In the competitive world of college admissions, students in Irvine, CA, deserve every opportunity to showcase their academic strengths. While AP classes are already weighted to reflect their increased difficulty, honors classes—which also demand a higher level of rigor—remain unweighted. This lack of recognition undermines the efforts of hardworking students who take honors courses to challenge themselves beyond the standard curriculum.

Recognizing honors classes in GPA calculations would encourage more students to enroll in rigorous coursework, knowing their efforts will be fairly acknowledged. A study by Anne M. Cognard at the University of Connecticut, The Case for Weighting Grades and Waiving Classes for Gifted and Talented High School Students, concluded that “weighted grades appear to benefit students in most cases. Weighted grading systems foster equity and encourage students to take the more challenging classes.” Incorporating weighted GPAs for honors classes would also help cultivate a learning environment where students are motivated to apply themselves and deepen their academic engagement.

Furthermore, adopting this policy would bring Irvine High School in line with other districts across California and the country. Many schools already recognize the importance of including honors as weighted courses in GPA calculations, and giving students additional recognition can strengthen college or scholarship applications as well as provide them with credit for their academic achievements. Adopting a similar practice at Irvine High School would align with other schools' practices

It's time we recognize and reward the dedication of our students by updating weighted policies to include both AP and honors courses. Your support in signing this petition will help make this important change possible—benefiting Irvine students and supporting their future success.