Honor graduate status now tougher to achieve
Adopting a policy presented on Oct. 22, the District 117 Board of Education voted Nov. 4 to raise the GPA needed for honor graduate status from 3.0 to 3.6, starting with the class of 2009. To graduate with high honors, students will still need to earn a cumulative GPA of at least 4.0, but honor status will not be tied to Prairie State Achievement scores.
The change will be phased in, with current sophomores needing a 3.2 GPA for honor graduate status, and current freshmen needing 3.4. Both groups will need a 4.0 GPA for high honors. Current juniors and seniors will be unaffected by the change.
A committee of 21 students, parents, and district teachers and board members devised the policy, which is designed to raise standards of excellence for students while recognizing the accomplishments of those who attain those standards.
story by Mark Thompson