Plainfield SD 202 to consider switching high‑school grade scale from 5‑point to 4‑point

District high‑school leaders recommended Dec. 10 that Plainfield SD 202 move its unweighted high‑school GPA from a 5‑point scale to a standard 4‑point scale, saying the change will reduce confusion for families applying to colleges and for scholarship eligibility.

Kate, the high‑school team lead presenting the proposal, told the Curriculum & Technology committee that the district’s current unweighted 5‑point scale (with a 6.1 weighted maximum reported in some views) requires families to perform conversions when applying to colleges. She said district research of 37 nearby districts found 35 use a 4‑point unweighted system. “We are not taking points away from students when they are applying for colleges,” she said; the proposal changes the numerical scale used to report grades and creates clearer, more consistent conversions for students, counselors and colleges.

Presenters described weighted credits for honors and AP courses under the proposed model (examples discussed: 4.5 or 5.0 depending on course) and explained work with the MIS department to ensure accurate, auditable conversions in software systems. The committee was not asked to vote on the recommendation; staff will bring a drafted policy and 30‑day public‑display language to the board in January for further feedback and a final request to post.

Board members asked for details about how weighted GPAs will be shown to students (unweighted and weighted GPAs will be available) and how the change affects students already in high school. Staff said the district’s systems can provide both values and emphasized careful family communications would be required.

Next step: staff return in January with recommended language for posting to the 30‑day public display and a communications plan for families and post‑secondary partners.