Since its institution, the parent portal has become a convenient way for both parents and students to check grades online. Though the site is primarily designed for parents, it seems that students are the ones checking the portal regularly in order to monitor their own grades and track their own progress. And while the site’s online accessibility is helpful for some, it’s stressful for others. One student, senior Kristi Burgess, shared her views: “Our school is is really competitive. The portal encourages students to put pressure on themselves and on each other too.”
There is no doubt that the parent portal has changed the academic environment at Madison High School. After an assessment, numerous students feel a sense of urgency because they can see their grades online almost immediately. “I always feel the need to check my grades, especially after a test or quiz. I’ll check a few times a day to see if it’s been updated,” one junior explained. Not only does this obsessive behavior contribute to stress, but it can discourage students from learning from their mistakes. When students already know their grades from the portal, some don’t even bother looking over their tests at all.
That’s not to say that the parent portal doesn’t have its benefits. A portion of students say that the site motivates them. “If I see that I have an 89 on the portal, I’ll be sure to work especially hard in that class to bring my grade up to an A,” said junior Holly Claytor. The site’s popularity among students has benefitted teachers too. For example, if a grade is recorded incorrectly, students can alert their instructors right away.
The portal itself is not an issue, but the stress it creates for students is a huge problem. With the expansion of technology, it was only a matter of time before our grades went online, and that isn’t going to change. My advice to students is to limit the time you spend on the portal. Check the site maybe once or twice a week, but no more. While grades are significant, they are not the only thing that matters–and it is important to keep everything in perspective in order to reduce stress.