Discussion on Grading Scales

1
Discussion onGrading Scales

• August 26, 2008
• ____________________
• Stafford County Public Schools

2
Key Concepts

• Grading scale differences

7 pt
8 pt
SCPS
Spotsy
10 pt
A 99-100 4.2
A 95-98 4.0
A 94 4.0
B 93 3.2
B 88-92 3.0
B
B 87 3.0
C 86 2.2
C
C 79-85 2.0
C 78 2.0
D 77 1.2
D 71-76 1.0
D
D 70 1.0
F 0-69 0
A 98-100 4.3
A
A 93-97 4.0
B 90-92 3.2
B
B
B 85-89 3.0
C 82-84 2.3
C
C
C 77-81 2.0
D 74-76 1.3
D
D
D 70-73 1.0
F 0-69 0
A 99-100 4.5
A
A 94-97 4.0
B 90-93 3.5
B
B
B 86-89 3.0
C 82-85 2.5
C
C
C 78-81 2.0
D 74-77 1.5
D
D
D 70-73 1.0
F 0-69 0
A 98-100 4.5
A 96-97 4.25
A 94-95 4.0
B 92-93 3.75
B 90-91 3.5
B 88-89 3.25
B 86-87 3.0
C 84-85 2.75
C 82-83 2.50
C 80-81 2.25
C 78-79 2.0
D 76-77 1.75
D 74-75 1.5
D 72-73 1.25
D 70-71 1.0
F 0-69 0
A 98-100 4.5
A 95-97 4.25
A 90-94 4.0
B 88-89 3.75
B 86-87 3.5
B 84-85 3.25
B 80-83 3.0
C 78-79 2.75
C 76-77 2.5
C 74-75 2.25
C 70-73 2.0
D 68-69 1.75
D 66-67 1.5
D 64-65 1.25
D 60-63 1.0
F 0-59 0
3
Key Concepts

• Weighted GPA for college equivalent courses

Grade Quality Points College Equivalent
A 4.5 5.5
A 4.0 5.0
B 3.5 4.5
B 3.0 4.0
C 2.5 3.5
C 2.0 3.0
D 1.5 2.5
D 1.0 2.0
F 0 0
4
Key Concepts

• Grade distribution

Norm Referenced System
Lowest Achievers
Highest Achievers
Average
A
F
D
B
C
educationtrust.org
5
Key Concepts

• Secondary School Transcript Law (8 VAC
  20-160-10 et. seq.)
• School Profile Data Sheet
• Achievement data
• Curriculum description
• Grading scale
• Grade distribution
• Explanation of advanced-level, accelerated, and
  honors courses
• Weighted grades and computation
• Explanation of class rank
• Graduation requirements

6
The grading scale is listed on the school data
profile sheets that accompany every student
transcript sent to colleges.
7
Key Question 1

• Are the weighted and unweighted SCPS grade point
  averages substantially different from other
  comparable school systems that use a 10-point
  grade scale?
• Tasks
• Research Virginia school districts to secure
  information that includes the grading scales and
  the method of awarding quality points within the
  letter grade ranges.

8
Key Question 2

• What is the impact of different grading policies
  on college admissions and scholarships?
• Tasks
• Research college admissions offices to determine
  procedures and criteria used to make selections.

9
Key Question 3

• Do grade distributions change substantially for
  high schools that change to a 10-point grade
  scale?
• Tasks
• Do a comparative analysis of the grade
  distributions in school systems using a 10-point
  scale with other scales to determine if
  significant differences are evident.
• Survey teachers to determine possible impact on
  curriculum/instruction and course grade
  distributions.

10
Key Question 4

• Do high schools that change to a 10-point grade
  scale have more students accepted into college
  than before?
• Tasks
• Do a comparative analysis to determine if more
  students from school systems using a 10-point
  scale are accepted at selected Virginia colleges
  than other scales.

11
Key Question 5

• What are the operational issues associated with
  changing to a 10-point grade scale?
• Tasks
• Develop a method for recalculating grades.
• Develop a list of documents that would have to be
  reprinted.

12
Timeline

• 3-6 months
• Research Virginia school districts to secure
  information that includes the grading scales and
  the method of awarding quality points within the
  letter grade ranges.
• Research college admissions offices to determine
  procedures and criteria used to make selections.
• Survey teachers to determine possible impact on
  curriculum/instruction and course grade
  distributions.
• Develop a method for recalculating grades.
• Develop a list of documents that would have to be
  reprinted.

13
Timeline

• 6-9 months
• Do a comparative analysis of the grade
  distributions in school systems using a 10-point
  scale with other scales to determine if
  significant differences are evident.
• Do a comparative analysis to determine if more
  students from school systems using a 10-point
  scale are accepted at selected Virginia colleges
  than other scales.

14
Pros for a 10-Point Grading Scale

• Create a level playing field as our students
  compete for college admission and scholarship
  with other students in Virginia school divisions
  and other states that use a 10-point grading
  scale.
• Align with the grading scale used by most
  colleges.
• Possibly more students would receive As and Bs
  to be distinguished as Honor Roll students.
• Possibly fewer students would fail, thus more
  would earn high school credit.
• Possibly the drop-out rate would decrease.
• Might increase student motivation to achieve at
  higher levels.
• Might increase student self-confidence and
  esteem.
• Might motivate students to attempt AP, IB, and
  dual enrollment courses.

15
Cons for a 10-Point Grading Scale

• Might compromise the excellent reputation that
  the school system has with colleges based on how
  well our students matriculate as a result of
  experiencing higher performance standards.
• Since the grading scale and the method of
  calculating GPA is explained on every students
  transcript, colleges would possibly recalibrate
  the way that they evaluate SCPS transcripts.
• Might diminish student motivation to achieve
  higher standards.
• Might not change the distribution of grades as
  teachers would adjust the weight of assignments
  and assessments (i.e. grade to scale).

16
Grade Distribution
52 of SCPS high school students earned As and
Bs on the current grading scale.
2007-08 High School Grade Distribution in
Percentages (Core Academics Foreign Language)
Lowest Achievers
Highest Achievers
Average
A
F
D
B
C
A
B
C
D
7
9
8
11
13
17
16
14
5
Percentages
17

• Barmak Nassirian, spokesman for the American
  Association of Collegiate Registrars and
  Admissions Officers, said when it comes to being
  accepted into college, one grading scale is not
  superior to any other.
• "In general, it tends not to be a problem," he
  said. "The admissions office knows what it is
  doing. When a transcript goes into an admissions
  office, the officer can interpret it.
• Quoted in Loudoun Times, June 10 2008

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Todays workplace requires nearly all students
to perform at a level that only a few did 25
years ago. Philip Schlechty Inventing
Better Schools
Those citizens wishing to comment but unable to
attend the public hearing on October 28 at 7 PM
may submit their comments in writing via email
to PublicInformation_at_StaffordSchools.net, via
fax to 540/658-5963 or via mail to The Clerk of
the Board, 31 Stafford Avenue, Stafford, VA
22554.