What constitutes a failing grade in MCPS?

[Anonymous]

DS is a senior and may end up with a D for the semester in math. This will be his first non-A in all his high school career, and he's a bit stressed about its effect on college admissions.
Can anyone enlighten us?

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

What were his first and 2nd quarter grades? A D and an E or a D and a D net to a D.

That is not failing.

[Anonymous]

A D is not failing in MCPS. So he’ll pass, but it definitely damage his college prospects. No avoiding that.

[Anonymous]

Did he already get into some colleges?

[Anonymous]

No one fails in mcps anymore. Lowest you can get is a D which is not failing. Remember the 50% rule? So no one fails in mcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one fails in mcps anymore. Lowest you can get is a D which is not failing. Remember the 50% rule? So no one fails in mcps.

And yet I know students with Fs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No one fails in mcps anymore. Lowest you can get is a D which is not failing. Remember the 50% rule? So no one fails in mcps.

50% is an E. And yes, students get E's, which is a failing grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What were his first and 2nd quarter grades? A D and an E or a D and a D net to a D.

That is not failing.

Not true. A D first quarter followed by an E second quarter results in an E for the semester. If it's an E followed by a D, that results in a D for the semester.

[Anonymous]

go to this link and it explains how the 2 quarter grades combine into the semester 1 grade. It depends on what the first quarter grade was.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/schools/high-schools/k-q/qohs/mark_pattern.pdf

Not sure if this will be clear here but it is at the link.
Basically:
Letters indicate MP1 MP2 = Semester Grade
AA = A B A = A CA = B DA = B EA = C
AB = A BB = B CB = B DB = C EB = C
AC = B BC = B CC = C DC = C EC = D
AD = B BD = C CD = C DD = D ED = D
AE = C BE = C CE = D DE = E EE = E

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is a senior and may end up with a D for the semester in math. This will be his first non-A in all his high school career, and he's a bit stressed about its effect on college admissions.
Can anyone enlighten us?

Thank you.

Everyone has answered above as if you mean your son is getting a D for the quarter. D for the semester is bad for college, unless there is some really legitimate explanation.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you all. He will get either a C or a D for the semester in math, unfortunately, depending on the last assignments which are as yet ungraded. He's always had straight As in math previously, and in all other subjects, and we don't quite understand how it has come to this. This is for AP Calc BC.

He's accepted Early Action to one college already, but the letter states that he needs to keep up the same academic record he had in the past - which in math is not the case.

Will the college rescind their application, do you think?

[Anonymous]

NP here, and following this because DD is in a very similar situation. Except that a D for the semester in math would actually be similar to what happened last year, although for different reasons. Really hoping the EA acceptances would look at full year grade instead of semester and not rescind based on one grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all. He will get either a C or a D for the semester in math, unfortunately, depending on the last assignments which are as yet ungraded. He's always had straight As in math previously, and in all other subjects, and we don't quite understand how it has come to this. This is for AP Calc BC.

He's accepted Early Action to one college already, but the letter states that he needs to keep up the same academic record he had in the past - which in math is not the case.

Will the college rescind their application, do you think?

Your son should. When did the fall off happen? What was the grade like at the interim?

When did he realize he wasn't grasping the material and what did he do to get tutoring or support?

His ability to do this kind of diagnosis and advocacy, in a timely manner before he can no longer recover his grades, will be key when he gets to college. So the fact that he's still struggling with those things is a sign he still has quite a bit of work to do in that area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all. He will get either a C or a D for the semester in math, unfortunately, depending on the last assignments which are as yet ungraded. He's always had straight As in math previously, and in all other subjects, and we don't quite understand how it has come to this. This is for AP Calc BC.

He's accepted Early Action to one college already, but the letter states that he needs to keep up the same academic record he had in the past - which in math is not the case.

Will the college rescind their application, do you think?

Your son should. When did the fall off happen? What was the grade like at the interim?

When did he realize he wasn't grasping the material and what did he do to get tutoring or support?

His ability to do this kind of diagnosis and advocacy, in a timely manner before he can no longer recover his grades, will be key when he gets to college. So the fact that he's still struggling with those things is a sign he still has quite a bit of work to do in that area.

OP here. Sigh. I believe it's a confluence of factors: he's had an IEP all his high school career, except this year he's had just a 504, and it's been a difficult transition without a case manager to oversee his progress. Also, the math teacher is extremely demanding, above and beyond the criteria of the College Board curriculum for AP Calc BC, but he's the only teacher for that class in that school, and we didn't react in time for him to drop the class and switch to an easier one in September - we all thought he'd do better after an adjustment period, because this situation has never happened before. He's had a tutor, but it didn't make a difference. I thought perhaps the teacher wasn't giving him all his extended time, but despite being hardcore, he is actually following the 504 plan, albeit grudgingly, so we can't complain.

It's always been in the works that DS would request accommodations from colleges' disability office. He will have all the updated neuropsychological paperwork to prove his learning disabilities.

Yes, we messed up. It's a shock, because despite his LDs, DS is strong academically. His schedule is comprised mostly of AP courses, and he's doing well in all of them, except this one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all. He will get either a C or a D for the semester in math, unfortunately, depending on the last assignments which are as yet ungraded. He's always had straight As in math previously, and in all other subjects, and we don't quite understand how it has come to this. This is for AP Calc BC.

He's accepted Early Action to one college already, but the letter states that he needs to keep up the same academic record he had in the past - which in math is not the case.

Will the college rescind their application, do you think?

Your son should. When did the fall off happen? What was the grade like at the interim?

When did he realize he wasn't grasping the material and what did he do to get tutoring or support?

His ability to do this kind of diagnosis and advocacy, in a timely manner before he can no longer recover his grades, will be key when he gets to college. So the fact that he's still struggling with those things is a sign he still has quite a bit of work to do in that area.

OP here. Sigh. I believe it's a confluence of factors: he's had an IEP all his high school career, except this year he's had just a 504, and it's been a difficult transition without a case manager to oversee his progress. Also, the math teacher is extremely demanding, above and beyond the criteria of the College Board curriculum for AP Calc BC, but he's the only teacher for that class in that school, and we didn't react in time for him to drop the class and switch to an easier one in September - we all thought he'd do better after an adjustment period, because this situation has never happened before. He's had a tutor, but it didn't make a difference. I thought perhaps the teacher wasn't giving him all his extended time, but despite being hardcore, he is actually following the 504 plan, albeit grudgingly, so we can't complain.

It's always been in the works that DS would request accommodations from colleges' disability office. He will have all the updated neuropsychological paperwork to prove his learning disabilities.

Yes, we messed up. It's a shock, because despite his LDs, DS is strong academically. His schedule is comprised mostly of AP courses, and he's doing well in all of them, except this one.

OP, it feels tough right now, but it will be okay. If this is literally the only non-A your child gets, I doubt any college will even ask. But just make sure he is ready to explain what happened and how he will learn. Ignore the poster above. Some people just like to be mean around here. I don't think your first semester HS senior needs to be in the same maturity spot as a first semester college freshman. It will come with time and experience.