Audit: Hempstead School District Inflated Students' Grades
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A state audit has found that a Long Island school district routinely and improperly inflated students' grades.
The State Education Department audit found that Hempstead Union Free School District changed more than 2,000 quarterly and final grades for more than 1,200 high school students during the 2012-2013 school year.
Audit: Hempstead School District Inflated Students' Grades
The district could provide reasons for only 8 percent of the changes, Newsday reported.
According to the audit, the district has a longstanding informal policy in which grades ranging from 61 to 64 have been changed to a passing grade of 65.
The news was upsetting to some residents.
"They're setting them kids up for failure," a Hempstead graduate told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs. "They're not going to know what to do once they get out of high school."
Hempstead Board President Betty Cross did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
In March, the district said it had drafted polices to address the grade inflation issue based on the state's recommendations.
The Board of Regents is ordering an investigation into Hempstead's grade inflation and is considering a possible state monitor for the district, Xirinachs reported.
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