While many high schools around the nation recognize honors classes as more rigorous and reward accordingly with a weighted GPA credit, Grosse Pointe South takes a different approach. The official GPPS grading policy states that only Advanced Placement (AP) courses receive a weighted GPA using a multiplier of 1.1, and only if the student takes the corresponding AP exam. As a result, honors classes appear on a transcript in name only without offering any GPA advantage. Is this system really fair?

Now I understand that some colleges recalculate GPAs upon applying to fit their standards of review. But, for the students who commit to more difficult coursework, it seems only fair that they receive at least a slight boost in their raw transcript. Especially considering that many colleges don’t recalculate GPAs at all.

To put this in perspective, an A in a regular class is statistically treated the same as an A in an honors class on a 4.0 scale, despite the increased workload and intensity of honors courses.

This lack of recognition may discourage students from enrolling in more challenging classes, prompting the question: Why take a harder class if there’s no reward? Research from Education Week recognizes this concern, revealing that weighting GPAs result in increased enrollment in advanced courses, not just AP’s, but also honors-level coursework as well. According to the study, such policies encourage more students to challenge themselves, ultimately fostering a stronger work ethic.

Given these benefits, acknowledging students for their countless hours spent studying for tests, watching review videos or seeking tutoring due to their dedication to success outweigh any potential drawbacks. Reinforcing this idea, a study shared on ResearchGate found that students who take more challenging high school courses perform better in college.

Of course, some critics may argue that weighting honors classes may result in grade inflation, artificially boosting GPAs beyond what they’d be on an unweighted scale. While this is a valid concern, it can be addressed by assigning honors classes a smaller weight than AP courses. This approach still rewards the extra effort without significantly inflating grades or undermining the integrity of the GPA system.

My goal isn’t to suggest that honors classes should be weighted as heavily as AP’s do, but rather that students should receive some appreciation for choosing more challenging coursework. By implementing fair and balanced weighting systems, high schools can encourage students to push themselves academically without the fear of harming their GPA. So in the end, honors classes can be worth the challenge, but they need recognition.