Olecia James, a recent high school graduate at Cleveland Central High, had her grade point average tampered with to avoid giving her the salutatorian title due to her race. The school administration internally reduced James’ quality points from the school she attended prior to the high school merger, claiming that those classes were less rigorous. James originally had a 4.41 GPA, however, the Salutatorian distinction was given to a white male student with a 4.34 GPA, and consequently, James’ GPA was reduced to 4.33. The suit alleged that the school officials lowered quality points of black students who took classes at East Side while not altering the quality points of white students who took classes at Cleveland High School, actions indicative of racial discrimination.
See "Black Mississippi student says in lawsuit she was denied graduation honor because of race", Minyvonne Burk, NBC News, May 2, 2019