High schools across the state will face a major change in the coming school year when a seven-point grading scale will no longer be used. Approved in October by the North Carolina legislature, a 10-point grading scale will be used starting with the 2015-2016 school year. Receiving an “A” in previous years meant a student earned anywhere from a 93-100; with the 10-point scale, any grade from 90-100 will now be considered an “A.”

“I think the transition will be somewhat rough and complex at the beginning, but I do think that it will be beneficial for students in the long run,” librarian Lindsay Daniels said.

Grades that have already been finalized on students transcripts will not convert to the new scale. The 10-point system will only affect students’ future grades.

“I think that it’s not fair because I could get a 90 in a class my junior year and it be a ‘B,’ but when I’m a senior someone from my graduating class can take the same class earn a 90 but it will be considered an ‘A,’” junior Alex White said. “I like the idea of the policy, but I don’t like the way it’s being implemented.”

For incoming freshmen a new quality point system will also come in effect. With the old grading scale Advanced Placement courses were worth two quality points and honors courses one. The new quality point system will make AP courses worth one point and honors courses worth half a point.

“I like the new quality point system because when you leave North Carolina that is the system you see everywhere for high schools, and it is what students will see in college,” principal John Luciano said.

The State Board of Education feels that by changing the grading system it will make students more competitive when they are applying for out of state universities and colleges.

“With the 10-point grading scale students will already be using the same grading scale that colleges use, which will make the transition to college a little bit easier,” guidance counselor Sandy Martin said. “I think that it will [also] make students more competitive with students from around the country which will be helpful.”