Grade inflation at School Without Walls?
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Anonymous
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According to this article in Walls’ school newspaper, there is rampant post-quarantine grade inflation now.
“The junior class at Walls has an average GPA of 3.93, a number school counselor Kathryn Moore called “very high.” She also noted that the median GPA was over a 4.0. That means that well over half the class had a GPA above 4.0 at the start of the 2022-23 school year. This number will likely only increase, as juniors take on more AP classes, which are graded on a 5.0 scale.” https://www.swwrookery.com/post/hugely-inflated-are-pandemic-era-grading-policies-doing-more-harm-than-good My rising 9th grader is heading to Walls in the fall, but this article gives me pause. She’s an excellent, hardworking student, but how will she be able to distinguish herself from more middling, less hardworking, students if their grades are pretty much the same when applying to college? Can any current Walls parents offer insight? Especially parents of juniors and seniors. Thanks! |
Anonymous
Wow--massive grade inflation! |
Anonymous
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Most of Walls Class of 2024 will graduate summa cum laude and just about everyone will be in the National Honor Society...
That is crazy! I can see why the school and some students believe that this massive grade inflation is setting them for failure. Grade inflation makes it difficult to stand out, especially at a school like Walls where many students are already inclined toward high academic achievement. Ms. Moore cited the honors distinctions that appear on Walls transcripts in place of rankings as an example: Anyone with above a 3.8 GPA — below the junior-class average — graduates summa cum laude, the highest distinction. In a similar vein, the National Honor Society’s minimum GPA for eligibility is 3.5, a standard the vast majority of Walls students meet. “How much of an honor is it then?” Ms. Moore asked. She clarified that the criteria for honors distinctions and the National Honor Society “were set with a different grading process” before the pandemic. ... Mr. Jordan said that the pandemic-era grading policy “does not push students to excel,” and that students will face a “rude awakening” when they get to college. “It gives them a cushion and a false sense of their performance,” he said. “Colleges do not have a WS or [a] 63 percent [minimum].” Some students do understand this. “It’s definitely hurt my work ethic,” Douglas said. “When I go to college, it’s going to hurt me because I’m not actively putting in as much effort as I should or as I could because of those policies. So when I go to college, I won’t be as prepared. I won’t have the strong work ethic that I probably could have [had] if those policies weren’t in place. |
Anonymous
| It's a test-in school, full of kids who have gotten all As in middle school. Why is this is a shock? |
Anonymous
| These are all kids at the top! |
Anonymous
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Obviously, this massive grade inflation was in effect at other DCPS schools, not just Walls.
As a result, the pool of 500 kids that Walls drew from was a pool of kids with vastly inflated grades, at least those from DCPS. Too bad for kids at private schools, charters, and non-DC schools that didn't benefit from the DCPS' grade inflationary policies. There are going to be a lot of kids going to Walls in the fall who are not as qualified as previous applicants, and just happened to benefit from DCPS' ridiculous pandemic-era grade inflation. That is yet another reason why Walls' refusal to bring back the entrance exam was a huge blunder. This is just another nail in the coffin for Walls' status as the most selective public school in DC. |
Anonymous
Everyone at HYP is a straight A student. They don't give everyone in the senior class summa cum laude. Did you even read the article? The school itself--including admins, teachers, and students--are worried that this is going to hurt students going forward. |
Anonymous
Uh, it's not a test-in school.. |
Anonymous
Yes it is. |
Anonymous
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The kids that are gaming the system would do so regardless. Hopefully things will go back to normal next year. Just make sure your kid is organized and working hard. The rest will take care of itself.
A "WS" can also indicate a lot of unorganized and less than stellar teachers. Numerous times they have been entered when assignments have been completed and in Canvas. Those missing assignments can be the difference b/t a C and an A. I know teachers lose things all the time but stop blaming the kids for everything. |
Anonymous
Please get a clue. You obviously don't have a kid admitted to Walls. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/school-without-walls-admissions-test-diversity/2021/08/27/6959cec2-0293-11ec-a664-4f6de3e17ff0_story.html |
Anonymous
Average GPA at Harvard is a 3.8. https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/10/3/barton-grade-inflation/ |
Anonymous
A lot of private schools and the like have grade inflation, retakes, etc. The entrance exam benefited those from schools with a good cohort. It didn't necessarily identify the most qualified students. I doubt the test comes back but I do expect another indicator for entry. There are seniors and juniors(both test in classes) that probably should have left SWW. Good students will always shine. No way to measure work ethic and desire. |
Anonymous
Hahaha. I love posters like PP, ready to jump in with opinions and outrage without understanding the very basic facts. |
Anonymous
The DC top privates don't have grade deflation. There are no retakes and no late work is accepted. You are a day late? That's a zero. There is no GPA bump for honors or AP classes My daughter (from DCPS) is at NCS and they are proud of saying that they have not had a 4.0 grad in 45 years. A "very strong" student will gradate with something like a 3.7 It's the opposite of DCPS. You are spreading an absolute falsehood. |