PV High Students' Alleged Grade-Tampering Plans Lead to Arrests

Three juniors were arrested Thursday on suspicion of breaking into classrooms to steal copies of tests and hack into teachers' computers to change their grades, Palos Verdes Estates police officials said.

The students were arrested on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary, Sgt. Steve Barber said.

The students admitted to breaking into the janitor's office Wednesday night to steal a master key and break into the classrooms, he said. They took paper copies of tests and installed hacking devices on computers to access school grading systems.

"They were able to get the teachers' usernames and passwords," Barber said. "They would then access the online grade system and change their grades."

The students' names were not released because of their ages.