West Clermont Eighth Graders Tackle AI Bias Issues

West Clermont Eighth Graders Challenge Flawed AI Essay Grading System

A group of innovative eighth graders from West Clermont, Ohio is making waves after uncovering significant issues in the state’s AI-based essay grading system — and taking bold steps to fix it themselves.

The students discovered that the AI currently used to grade state tests tends to overlook creativity, personality, and emotional depth in student writing. As a result, essays that deviated from formulaic structures — even if they were compelling or imaginative — often received lower scores.

Rather than stopping at critique, the students decided to build their own AI model. Their version is designed to recognize emotional cues and human expression, offering a more holistic and fair evaluation of student work. They then took their findings and solutions to the state and national level, impressing educators, technologists, and policymakers alike.

Their mission is clear: to influence the future of educational assessment by advocating for AI systems that value not just grammar and structure, but also authentic voice and creativity.

“We want future students to feel like their unique ideas matter,” one student said during their presentation.

As debates around AI in education continue to grow, these West Clermont students have shown that the next generation isn’t just ready to use technology — they’re ready to challenge and improve it.