10-Point Grading Scale Review Rockingham County Public Schools

Background Present grading scale was adopted in 1986 Current10-point A= A= B= 86-93B= C= 78-85C= D= 70-77D= F= 69 and belowF= 59 and below Present grading scale was adopted in 1986 Current10-point A= A= B= 86-93B= C= 78-85C= D= 70-77D= F= 69 and belowF= 59 and below

10-Point Grading Scale Review  Fairfax County Schools Study  Surveyed 104 colleges with 64 responses  Spotsylvania County Schools Study  Madison County Schools Study  Fairfax County Schools Study  Surveyed 104 colleges with 64 responses  Spotsylvania County Schools Study  Madison County Schools Study

Fairfax County Study Review  10-point grading scale and letter grades are the most common grading scales of college applicant pools.  Fifty-five (55) percent of colleges do not recalculate GPAs.  10-point grading scale and letter grades are the most common grading scales of college applicant pools.  Fifty-five (55) percent of colleges do not recalculate GPAs.

Fairfax County Study Review  Eighty-nine (89) percent of the respondent colleges compare applicants to all other students in the applicant pool.  Colleges use a variety of methods to account for different grading policies. However, when evaluating candidates for merit scholarships and honor programs, SAT scores and GPA scores are the two most important factors.  Eighty-nine (89) percent of the respondent colleges compare applicants to all other students in the applicant pool.  Colleges use a variety of methods to account for different grading policies. However, when evaluating candidates for merit scholarships and honor programs, SAT scores and GPA scores are the two most important factors.

Fairfax County Study Review  Competition and rising higher education costs have raised concern nationwide about grading policies for college admission, receipt of merit-based scholarships, and placement in honors programs.

Fairfax County Study Review  At the local level, grading policies are being reviewed. 75 out of 78 school divisions that have reviewed their grading policies made the decision to change to a 10-point grading scale.

Fairfax County Study Review  In FCPS the mean increase in GPA when changing to a 10-point scale was 0.15; the largest increase was among students with GPAs in the 2.25 to 3.50 range, with a mean increase of 0.17.

Fairfax County Study Review A (93-100) = 4.0 A- (90-92) = 3.7 B+ (87-89) = 3.3 B (83-86) = 3.0 B- (80-82) = 2.7 C+ (77-79) = 2.3 C (73-76) = 2.0 C- (70-72) = 1.7 D+ (67-69) = 1.3 D (64-66) = 1.0 F (below 64) = 0.0 A (93-100) = 4.0 A- (90-92) = 3.7 B+ (87-89) = 3.3 B (83-86) = 3.0 B- (80-82) = 2.7 C+ (77-79) = 2.3 C (73-76) = 2.0 C- (70-72) = 1.7 D+ (67-69) = 1.3 D (64-66) = 1.0 F (below 64) = 0.0 A (94-100) = 4.0 B+ (90-93) = 3.5 B (84-89) = 3.0 C+ (80-83) = 2.5 C (74-79) = 2.0 D+ (70-73) = 1.5 D (64-69) = 1.0 F (below 64 ) = 0.0 Previous grading scaleAdopted grading scale

Fairfax County Study Review  Higher standards have no significant effect on educational attainment (i.e., high school graduation rates and college attendance). However, researchers found they have a negative effect on graduation rates for Black Americans and Hispanics. (Betts and Grogger 2003)

Fairfax County Study Review  School divisions have just begun to implement the new grading policies and data is not available associated with the results of revising the scales.

Spotsylvania County Schools Study  Fifty merit-based scholarships were researched and found that screening for most scholarships is based on GPA.  The 10-point grading scale will allow students to earn a higher GPA, increasing the opportunity for scholarship eligibility.  Fifty merit-based scholarships were researched and found that screening for most scholarships is based on GPA.  The 10-point grading scale will allow students to earn a higher GPA, increasing the opportunity for scholarship eligibility.

Spotsylvania County Schools Study  Data is not available to empirically determine if changing the grading scale has a positive effect on college acceptance, decrease in failure rate, increase in graduation rate, etc.

Madison County Schools Study  20 colleges surveyed indicated that GPA was the single most important factor in their admissions policy, followed by class rank and SAT scores.

Chesapeake Virginia Beach Norfolk Albemarle Orange Madison Fairfax Arlington Loudoun Alexandria Falls Church Manassas Manassas Park Montgomery Prince William Williamsburg/ James City Warren Pulaski Fauquier/Surry Co. Frederick Buena Vista Lee Co. Charlottesville Poquoson Spotsylvania Stafford King George Greene County Portsmouth Suffolk School districts recently adopting 10-point scale

Student Samples

Private School Grading Scales

SCHOOLABCDF Covenant School Charlottesville Episcopal Alexandria Fredericksburg Academy Fredericksburg Hunter McQuire Staunton Miller School Ivy Randolph-Macon Front Royal

Tandem Friends Charlottesville Wakefield Woodberry Forrest Orange Blue Ridge School St. George (Dyke) North Cross Roanoke Grace Christian Staunton

Benedictine Richmond Ridgeview Christian Stuarts Draft Roanoke Catholic Roanoke Collegiate Richmond Eastern Mennonite Harrisonburg Fishburne Waynesboro Fork Union

Benefits of 10-Point Scale  Equalize opportunities for our students with other school divisions in Virginia and other states  Align with grading scale used by most colleges  Recognize more students through the Honor Roll  Equalize all grading scales with Dual Enrollment classes and Governor’s School classes  Motivate students to attempt more rigorous courses  Enhance opportunity of RCPS students to obtain merit scholarships and honor program placement  Reduce student failure rates  Decrease drop-out rate  Increase graduation rate  Enhance student self-confidence and esteem  Equalize opportunities for our students with other school divisions in Virginia and other states  Align with grading scale used by most colleges  Recognize more students through the Honor Roll  Equalize all grading scales with Dual Enrollment classes and Governor’s School classes  Motivate students to attempt more rigorous courses  Enhance opportunity of RCPS students to obtain merit scholarships and honor program placement  Reduce student failure rates  Decrease drop-out rate  Increase graduation rate  Enhance student self-confidence and esteem