Weighted GPA for Honors Algebra in Middle School

[Janet M. Whiddon]

Currently, there is no distinction between gpa's of students in reg. Alg. or H. Alg. in our 6-8 middle school. Board policy is about to be updated to include that students in H. Alg should receive a 0.5 higher gpa when the student is earning an A, B, or C. Since there is only an H. Alg class and not Honors English, etc. the aspect of having weighted gpa's will only "help" those who accel in math. Do you know of other middle schools that weight Honors classes? Our district is a K-8 district and therefore we have a "graduation" at the end of the year and this policy change will narrow the amount of students who would be considered the Valedictorian at our grad. ceremony to only those who participate in the H. Alg class (22 students).

[Katie Winchell]

Hi Janet,
I haven't heard of other districts weighting honors in algebra -- you might want to contact the California Department of Education's Middle Grades Improvement Office at 916-322-1892. They likely don't track that, but may just know anyway. Hope that helps, or someone else here can help! Thanks and welcome to the League Learning Network.
Katie

[Eddie Carr]

Why is it important for students to earn extra GPA points in middle school? It seems nothing but a status symbol. Middle school GPA's have no bearing on college admission. I teach at a middle school. We do not have classes named "Honors." We do have 8th grade Algebra 1 and Geometry classes and "Enriched" English classes. Students do not receive extra GPA point for having these classes. An "Honors" class in middle school is just so by name and should not give extra GPA points as "Honors" classes in high schools do.