At a Dec. 11 meeting, the board of trustees approved a revision to its policy that will allow students to opt out of certain classes counting toward their GPA.
How it works
Beginning with the class of 2029, LTISD junior and senior high school students with a GPA above 4.0 may choose to exempt up to three credits from being calculated toward their GPA and class rank. Eligible courses include fine arts, athletics, and career and technical education, or CTE, classes.
Before receiving an exemption, students must successfully complete a course's prerequisites with an overall B average, submit an application, and receive approval from their school counselor, according to district documents.
Students will be required to maintain a B average in the GPA-exempt course each semester to maintain eligibility.
Why it matters
The change is intended to encourage high-performing students to maintain enrollment in extracurriculars and CTE programs during their junior and senior years of high school, said Lyndsae Benton, LTISD executive director of curriculum and instruction. The new policy is expected to affect around the top 10-15% of the district's student body, she said.
“We have known many... very high-achieving students who have in the past chosen to come out of band or come out of orchestra, because it will hurt their GPA,” Benton told Community Impact. “This will help with that.”
For students with a GPA above 4.0, taking an extracurricular course may negatively impact their GPA and class rank. These courses do not provide additional weight toward a student's GPA that some higher-level academic courses do.
“Currently, for our students who have a GPA over a 4.0, it actually can be detrimental to them to remain enrolled in a course like band or athletics that is not providing them that grade bump,” Benton said at a Nov. 20 meeting.
Learn more
Click here to view a full list of approved GPA-exempt courses beginning in the 2028-29 school year.
