A recent decision by the Hempfield High School Administration has the grading system for dual enrollment courses changing. Previously, the grade that one would get in the course would be calculated into the student’s weighted GPA. Starting with the class of 2026, the grade received for a dual enrollment course will no longer be used in the calculation for weighted GPA.  This will be taking effect starting with the class of 2026.

There are many reasons this change happened. An inconsistency of difficulty was a large concern. Since dual enrollment courses are not under Hempfield jurisdiction, a student could have a course that is the most difficult there is and could be stuck with a bad grade on their transcript. Another reason is that the colleges involved do not have the same grading system as Hempfield. For example, 90% could be an A- for Hempfield but a B+ in one of the colleges. Another reason is that it’s harder for students to engage with their instructors in dual enrollment classes compared to in-person classes. While a student taking a class on the Hempfield campus could go talk to their teacher during WIN or lunch, a student taking a dual enrollment class does not have those options. They are stuck messaging the instructor and hoping they respond. In an interview with Mr. Snitzer, one of the 12th-grade principals, he said, “I’d much rather a student take a class to enrich their life, not their grade.” This new decision allows students to take the class they want without worrying about the grade tagged along with it, which could help them learn and love what they’re learning.

In conclusion, the decision to change the grading system for dual enrollment courses has the student’s best interests at its heart. It’s designed to take pressure off of students so they can enjoy the class. It will not affect the student’s weighted GPA, just add a credit to their four years of high school. This allows students to take a risk in taking that class but still have a cushion if it wasn’t for them.