Starting next year Maine West is planning on trying, on an experimental basis, a pass‑fail grading system. Students who have four solids and would like to take another solid can tell their respective counselors about it and then will be allowed to take their fifth solid on a pass‑fail grade basis.

Some reasons that were given for this new experimental grade system was that some students are afraid to take a fifth solid because they may think it is too hard. Now they can take a fifth solid, and their report cards will only show either a pass or a fall grade.