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Parents fight to change schools' grading scale
As getting accepted into college becomes increasingly difficult, high school students are facing more pressure than ever before.
That's why three mothers from the Potomac Falls High School district are fighting to change Loudoun's seven-point grading scale, which they say puts county students at a disadvantage.
"Our students need their grading scale to be the standardized 10-point scale so they can compete with students around the country," said Nancy Lasik, president of the Potomac Falls PTSO.
In Loudoun County, grades are separated by seven points. A score from 93 to 100 is considered an A. But in nearby counties like Arlington, which operates on a 10-point scale, a 90 to 100 is an A.
This difference is also evident when calculating grade point averages. In Loudoun, a student would earn 3.3 grade points for a score of 92 percent on a test, which is a B+. In jurisdictions with a 10-point scale, the student would earn a 4.0 for a 92, and receive an A.
"I've had two students go through the [college] admissions process, and I had a gut feeling all along my kids were getting shorted," said Michele Zuckerman, one of the parents spearheading the 10-point campaign. "GPAs should work for them, not against them."
Inspired by FAIRGRADE, an organization created by parents in Fairfax County fighting for a 10-point grading scale there, Lasik, Zuckerman and Kathy Lague are collecting signatures and reaching out to educate other parents as well.
According to FAIRGRADE, there are hundreds of grading scales used in the United States, but the 10-point scale is the most common.
At a presentation June 4 at Potomac Falls High School, about 80 residents from around the county showed up to learn more.
The three mothers presented information comparing grading scales, which showed how much higher a student's grades and GPA could be using a 10-point scale.
Some school districts also reward 1 additional point for advanced placement classes and 0.5 for honors classes, so a student earning an 85 percent in an AP class would receive a 4.0 instead of a 3.0 for a B grade.
In Loudoun, 0.7 is added for AP classes, and there is no point reward for taking honors classes. Thus, a Loudoun student earning an 85 in an AP class would receive 3.7 grade points.
That is something else that should change, the moms argue.
All of this is important because it can hurt Loudoun students' chances of being accepted into colleges and merit-based scholarship programs, and even receiving discounts on car insurance, supporters of the 10-point scale said.
But officials with the Loudoun County School System don't agree.
"I don't see a problem with grading," said School Board member Tom C. Marshall (Leesburg). "Colleges look at GPAs and look at schools. They know where the curriculum is demanding."
School Board member J. Warren Geurin (Sterling) said he has heard the 10-point argument before, but he is not convinced Loudoun students are currently at any disadvantage.
Geurin said schools officials meet regularly with college admissions directors, as do high school guidance counselors.
"We're well known for having a very rigorous high school curriculum," he said. "If our AP scores are low but the grades are high, that raises questions about validity. I don't think there would be strong support on the board to go to a 10-point scale."
Loudoun's current grading system was established in 2002 when a committee recommended the county drop minuses from grades and a few other minor changes, said Anne Lewis, director of student services.
The scale is not examined on a routine basis, she said, but the school system does try to be responsive to parents.
Lewis said as far as she knows, Loudoun has never used a 10-point grading scale.
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."
Nassirian said parents should take comfort in the fact that admissions officers know the high schools and their grading practices, which are generally printed on the back of high school transcripts.
Despite that, Loudoun parents say they will try to at least get the attention of the School Board by collecting thousands of signatures.
"Loudoun school officials say our grading scale is known and taken into account, but our kids still must meet minimum GPA requirements," Lasik said. "It's harder for them."
Contact the reporter at ecoe@timespapers.com
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