By Nancy Azzam

Grade point average (GPA) is a scale that indicates how high you scored in your courses on average in high school uses a scale from 1.0 to 4.0 or even higher when taking weighted courses such as Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or honors classes which many take to exceed the traditional GPA scale.

Although the GPA serves as a quantitative measure of academic performance, it often becomes a personal rating through which students assess their capabilities. This numerical rating can significantly impact how students perceive themselves and their intellectual abilities. 

“Grades tend to diminish students’ interest in whatever they’re learning,” Alfie Kohn, American author and lecturer in education, parenting, and human behavior said.  “A ‘grading orientation’ and a ‘learning orientation’ have been shown to be inversely related and, as far as I can tell, every study that has ever investigated the impact on the intrinsic motivation of receiving grades (or instructions that emphasize the importance of getting good grades) has found a negative effect.”

This pressure is encapsulated by students’ GPA, which constantly hangs over their heads, reminding them that they must push themselves to reach a certain average or be the highest in their class rank to remain competitive in college. 

This relentless focus on grades can diminish their interest and enjoyment in learning, leading to only superficial engagement with class material.

“My GPA can be a big stressor in my life as I feel I need a high GPA to get into good colleges,” junior Linnet Akopyan said. “Because of this I feel required to take more APs to boost my GPA score which can cause immense stress on my mental health.”

Putting a measure on how well a student has done throughout their high school career is very difficult, especially for students whose grades may not accurately reflect their understanding of what they are learning.

Some students are not good test-takers, have anxiety, or can not apply their knowledge well to what their teacher asks them. The added stress of maintaining a certain GPA can lead to a harmful comparison with peers, which can impact mental health severely.

A 2021 study published in School Mental Health found that students who compared themselves to their peers were more likely to see themselves as inferior and more likely to develop mental health issues such as depression.

GPA is an outdated and highly stressful metric that can hinder students’ self-perception and potential. The pressure to conform to this standard may limit what students believe they can achieve, and detract from their overall educational experience. 

Based on what we are seeing in many of our classrooms, education is moving away from rote memorization and standardized tests. Teachers are using portfolio assessments which would help students demonstrate growth, or project-based learning, where students have more real-world applications for the skills they are learning. Maybe it is time for the GPA to make room for these types of assessments.