When Did MCPS Stop Having Mid-Terms and Finals?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many kids were failing and making MCPS look bad. So they were eliminated

I remember MCPS justified it by saying "everyone" took AP classes and those were the finals. They were a large percentage of the grade (maybe 30%). I also remember that people would hire tutors just to help their kids study for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many kids were failing and making MCPS look bad. So they were eliminated

This is just crazy that this is the answer but it really is the answer. 🙁

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too many kids were failing and making MCPS look bad. So they were eliminated

Too many kids did not take finals seriously because they know they have already passed the classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s crazy

My kids had midterms and finals since middle school at their private

Lucky them, we are talking about public school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many kids were failing and making MCPS look bad. So they were eliminated

Too many kids did not take finals seriously because they know they have already passed the classes.

So make it part of the final grade so it's not a waste of their time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How will that prepare them for college

It doesn't. But that is not MCPS' problem. The problem to solve is a graduation rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:An AP test is basically a final. I don’t know what people mean by “mid-terms.” When I was in MCPS we had a final exam in most classes (not most electives) at the end of each semester. But those were semester final exams, not mid-terms. I don’t think we had any mid-term exam as opposed to unit tests or whatever the teachers chose to give along the way. I do think HS final exams were useful experiences and we also got a week off of regular school because of the scheduling of finals - up to 2 per day but not more and often only had one.

The semester final exams are the "mid terms". I am sure the OP is an immigrant and this is the vocabulary of someone who did not go to school here.

OP - There are two semesters in the school year. And each semester has two quarters. MCPS does all kinds of weird smoke and mirrors in testing and reporting so URM, FARMs and low performing students can also seem to be doing well. One thing they decided that if they do not have semester final exams...there will be no way to judge how poorly kids are being doing. This was based on an expose by Washington Post (WaPo) that saw that A students (who got As due to turning in homework in time and unit tests that were take home etc) actually were failing the semester exam.

Let me explain it to you -
School year = Semester 1 + Semester 2
Semester 1 = Quarter 1 + Quarter 2
Semester 2 = Quarter 3 + Quarter 4

Grades calculated that goes on the transcript before they removed the semester final

Semester 1 grade = quarter 1 + quarter 2 + end of semester exam.

Now Semester 1 grade = quarter 1 + quarter 2

Also a grade in any quarter is rounded off not in percentages but by 100% of the next grade.

So, if a kid got 89.5% in quarter 1, it will be rounded off to not a 90% and thus an A, but rather it will be counted as an A which scored 100%. This is called - GRADE INFLATION

URM = Under Represented Minorities (Blacks and Hispanics)

FARMS = Free And Reduced Meals Students = Poor students.

How are grades determined in each quarter? Turning in homework (Does not have to be correct or complete) gets you 10%. Rest are projects and tests that can be repeated multiple times or even taken home to finish. Kids are dumb enough to not even finish those tests.

This person is only posting what she read on DCUM.
Definitely a private school parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too many kids were failing and making MCPS look bad. So they were eliminated

Too many kids did not take finals seriously because they know they have already passed the classes.

So make it part of the final grade so it's not a waste of their time?

That was what MCPS used to do.