By Heiress Smith
Junior Ariel Effa intently glared at her screen while checking her grades on Focus, the new grading system that has replaced Rportal.
The school district had high hopes for the new grading system, but it has been plagued with problems since its release.
“I am an ace trainer so I am one of the people in charge of teaching this new system to teachers,” Algebra teacher Ishmael Mendez said. “I think it’s very user friendly and with any new technology roll out, there is descent amongst people but once we get used to the system I think it’s going to be fairly well, it’s going to work really well.”
Complications include: the system losing grades of entire classes, teachers having problems inputting grades for their as well as problems changing grades or even submitting them.
“Focus allows you to have info at the tip of your fingers,” assistant principal Elise Curry said. “Change is difficult but once you get used to it, it will be more effective.”
Unlike the previous grading system of Rportal, Focus contains enhanced features such as uploading assignment files and adding comments beside student grades.
“Focus is a good program but it’s just kind of confusing at first,” Effa said. “I guess everybody will get the hang of it eventually.”
Junior Rovantae Dixon agreed on the difficulties of using the new system.
“It’s kind of confusing,” Dixon said. “But it’s useful for looking at grades.”