D211 discusses new way to name academic scholars

Students at all of Schaumburg-Palatine High School District 211’s five high schools may soon need to reach a specific grade-point average by the middle of their senior year to be named academic scholars.

The proposed change — which requires students to achieve a regular grade-point average of at least 3.90 or a weighted grade-point average of at least 4.70 to be given the title — comes after the District 211 board of education approved the elimination of class rank in December.

“The one benefit to this is that it provides a fixed score for students to shoot for as a target,” Samantha Dolen, assistant superintendent for student services, said at Thursday’s board meeting. “They would know as incoming freshmen whether or not they were working toward that criteria.”

Over the past few months a committee met to decide what that new criteria should be.

Previously students earned the recognition if they ranked in the top 25 percent of their class based on either weighted or unweighted grade-point averages after seven semesters.

“They know that if they meet these certain GPAs in the middle of their senior year they will be designated as academic scholars,” Dolen said. “Whereas, in the past it was, ‘I don’t know whether I will be because its all based on what everyone around me is doing.’”

Board member Anna Klimkowicz expressed concerns about whether students had been asked their opinion on the change. Dolen said the idea has been shared with parents and students via the principals’ advisory groups. Superintendent Nancy Robb said she also spoke with some students about the change and that they seemed comfortable with it.

Klimkowicz also wondered if parents will be surprised with a lower number of students receiving the award, but Dolen explained that there is actually a greater opportunity for a larger number of students to achieve it.

“It is probable that we will be able to have more students work toward that goal, knowing that everyone that hits that goal will be recognized as an academic scholar,” she said.

The board has recognized academic scholars each year since 1998. The proposed change is expected to be reviewed by the board again at their April 26 meeting.