Making the grade for students in Clifton could soon become easier. The high school principal wants to lower the bar and make it easier for students to pass a class.

There is no statewide standard that defines what grade a high school student needs to pass a class. In Clifton, the cutoff is 70 percent. If a student receives any grade lower, he or she fails and needs to repeat the class. Principal Michael McGinley wants to lower the cutoff to 65 or 60 percent so that more students can pass.

As a counter-measure, some students think the school should adopt a program that rewards high achievers if grading standards are going to be lowered. Clifton's superintendent supports lowering the passing grade to 65. The final decision will be made by the board of education.