What Percentage of Middle School Students Get All As

[Anonymous]

Anecdotally it seems fairly high. Anyone know the approximate percentage?

[Anonymous]

My daughter had her 8th grade promotion last spring. One of the last "awards" was for all students who scored some GPA or higher to come to the stage. I forget the cut-off, but it was for pretty much all As and maybe one B throughout your MS career.

Pretty much all the kids came on the stage. It was laughable. Made the kids who were called on stage for a GPA higher than 3.25 (or was it 3.5) look really pathetic.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the school, but I’d say at least 50%.

[Anonymous]

My kid's school has a "straight-A breakfast" after each marking period. Seems like about 15% of each grade was on the list last time.

[Anonymous]

It’s a large number at our school but it always perplexes me. My kids are “gifted” and at least one of them works really hard but neither got straight A’s. If you do the advanced math and language courses, it’s actually pretty hard to do it. Looking at the list of straight A’s, I’m pretty confident a large number were taking the easiest classes, as I knew many of the kids.

[Anonymous]

It is really high because kids are allowed to resubmit a lot of assignments..

[Anonymous]

Our MS doesn't advertise this (new principal seems to have cut the All As award for 8th graders, which is good by me) but I don't sense it's a lot. We are a magnet though, and parents I know are open about their kid struggling with some of the classes. Other parents are open with kids struggling with levels 2 and 3 of languages. My kid is likely to graduate with almost all As except a B in health in 6th grade.

[Anonymous]

At our school it’s about 1/3rd of the grade. I wish the school wouldn’t acknowledge it. I think those who do get straight As (my kids included) already feel whatever internal pride. I don’t think the quarterly certificate motivates them. And I feel sad for any hurt this might cause students who have missed the mark. The potential shame, disappointment or humiliation a child might feel about grades should be allowed to be private, and this makes it public.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is really high because kids are allowed to resubmit a lot of assignments..

I have zero issues with this. The goal is to learn hopefully which is achieved through teacher feedback and then resubmission. Some of you think everything should be a competition which is why you have an issue with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our school it’s about 1/3rd of the grade. I wish the school wouldn’t acknowledge it. I think those who do get straight As (my kids included) already feel whatever internal pride. I don’t think the quarterly certificate motivates them. And I feel sad for any hurt this might cause students who have missed the mark. The potential shame, disappointment or humiliation a child might feel about grades should be allowed to be private, and this makes it public.

+10000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is really high because kids are allowed to resubmit a lot of assignments..

I have zero issues with this. The goal is to learn hopefully which is achieved through teacher feedback and then resubmission. Some of you think everything should be a competition which is why you have an issue with this.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is really high because kids are allowed to resubmit a lot of assignments..

I have zero issues with this. The goal is to learn hopefully which is achieved through teacher feedback and then resubmission. Some of you think everything should be a competition which is why you have an issue with this.

Completely agree too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is really high because kids are allowed to resubmit a lot of assignments..

I have zero issues with this. The goal is to learn hopefully which is achieved through teacher feedback and then resubmission. Some of you think everything should be a competition which is why you have an issue with this.

Completely agree too!

Agreed!

[Anonymous]

I am the PP that you responded to on this. I think it's fine to resubmit*sometimes* (hw, for sure, or maybe pop quizzes). But I think you are doing a disservice to the kids by not teaching them some basic study skills..for example, maybe if you have a test, you should study for it a few days before, attend study sessions with the teacher, and do well the first time, instead of asking to take a makeup exam.

And I am speaking as a parent whose kid gets straight A's but has poor study habits. She has taken several (GT) math tests over the last year after doing average the first time (80-85%). Most of the time, it's because she didn't even bother to study. A sense that there aren't second chances for everything would maybe motivate her. She has a ton of other GT friends also with straight A's taking makeups too.

I could care less whether my kid (or anyone else's kid) gets recognition for straight A's. But straight A's should translate to competence and hard work which isn't the case often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the PP that you responded to on this. I think it's fine to resubmit*sometimes* (hw, for sure, or maybe pop quizzes). But I think you are doing a disservice to the kids by not teaching them some basic study skills..for example, maybe if you have a test, you should study for it a few days before, attend study sessions with the teacher, and do well the first time, instead of asking to take a makeup exam.

And I am speaking as a parent whose kid gets straight A's but has poor study habits. She has taken several (GT) math tests over the last year after doing average the first time (80-85%). Most of the time, it's because she didn't even bother to study. A sense that there aren't second chances for everything would maybe motivate her. She has a ton of other GT friends also with straight A's taking makeups too.

I could care less whether my kid (or anyone else's kid) gets recognition for straight A's. But straight A's should translate to competence and hard work which isn't the case often.

It doesn’t have to be one or the other. You can encourage good study skills and preparation and also allow room for making an attempt, receiving feedback, and going back and re-learning the material properly. I also disagree with you that straight As should have anything to do with hard work. Sometimes understanding comes easily to students. If they have mastered the material they should earn an A. Others might have to put in more effort. That’s fine too. The A indicates mastery and understanding. Every single student will have a different pathway to pursue mastery and understanding, and for many, the retakes are a beneficial pathway. It’s not a reward for working the hardest and it’s also not a competition.