Students urge board to change Hamtramck High grading policy, submit petitions and testimonies
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Summary
Multiple Hamtramck High School students and a petition organizer told the board that a grading scale which weights tests at 70% leaves daily work undervalued and worsens student anxiety; they proposed alternative weightings and asked the board to consider policy changes.
Dozens of students from Hamtramck High School addressed the board during public comment, criticizing a grading policy that places a 70% weight on tests and asking the board to revise weights so daily classwork and participation carry more influence. Several students said the system penalizes those with test anxiety and does not reflect consistent effort; one student said 89 people signed a petition and there were more than 100 written testimonies.
Senior class president Maria Shaw described her petition to the board and read multiple student comments, urging a change such as a 65/35 or 60/40 split between tests and other coursework. Another student and petition organizer said many students who complete daily assignments still see their grades drop substantially after a single poor test.
A board member acknowledged hearing these concerns and cited earlier climate-and-culture survey results that had raised related issues; community members also asked the board to denounce retaliation against staff who raise concerns. The board took the comments under advisement and recessed briefly to allow informal discussion with the students; there was no immediate vote or adoption of a new grading policy recorded in the meeting minutes.