stay tuned for next week's column to find out what staff members at the high school, as well as students from other high schools in the valley, think about the issue.