This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
3 Palos Verdes Honors Students Arrested for Breaking Into Classrooms in Elaborate Grade-Changing, Test-Stealing Plot
Test via Shutterstock
Three juniors at Palos Verdes High School were arrested yesterday for their role in an elaborate grade-changing, test-stealing plot.
The honors students were looking for nothing more than an "A-" in the grade books of their four teachers (and a little cash from selling test), but now they have a criminal record and will likely be expelled from school, according to the Daily Breeze.
"These kids would have been going to a very good college without any academic dishonesty. That's the sad part about it," Principal Nick Stephany told the Daily Breeze.
The three students managed to pick the lock of the janitors' closet after-hours so they could get the master key to the teachers' classrooms. Once they broke into the classrooms, they were able to attach keyloggers to their teachers' computers that would allow the students to figure out the teachers' passwords.
Armed with the teachers' passwords, the students would return to the classrooms another night to hack into their teachers' computers to change their grades and steal tests that they would use for themselves or sometimes sell to other students. They wouldn't tweak their grades too much—just enough to bump their grades up to an "A-". Two other students had their grades changed, too. They did this as many as 20 times without getting caught. One student came forward to the administration to tell them what was going on, and that's when teachers noticed the problems with grade-keeping and the scandal unraveled.
"They were very bright kids," Principal Nick Stephany said. "They were in AP and honors classes. Am I shocked? Yeah. Definitely by the extent of it. None of these kids had any real trouble before."
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
