Why we changed the way we grade

CPA has made some important changes to how students are graded. This page explains why — and why it matters for you.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

Colossians 3:23

Something important changed in the world

For a long time, schools measured learning using quizzes, tests, worksheets, and written assignments. That worked well when the only way to finish an assignment was to actually do the work yourself.

But today, AI tools like ChatGPT are free and easy for anyone to use. A student can type a question into one of these tools and get back a finished essay, a completed worksheet, or even quiz answers — in seconds. The problem is that a teacher looking at that work often cannot tell whether the student wrote it or an AI did.

This means grades based only on submitted work can no longer be trusted to show what a student actually knows.

"The real question is no longer whether the work got done. It is whether the student actually learned anything."

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AI can do the work

Essays, worksheets, and projects can be created by AI tools in seconds — and they often look just like real student work.

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Grades stopped meaning much

A high score on submitted work no longer proves a student understood the material.

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Catching cheaters isn't the answer

Trying to catch every student who uses AI puts teachers and students against each other — and misses the whole point of learning.

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Character was never graded

The old system only measured academic scores. It never gave credit for faith, honesty, community, or personal growth.

CPA chose a better path

Instead of trying to catch students using AI, CPA asked a bigger question: what does it really mean to learn something? The answer goes back to who CPA has always been. Our Expected Schoolwide Learning Results describe students who are faith-filled, self-directed, thoughtful, and academically prepared. Our grading system should match those beliefs.

The old way rewarded turning things in

Points were given for submitting work. Whether a student actually understood it was mostly assumed, not checked.

The new way rewards real learning

Points are now earned by showing up, being prepared, talking through what you learned with your teacher, and living out your values.

The old way made teachers into checkers

Teachers spent time grading stacks of work instead of spending that time actually teaching.

The new way makes teachers mentors

Teachers now spend their time in real conversations with students — asking questions and investing in the whole person.

The old way ignored character

Faith, honesty, serving others, and growing as a person were encouraged but never showed up in your grade.

The new way honors the whole student

Your faith in action, your daily engagement, your meeting preparation, and your demonstrated learning all carry real weight in your grade now.