School Board proposes revisions to high school grading policy for college admissions

The Green Bay Area Public School Board held a special meeting on April 14, 2025, focusing on proposed adjustments to the high school grading scale, grade point average (GPA), and class rank policies. The discussions centered around compliance with Act 95, which mandates automatic admission to the University of Wisconsin-Madison for the top 5% of graduating students and to other UW institutions for the top 10%.

Board members highlighted the need for policy tweaks to ensure fairness among students, particularly those who may have limited graded credits due to their educational history. The proposed change would require students to have a number of graded credits equivalent to that of an eleventh-grade student, ensuring a level playing field for all.

Concerns were raised about the lack of recognition for students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, which are more rigorous but may not yield higher GPAs under the current unweighted grading system. Board members discussed whether it might be time to reconsider the grading scale and the potential benefits of implementing weighted GPAs to better reflect students' academic efforts.

The conversation also touched on how the district's policies align with those of other large school districts in Wisconsin. While the specifics of grading practices among these districts were not fully clarified, there was a consensus that reviewing the grading scale could be beneficial.

Additionally, the board addressed the implications of the academic excellence higher education scholarship and the technical excellence scholarship, which provide financial support based on class rank and enrollment status. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further investigate these policies to ensure they meet the needs of all students, including those who may not be full-time enrollees.

Overall, the discussions underscored the board's dedication to creating equitable academic opportunities for all students while navigating the complexities of state legislation and educational standards.