CLEAR LAKE, Texas – Sixty Clear Lake High School students who cheated on a final exam are being disciplined.
On Jan. 3, parents and students at Clear Lake High School were told that a large number of students were suspected of cheating on the English IV final exam. The suspicion prompted Clear Creek ISD to disqualify the test for all students, giving them the option to either retake the exam or have their final grade calculated without it.
An investigation followed and students who cheated will now have a final exam score of zero calculated into their final grade. They also may face additional punishment as outlined in the district's student code of conduct.
"It's a zero on that final exam that will be calculated with their final grade as well as two days of in-school suspension," said Superintendent Dr. Greg Smith.
The final exam counts as 20 percent of the student's final grade, which could be a major setback for many seniors applying to colleges.
"Our hope is that the students who cheated realize excellence is worth the effort, cheating is not," said Smith. "We are looking at this as more than a final exam but also as an opportunity to learn a life-long lesson."
The president of the Clear Creek Independent School District Board of Trustees echoed those sentiments.
"While school board members are disappointed this incident occurred, we are pleased with the way staff has handled the investigation. We are also confident that leaders, not only at Clear Lake High School but at all campuses, will reinforce the value and benefits of academic integrity," said Dee Scott, Board President.
Clear Lake High School teachers and administrators became suspicious when so many of the English 4 test scores were unusually high in December. They found the exact same answer pattern from numerous students. To clear suspicion, the district changed the question order for the next day and cheating was confirmed, officials said.
How the cheating happened is still under investigation. The district said about 200 students were involved in the cheating.
The school district is now reviewing testing procedures and leaders say they will make improvements where needed.