Central, South No-Homework Policies Ending

DARIEN, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 officials said this week that virtually all classes would have homework count for some percentage of students' grades.

In the last few years, some classes did not factor in homework as part of grades. That drew opposition in the community and the school board's calls for change.

In such classes, tests and major assignments counted for 100 percent of grades.

"I think we can speak with confidence that 100-0 will not be an option for the (2026-27) school year," Hinsdale Central Principal Bill Walsh said at a school board meeting. "Homework will start to count almost everywhere."

Officials noted a few exceptions would exist, particularly in art classes.

Some residents have also objected to certain classes where students can retake tests several times. Board members have said they want some type of limit.

Board member Bobby Fischer said he has received complaints that the examinations used in retakes are sometimes identical to the original ones.

"That feels like it's getting close to academic fraud, that I can skip the first test effectively and study for the retake," Fischer said. "I think the idea of a retake needs to be a sincere examination."

Walsh said changes to retake policies probably should wait until the schools see how other grading changes play out.

"I think we're pretty happy with our students' grades. They're showing growth," the principal said. "We don't want to make massive changes."

A few years ago, district officials sought a uniform grading policy. They said they eliminated 38 different grading scales and developed a unified one.

Since then, in many science and math classes, major assignments and tests make up 90 percent or 100 percent of a grade.