Grading Practice- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Schreiber High School Grading Updates
September 2025

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

1. Why did the district make changes to the grading system?

In 2018, the PGCD Grading Committee was tasked with reviewing the High School grading policy to address grade inflation. The committee, made up of teachers and administrators, concluded its work in June 2025.

 

2. What are the main changes?

• Equal weighting of quarters – each quarter now counts 25% of the final grade.
• Removal of Regents and FLACS exams from final averages (scores still appear on transcripts).
• Local final exams count within the last quarter (Quarter 2 for fall courses, Quarter 4 for spring and full-year courses).
• Elimination of “code grades” (E, F*, F**).
• D grade now counts as 1.5 GPA points (previously 1.0).
• AP/Honors weighting standardized to +0.3 GPA points.
• Both weighted and unweighted GPA will appear on transcripts beginning in September 2025.
• Withdrawal policy simplified: “W” is used for courses dropped after deadlines.

 

3. Why was AP/Honors weighting changed?

Previously, Schreiber awarded +1.0 GPA points for AP and Honors courses, which was much higher than neighboring districts (typically +0.25 to +0.5). The new +0.3 weighting brings Schreiber in line with schools like Manhasset, Jericho and Syosset.

 

4. Does this change undervalue AP or Honors courses?

Not at all! The strength of a student’s high school schedule continues to be an important factor in college preparation. These courses remain weighted and are still designated on transcripts as AP or Honors. Most importantly, AP and Honors classes also continue to provide college-level rigor.

 

5. Why is the recommendation to change the course weighting being implemented in September 2026 rather than phased in by cohort? 

All courses completed prior to the 2026-27 school year will retain their original weighting. The revised +0.3 weighting for AP and Honors courses will apply only to courses taken beginning in September 2026. A phased-in approach by grade level was considered; however, we have been advised that such an approach would not impact the college admissions process (see below). Implementing a change at a single point in time provides consistency and transparency for students and families. 

 

7. How will the change in course weighting impact college admissions?

Colleges place the greatest emphasis on the rigor of courses a student has taken. Many institutions recalculate GPAs using their own scales. To ensure clarity for admissions offices, the District will update its College Profile to explain the grading changes. As is standard practice in most K-12 Districts, both weighted and unweighted GPAs will be reported.

 

It is important to note that a student’s cumulative GPA is calculated only at the end of each academic year. Therefore, the Class of 2027 will apply to colleges using their cumulative GPA from the end of the 2025-26 school year, prior to the implementation of the new weighting system.

 

8. Will the change in weighting disadvantage current students who planned courses under the old rules?

No. Students will not lose weighting for past courses. All AP and Honors classes completed before the change retain their original +1.0 weight. Only courses taken beginning in 2026-27 will use the +0.3 weight. This provides students plenty of time to understand the new weighting practice before selecting courses.

 

9. With the new AP and Honors weighting, will colleges be concerned that a Schreiber applicant’s GPA has decreased when the new system is fully implemented?

No. The only GPA that is provided is a cumulative GPA. The school does not provide a weighted grade by course or a weighted GPA by year. As such, admissions offices would not be able to see that an applicant’s weighted GPA has changed over time.

 

10. When will unweighted GPAs appear on transcripts?

Beginning in September 2025, Schreiber transcripts will list both weighted and unweighted GPAs. This is consistent with many peer districts and provides colleges with a clearer picture of student achievement.

 

11. How have we changed the way in which Regents and FLACS exams are counted?

As of this year, these exams will no longer count as part of a student’s final grade. However, scores will still appear on transcripts as they always have.

 

No. Teachers are not expected to create separate final exams to replace the Regents or FLACS examinations. Regents and FLACS exams remain culminating assessments for those courses. The change simply removes these State Exams from the calculation of a student’s course grade.

The State Education Department has long recommended that schools discontinue the practice of using Regents exams as part of a student’s grade calculation. At Schreiber, there was no uniform grading policy for Regents exams. In some courses, the Regents counted as 20% of the final course grade; in others, it counted as 20% of the fourth quarter grade; and in some cases, the exam was not factored into the grade at all.

 

This change establishes a consistent approach, ensuring that Regents and FLACS exams are applied uniformly across all high school courses.

The committee carefully considered a “Do No Harm” approach that would allow Regents or FLACS exam scores to be counted only when they raise a student’s grade. However, this practice creates significant challenges for consistency, as the same assessment would be used differently for different students. The State Education Department also discourages using Regents exams as part of course grades, as they are designed to measure statewide standards rather than classroom performance.

Adopting a uniform policy ensures that Regents and FLACS exams are treated consistently across all courses and students, aligning with State guidance and supporting consistent grading practices.

 

15. How are course withdrawals now recorded?

Beginning in September 2025, a “W” will appear on the transcript for any course dropped after the deadline. Previously, a “WP” or “WF” would be used to indicate whether a student was passing or failing the course upon withdrawal. There is no marking for courses dropped before the deadline.

 

Deadlines are:

• October 15 – Fall semester
• December 1 – Full year
• March 15/16 – Spring semester

 

Withdrawals before these dates do not appear on the transcript.