WHITTIER : 5-Point Scale Approved for Advanced Courses

Students in advanced classes in the Whittier Union High School District will be graded on a higher scale for their work, the school board has decided.

Under the new plan, which will take effect at the start of next school year, a student in an advanced class will receive 5 points for an A, 4 points for a B and 3 points for a C. A student with a B average in the advanced classes, for example, would receive a 4.0 grade-point average.

Commonly, grading systems are based on a 4.0 scale, with an A grade receiving the highest, 4 points.

Assistant Supt. Marina Anaya said the district wanted to acknowledge the tougher academic classes and encourage more students to enroll in them. She said the new grades will give advanced students a higher standing in class rankings and honor societies.