Assistant principal discovers 'fake classes' after boy who can't read receives a physics grade

While reviewing students' grades, former assistant principal Howard Jones found something deeply unsettling at Stratford High School. He noticed a special needs student who couldn't even read had physics credit recorded on his transcript. Jones realized the school had been using "fake classes" to increase graduation rates. WSMV 4 Nashville reported the story on October 2, 2026, and it has since received over 65,136 views on YouTube.

The grade manipulation 

The State Board of Education is currently investigating school records for "grade manipulation." As per the "Making the Grade" investigation, former Principal Michael Steele and Principal Dr. Michael Pratt were accused of manipulating students' grades by different methods. Jones was asked what he thought when Principal Steele drew up a contract to grade students based on effort rather than "mastery of the subject." He responded, "I think this is, you know, something we should not. I’m not going to jail, sir. I think it’s criminal." After an independent investigation, Principal Steele was suspended for three days.

Fake classes

Jones was not the only one aware of the grade manipulation at Stratford High School. During Principal Michael Pratt's tenure, Constance Wade, the school counsellor, also told Jones about the grade manipulation. This time, it was through the school's credit recovery system called "Edgenuity." Jones explained that he found students enrolled in classes that were not offered on the school's master schedule that semester. "How can I justify, you know, signing off on these grades when this is a fake class?" he asked. Jones then gave an example of clear grade manipulation: "You know, one student, I think somehow he had a physics credit from Edgenuity on his transcript. But he couldn’t read. He was a special needs kid."

Edgenuity is an online program that lets students retake failed courses. But before students take Edgenuity, they could take a "test for credit" to earn course credit without completing the class. Jones alleged that teachers gave failing grades in fake classes so they could qualify for Edgenuity. When he brought the issue to Principal Pratt, he was told to "leave it alone" and "let it go." Frustrated with the constant manipulation, Jones eventually retired.

Dishonest grades

Such grade manipulation isn't rare. The Equitable Grading Project found that during the 2021 to 2023 school years, almost 60% of grades did not match the standardized test scores meant to test the students' knowledge of the specific course. Furthermore, of the 33,000 grades, the report found that 40% of them were inflated. This was more common among Black and Hispanic students than Asian and white students.

'An injustice to our children'

Meanwhile, reacting to the story, @DorisSmith-z3h commented, "This is criminal and such an injustice to our children. No wonder they are getting into gangs, they can't get jobs even on the lowest levels. Every parent should be upset at this." @rickuyeda4818 shared, "My sister taught at Taft High School in Encino and the school did the same thing. My sister refused to go along and changed careers."

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