Video: Tacoma schools tracking students grades online

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SEATTLE - Some Tacoma parents have a new online tool to keep track of how their kids are doing in class.

Parents of students at Wilson High School now have instant information to their children's grades right at their fingertips, thanks to a new system that posts teachers' gradebooks online.

Some other school districts have had online programs for a few years. Wilson High has been a pilot school for this district and now all Tacoma high schools and some middle schools allow teachers to post grades online. And it's become more than a simple convenience.

"There's no gray area. You know what your grades are and that's really nice," said Athena Apostle, sophomore.

Just about everything in a teacher's gradebook is available online at all of Tacoma School District's high schools and some middle schools.  Students and parents can access the system from any computer and see grade-point averages, missing homework assignments and attendance.

School counselors say it allows everyone to address potential problems immediately.

"Most students don't do this, but it's much more difficult for a student to keep bad news away from parents, so to speak," said Rich Coleman, school counselor.

"It's an amazing tool - very, very helpful," said Geri Gibson, school counselor.

Like many students, Janiece Harrison was a little startled by the idea at first.

"It was frightening because I didn't want my mom to be able to view my grades," said Harrison.

But she and other students now realize it really can make life easier for everyone.

"Before that I'd have to go to my teachers like every week and say what am I missing or can I get the homework from yesterday if I was absent," said Timiya Bradford, senior.

Although it may have been feared at first, even students admit this online window is working wonders.

"It definitely helps my grades," said Geoff Holbrook, senior. "It makes me see how I'm doing and helps me improve on my grades before my report card comes out."

Some other school districts have had online programs for a few years.