When it comes to core classes, we are presented a choice on whether or not to take the honors course. Most students who choose to take the honors courses do so because of the faster pace. Some seek out a challenge upon enrollment. But what is the point of being part of an honors class when there’s little to no reward? Students can be enrolled in the regular course when they are easily at an honors level, but are only enrolled in order to achieve a better grade, raising their GPA and class ranking.

With our current grading system, students can be enrolled in five gym courses or pure electives and get a 4.0 GPA while students enrolled in honors courses may have a slightly lower GPA due to their course load. When it comes to class ranking, the 4.0 all-electives-student would be ranked higher than the honors student, who, believe it or not, tend to put quite a bit more work into those classes as they are harder. With a grading scale like this, it gives no incentive for the honors student to take an honors class when they could take a simple class in order to get a 4.0 GPA.

When colleges look at students, they look at their GPA, grades, and class rank. Colleges do not tend to spend their time looking at the class rank or GPA of the student enrolled in pure electives, so why should high schools? Weighing electives the same as common core courses devalues the importance of the subjects required.

A weighted grading system wouldn’t devalue students who have A’s in their regular pace courses. Introducing a weighted grade system to our school would simply bring up the value of the honors courses. Instead of an A being worth four points in both an honors and typical course, the honors class would have an A worth five points instead. A regular student would not be affected by a weighted grading system, most colleges will still find a 4.0 GPA impressive even if the student is going to school with a weighted grading system. While colleges do like seeing honors courses on a student’s transcript, a different system would not hurt anyone.

Overall, a weighted grades system brings up the reward for honors students. If kids are willing to sign up for a class that is at a faster and harder pace they should have a little motivation with the grading system in order for it to be fair. Sure, the world isn’t fair, but a student shouldn’t have to hold themselves back in order to achieve a higher grade.