Towards the end of last semester, transcripts, class rank, and overall progress reports were released. Consequently, many students realized that their academic performance for the first half of the school year was nothing short of abysmal. Especially with the eradication of final exams, previously used as a last ditch effort to increase final grades, transcripts all across the board looked incredibly bleak.

However, all hope is not lost. No matter how alarming semester one grades have been, there’s always strategies for improvement before it’s too late.

Firstly, students can easily access numerous study platforms through their chromebooks. Wylie ISD has programs such as Khan Academy, Quizlet, and Kahoot unrestricted and available to students on their school sanctioned chromebooks. These platforms allow students to study their class material in a way that is more self paced and in depth than what is taught during a typical school day. Khan Academy specifically offers the re-teaching of certain concepts and breaks them into specific categories, allowing students to target what exactly is holding them back. Additionally, Quizlet and Kahoot allow students to quiz themselves on their knowledge of class material. Ultimately, depending on students’ specific needs and learning styles, there are many options to choose from in terms of study platforms.

Secondly, Wylie ISD and surrounding school districts offer SAT boot camps to high school students in the area. While SAT scores are a completely different entity than just regular class grades, these boot camps can help students learn how to apply numerous different study habits and test taking strategies. Even for students not worried about the SAT, these skills can prove to be incredibly beneficial in regular classroom testing settings. And there’s no better way to increase a class grade than by getting a stellar score on a major grade test.

Additionally, rather than scrambling to find an online program or the nearest SAT prep course, nearly every teacher at Wylie High School offers tutoring sessions. By attending tutoring, students are given the opportunity to retake failed tests, get extra practice on more challenging material, and receive one-on-one help directly from their teachers. Most teachers have a tutorial schedule posted outside of their classroom or mentioned in their syllabus. However, if tutorial times aren’t communicated in either of these ways, it can’t hurt to either send an email or directly ask.

And, finally, non academic habits can easily be the quickest solutions to improving grades. Habits like prioritizing better sleep schedules and reducing screen time can have drastic positive effects on overall classroom performance. Rather than solely focusing on studying excessively, habits that improve overall mental stability and personal wellbeing can have a significant impact on a student’s grades.

While it may seem impossible now to clean up the mess from the beginning of the year, there’s always room for improvement. No matter how discouraging school can be, with the right determination, there’s always a way to bounce back.