In a move administrators are calling “a bold rethinking of assessment,” New Hyde Park Memorial High School has officially replaced its traditional grading system with a randomized spinning wheel that assigns scores from 0 to 100 for every major assignment, test, and project.
The policy, formally titled the Unified Randomized Assessment Model (URAM), took effect Monday morning following a rapid expansion of what began as a single-classroom experiment.
Under URAM, teachers continue to review student work for completion and feedback. Afterward, a standardized wheel divided into 101 equal segments labeled 0 through 100 is spun to determine the official grade entered into the gradebook.
Each outcome has an equal probability of approximately 0.99%, according to district documentation.
A set of procedural guidelines governs the process:
- The wheel must be spun in full view of the class for major assessments.
- No re-spins are permitted unless the spinner fails to complete a full rotation.
- Teachers may not influence the spin beyond “a reasonable, non-targeted force.”
- Teachers can grade minor assignments and projects on their own.
- Students may observe but not intervene, chant, or “attempt to alter rotational outcomes through collective energy.”
Within hours of implementation, students began collecting data. An informal group calling itself the NHPM Statistical Integrity Coalition logged 512 spins across multiple classes during the first two days.
Their preliminary breakdown:
- 0–59: 16%
- 60–69: 23%
- 70–79: 29%
- 80–89: 20%
- 90–100: 12%
Faculty members noted that short-term clustering can occur in random systems and said a larger sample would be needed to evaluate whether the distribution aligns with theoretical expectations.
For now, the grading wheels remain in use across all departments. School officials said no immediate changes are planned as data continues to be collected.
Administrators indicated that any long-term decision will depend on whether the system meets district standards for assessment and consistency.
Further updates are expected following the first full marking period under the new policy.
