Powerfool Unleashed: My High School Adventures in Grade Hacking

PowerSchool remains the reigning champion in the realm of grade management systems, reigning supreme in schools across America. This web-based application empowers educational institutions to meticulously track student grades, offering teachers an intuitive interface for effortless grade management.

Now, every electronic system, regardless of its sophistication, is susceptible to a critical flaw. It’s not a flaw in the software, but rather in the human element—the tendency for people to make mistakes, a habit that persists to this day. One common pitfall is the reuse of passwords, a practice that sets individuals up for failure.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t exempt from this habit. For years, I was notoriously guilty of it, despite knowing better all along.

In our keyboarding class, there was one teacher notorious for committing several password faux pas. On day one, I quickly realized I didn’t need her class; my typing speed surpassed hers and most others in the school. To my astonishment, I noticed a post-it note on her computer screen, bearing a single word. Naturally, it turned out to be her password.

I was fortunate to have noticed this post-it note as I normally skipped this class on an almost daily basis. I had amassed a collection of forged hall passes, each bearing the signature of a different teacher. With this handy stash, I could easily slip away from class whenever I pleased. Although I suspected that some teachers may have caught on to my antics, none ever confronted me about it.

One day, during her lunch break, I seized the opportunity to test my suspicion. Sneaking into her vacant computer lab, I effortlessly logged into her Novell NetWare account, confirming that indeed, her password was as predictable as I suspected. With her being a ‘power user’ in the computer education department, she enjoyed elevated privileges on the NetWare system. Exploiting her permissions, I swiftly maneuvered to elevate my own access across the network.

Could it really have been as simple as ‘Rosebud’? Indeed, it was.

After logging out of her account, I switched off her monitor, and slipped out of the room unnoticed.

With this newfound knowledge, I had to decide what to do next. I knew I would grant myself administrator privileges wherever I could. I also considered that she likely used this same password for other systems.

A few days later, while skipping class in the library, I pulled up the PowerSchool instance for my school district. Although I didn’t know her username, I knew the naming convention for usernames. I tried what I believed was her username along with the “rosebud” password and was greeted with her class gradebook.

To my surprise, her account had elevated privileges due to her IT role, allowing access to other staff members’ classes and even the ability to modify grades. I had stumbled upon an administrator account, which came with great power.

Changing my own grades drastically would raise suspicions, and I didn’t particularly care about my high school scores. I knew that good SAT scores and participation in clubs or volunteer activities would be enough to get into any college I wanted, if I chose to go that route. I was already making more money in high school than most adults I knew, so further education didn’t seem crucial to me.

However, I realized I could change the grades of others and help them achieve their goals. This could also benefit me in other ways. I didn’t need money from other students, but I valued trading favors.

A few days later, I ensured the PowerSchool login still worked and began telling a few trusted friends about my ability to change grades for them. I explained that grade changes would need to be subtle and take time, involving small adjustments to individual projects or homework from a few weeks back, and that large swings in grades were not possible.

Several of my friends asked how much it would cost to get this “new service.” I explained that I didn’t want to charge money, but rather I might need something from them in the future. I emphasized that favors were much more valuable to me. Everyone agreed this was a great deal, understanding that I might never need anything from them, essentially getting their grades changed without any obligations.

I started with students in classes where the teachers were less tech-savvy, aiming to ensure that the changes wouldn’t be noticed. Many teachers had abandoned pen-and-paper gradebooks for the new system, as the school required all teachers to use PowerSchool so parents could eventually log in and see the grades themselves.

The first student I helped wanted to go from an F to a B, but I explained that such a drastic change would be noticed. We agreed to aim for a passing grade first. With limited time left in the semester, we started with small changes. Every few days, I brought them a printout from the gradebook in PowerSchool to show the progress, indicating which grades I was gradually altering on various homework assignments.

The teacher didn’t notice the small tweaks, so I began expanding the service to a few other trusted students. By the end of the semester, I was altering several grades daily across multiple teachers. I had a whole operation going. Eventually, the school decided to hire me, likely to keep me from my other shenanigans on the network. Recognizing the opportunity and the need to avoid trouble, I decided it was time to shut down the PowerSchool operation entirely.

Through this experience, I learned an invaluable lesson about the power of knowledge and responsibility. While it was tempting to use my technical skills for personal gain, I ultimately realized the importance of integrity and ethical behavior. The school hiring me was a turning point, showing that my abilities could be used for constructive purposes and benefit others in meaningful ways.

Looking back, I understand that with great power comes great responsibility. It’s crucial to use our skills to uplift and support our communities rather than exploit them. By channeling my talents into positive endeavors, I discovered that true fulfillment comes from contributing to the greater good.

This journey taught me that every challenge and opportunity is a chance to grow and learn. By making ethical choices and focusing on positive impacts, we can create a ripple effect that inspires and empowers those around us.