Suburban school district to change its high school grading system

A suburban Chicago school district is making a major change to its high school grading system, with school officials saying in a letter to parents the new system will provide “several benefits” to students.

Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202 announced the change in a letter to parents last week as part of an “important update.” The change, which will transition the high school from a 5.0 unweighted grading scale to a standard 4.0 unweighted grading scale, will go into effect in fall 2026.

High School Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Kate Morris, and Assistant Supt. of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Paula Sereleas said the change is being made because most trade schools, colleges and universities — including the top 20 schools Plainfield students applied to in 2026 — utilize a 4.0 scale.

“Moving to this standard system will provide several benefits for our students, including clarity in the
college admissions process for students, families, and post-secondary institutions,” the letter, obtained by NBC Chicago, said. “Many students currently face confusion when converting their 5.0 GPA to a 4.0 scale for college and scholarship applications.”

The letter went on to say the change “ensures” students can more accurately compare their academic standing with college admission profiles.

The new system also means the point values assigned to grades are changing. For example, an A receive four points, down to an F, which will receive zero. Honors, Advanced Placement and Dual Credit courses will continue to be weighted, school officials said, with students receiving a “C” or higher in those programs receiving an additional point on their GPA.

Grade percentages, the school said will not change.

The system will be implemented for all students beginning in the fall of 2026, officials said, with the new GPA represented on student transcripts starting Aug. 1.

“Our goal is to simplify the transition to post-secondary education and ensure that our students’ academic achievements are clearly understood by recruiters and admissions officers,” Morris and Sereleas said in the letter to parents.