Secondary Grading

Recommendations

Charles County Public Schools

September 11, 2018

Quarters 1, 2, & 3 Quarter 4

• A failing grade at the end of

Quarters 1, 2, & 3 is based on

50% to 59%

• Any percentage lower than

50% at the end the Quarter is

converted to 50%

• A failing grade at the end of

Quarter 4 is based on 0% to

59%

• Any percentage lower than

50% at the end of Quarter 4 is

not converted to 50%

Secondary Grading Committee

Recommendations

Grading Practices in Other Counties

Anne Arundel50% on assignments showing

a good faith effort

Baltimore CountyTeachers choose:

100% - 0% or 50 pt. scale

CalvertQ 1, 2 & 3: 100% - 50%Q 4: 100% - 0%

HarfordNo grading guidelines

Kent Teachers choose:

100% - 0% or 100% - 50%

Montgomery50% on assignments showing a good faith effort

Prince George’s50% on assignments showing

a good faith effort

Somerset100% - 40%

Fairfax50% on assignments showing a reasonable effort

SCHS: Impact of 50% - 59% = F

School

Year

# of Failing Final Grades Total Final

Grades Issued

Percentage of

Failing Grades

2014-2015 524 7966 6.57%

2015-2016 516 10104 5.10%

2016-2017 337If assignment submitted, no F is

lower than 50%

10166 3.31%

2017-2018 280Assignments reflect the score

earned, but no quarterly

average is lower than 50%

8919 3.14%

Middle School

Core Subject Failures

Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8

English 23 36 24

Math 40 31 30

Science 70 26 28

Social Studies 38 52 42

High School

Core Subject Failures

Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade12

English 167 90 66 15

Math 198 115 96 139

Science 183 106 91 31

Social Studies 139 81 62 10

High School Credit Recovery

Focus on students who are out of their

graduation cohort

Recovered courses are those needed for

graduation

Approximately 150 credits were recovered

by 108 students

High School Grade Recovery

Focus on students who are out of their

graduation cohort or who are in danger of

failing a course

Recovered courses are those needed for

graduation

Approximately 247 grades were recovered

by 180 students

Middle School Grade Recovery

Focus on students who are in danger of

failing one or more of the following courses:

Math

English/Language Arts

Science

Approximately 500 grades were recovered

by 395 students

CON 50% - 59% = F

Can lead to grade inflation, lower academic standards for all

students, and give a “sense of entitlement”

“Punishment” of low grades motivates students as does the “fear”

of failure

Makes it too easy for “low performing” students

Creates a “false” picture of student abilities and “masks” failure

CON 50% - 59% = F

Does not promote responsibility

Can “ruin a student’s life by not teaching a lesson”

Sends “message that hard work and homework are not important” and will

“deprive students of the satisfaction of hard work”

Grades should include work habits such as deadlines, homework,

punctuality, and effort on a 0% - 100% scale

Compromises academic freedom

0% - 100% is “universally recognized”

PRO 50% - 59% = F

An F in one marking period should not doom a student to failure

for the semester or year

Basing an F on 0% - 59% “defies logic and mathematical

accuracy” and is an “academic death penalty”

A single 0% distorts the overall grade dramatically and does not

motivate students

0% to 59% takes the student AND the teacher “off the hook”

PRO 50% - 59% = F

Some students engage in “self-defeating behaviors” and quit trying after

receiving very low grades; they feel as if success is out of their control.

However, 50% - 59% encourages continued persistence.

50% - 59% encourages and supports the hardworking but struggling student

and is more conducive to learning

Student failures decrease: behavior improves, faculty morale improves, and

resources move from remediation to staying on track

50% to 59% creates a climate of hope that encourages continued

achievement

Response

Parent Advisory Committee

What are your recommendations on students receiving a

50% at the end of a quarter?

The 50% should be on a case-by-case basis for students who

show “true effort” and have extenuating circumstances

Students should earn no lower than a 50% in Quarters 1 & 2;

however, in Quarters 3 & 4, an F should reflect 0% to 59%

An F should be based on 0% to 59%

Response

Parent Advisory Committee

Should students be eligible for 50% as the lowest F if

assignments are not submitted?

The 50% should be consistent at each school

There should be a criteria such as turn in 70% of all assignments

Students should turn in 100% of assignments

Response

Parent Advisory Committee

What concerns might the community have?

Parents of students earning A’s and B’s may feel standards are lowered

May appreciate the consistency 50%-59% would bring across the middle and high schools

Concern that more students become eligible and lead to fees for participation in extracurricular activities

Lead to micro-managing and taking decisions out of teachers’ hands

Response

Parent Advisory Committee

Should schools be permitted to implement individual

grading guidelines?

All schools should adhere to one set of guidelines

Consistent, consistent, consistent

An F should be based on 0% to 59%