Report cards now show number grades in addition to letter grades

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if official transcripts will too? This seems like an important change. Even if it is just on the report cards, some colleges require first quarter grades for ED or certain EA. Fortunately DC had a strong first quarter in terms of number grades in addition to letter grades. But I imagine that is not the case for everyone and I am not sure if colleges will look at a 90% A the same way as a 100% A going forward.

[Anonymous]

I think this is a good thing and addresses the feedback MCPS received from colleges about grade inflation.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth don't they just switch to a standard -/+ system?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth don't they just switch to a standard -/+ system?

I think that’s more confusing than the numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a good thing and addresses the feedback MCPS received from colleges about grade inflation.

I don’t really disagree but it seems problematic that there was not clear communication about this in advance, especially if this will also be on official transcripts (which is still unknown).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is a good thing and addresses the feedback MCPS received from colleges about grade inflation.

I don’t really disagree but it seems problematic that there was not clear communication about this in advance, especially if this will also be on official transcripts (which is still unknown).

I agree with that too. But this is Taylor and MCPS's way. They don't value community engagement or transparency and prefer to just drop things in our laps.

[Anonymous]

Number grades were always visible in parentvue, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth don't they just switch to a standard -/+ system?

I think that’s more confusing than the numbers.

No, it's less confusing. Is a 93 an A- or an A? Listing that would be clearer. I also don't love the stress this puts on perfectionistic kids (I got a 95 but so and so got a 98!) If the grades are both listed as As, kids won't fixate on that kind of thing.

[Anonymous]

The new semester grade policy uses the numerical average of the quarterly percentages, so those quarterlies are important to report to parents.

I don't think the numerical percentage will go on the official transcript, but I'm not sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Number grades were always visible in parentvue, right?

Yes

[Anonymous]

Remember Malcolm in the Middle?

Name Grade
Malcolm 99.999823%
Lloyd. 99.999821%
Dabney 99.981015%
Steve 99.972348%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The new semester grade policy uses the numerical average of the quarterly percentages, so those quarterlies are important to report to parents.

I don't think the numerical percentage will go on the official transcript, but I'm not sure.

I don't think it will either. On the report card, there isn't a Score column in the Final section, only a grade. That's what will be on the transcript (one final grade per semester).

[Anonymous]

I doubt it will be on the transcripts. Juniors and Seniors families would revolt. Maybe a couple of years from now they could consider that. But for right now it would be a bad decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why on earth don't they just switch to a standard -/+ system?

I think that’s more confusing than the numbers.

No, it's less confusing. Is a 93 an A- or an A? Listing that would be clearer. I also don't love the stress this puts on perfectionistic kids (I got a 95 but so and so got a 98!) If the grades are both listed as As, kids won't fixate on that kind of thing.

Of course pluses and minues are more confusing; the cutoffs for pluses and minuses aren’t standardized across every school in the US. However, the actual percentage of total possible points earned is standardized. In every school district 93% is greater than 92% and less than 94%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt it will be on the transcripts. Juniors and Seniors families would revolt. Maybe a couple of years from now they could consider that. But for right now it would be a bad decision.

But Op is right that some schools require it for seniors for first quarter. I had a friend whose school sent that out to the ED school without even telling the kid before hand. I’m sure some kids are gojng to be surprised by this. They should have been more clear about this. Well know for next year I guess.