One of multiple new policies implemented this school year, which changed the maximum retake score from the original 86% to complete credit, has proven itself controversial amongst students and staff.

For the past school years that students can remember, they have only been able to score up to 86% on reassessments.This policy was intended to encourage students to prepare for tests thoroughly the first time, however, for the 2024-2025 school year, our school has created a new policy giving students a second opportunity to receive 100%.

The South Lakes website explains that this change was made with the intention of “providing students who have not shown mastery on a major assessment a second opportunity to demonstrate their learning.” The website also clarifies that in order to retake, students should complete the necessary tasks specified by the teacher or that class’ syllabus.

Most students are in favor of this new policy, as it can improve their grades immensely.

“I think [the new retake policy] is more beneficial because some people can be really bad test takers, and it just gives them a second chance,” said South Lakes Sophomore, Katelyn Wickham. 

Wickham views the new policy as solely beneficial to students, as it gives them room for improvement, and another opportunity to earn a score that they are satisfied with. South Lakes students have also explained how the new policy has improved their attitude prior to assessments.

Under the previous policy, where the maximum score on a retake was 86%, Junior Kaio D’aguiar explains how “tests would stress [him] out, and [he] would often tell his parents he wanted to stay home.”

On the contrary, the new retake policy has established itself as arguably worse for students when taking into account good work habits, and preparation for future jobs.

South Lakes history teacher, Meghan Baumann said, “I think some students may do less preparation because they know they can just retake later.”

Teachers also described how the new policy increases their workload significantly, as they now have extra material to grade and extra exams to give students.

“It’s increasing our workload because we have to create all of the retakes and then grade all of the retakes,” Baumann explained.

Students, although in support of the new rule, have been able to empathize with teachers and recognize how allowing retakes to be graded up to 100% can disadvantage students, and increase both students’ and staff’s workload.