How to Explain Covid Year Grades

[Anonymous]

So what is the answer? Disregard all grades for all kids for the past 18 months?
What is a high school to do that is trying to pick students that are capable of doing high level work in high school?

The OP says her kid has good grades from 2019-2020. Well spring 2020 is completely inflated as well. My DCPS kid ended up with a 300% in every class that year because DCPS counted every term 4 grade as extra credit.
OP's kid would have to go back to 5th grade to get a legit year of grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woah. I think the parents with B students/Covid slackers are out in force.

I had a kid who came out of public last year and it was ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE not to get As last year. There were limitless retakes and the lowest possible grade in DCPS (for example) was a B. Teachers gave As for turning in ANYTHING.

Kids who got Bs literally did not do anything.

Why should a selective private school take a kid who elected to do nothing last year over a kid who played by the rules and turned in assignments?
When there are 10 kids for one spot at these schools, why should it go to a kid who didn't do anything when the other 9 did?
There is zero chance an admissions committee would select this kid over the others unless he/she has some crazy talent.
It's a major liability for the school the next time this kid hits a bump in in the road.

This is simply not true for DCPS. My Deal kid had a C- and a D+ in two classes he struggled with and after missing a week for a COVID and a week for a death in family. Yes, you can’t have gotten any zeros (50s instead) and anything turned it can’t be below a D but it was not a given B. Thankfully, he did manage to get both classes back to a B but only after making up and addressing missing assignments, but he could have ended the year with the C and D. Any many kids with parents that weren’t on top ended up with Ds and Fs.

No, this isn't true. DCPS only gave As and Bs as final grades last year (20-21). Alls Cs and Ds were turned into "P".

From their Covid grading policy:

A Students who earn an A or B will have the benefit of this grade published on their
B transcript and the associated GPA weight.

C Students who earn a C or a D will not be penalized for this lower grade being published.
D Instead they’ll be assigned a “P” (for passing) and it will be GPA neutral.

F I Students who are earn a failing final grade will be assigned an “I” for incomplete.

Even still, PP said everyone was given A/B and that is not true.

Also, I just pulled my DC’s Deal report card. He was in fact given a C- for term 2 final report card. His final grade for the year in that class was a B but he did get a C- posted on official report card.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woah. I think the parents with B students/Covid slackers are out in force.

I had a kid who came out of public last year and it was ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE not to get As last year. There were limitless retakes and the lowest possible grade in DCPS (for example) was a B. Teachers gave As for turning in ANYTHING.

Kids who got Bs literally did not do anything.

Why should a selective private school take a kid who elected to do nothing last year over a kid who played by the rules and turned in assignments?
When there are 10 kids for one spot at these schools, why should it go to a kid who didn't do anything when the other 9 did?
There is zero chance an admissions committee would select this kid over the others unless he/she has some crazy talent.
It's a major liability for the school the next time this kid hits a bump in in the road.

This is simply not true for DCPS. My Deal kid had a C- and a D+ in two classes he struggled with and after missing a week for a COVID and a week for a death in family. Yes, you can’t have gotten any zeros (50s instead) and anything turned it can’t be below a D but it was not a given B. Thankfully, he did manage to get both classes back to a B but only after making up and addressing missing assignments, but he could have ended the year with the C and D. Any many kids with parents that weren’t on top ended up with Ds and Fs.

No, this isn't true. DCPS only gave As and Bs as final grades last year (20-21). Alls Cs and Ds were turned into "P".

From their Covid grading policy:

A Students who earn an A or B will have the benefit of this grade published on their
B transcript and the associated GPA weight.

C Students who earn a C or a D will not be penalized for this lower grade being published.
D Instead they’ll be assigned a “P” (for passing) and it will be GPA neutral.

F I Students who are earn a failing final grade will be assigned an “I” for incomplete.

Even still, PP said everyone was given A/B and that is not true.

Also, I just pulled my DC’s Deal report card. He was in fact given a C- for term 2 final report card. His final grade for the year in that class was a B but he did get a C- posted on official report card.

DCPS transcripts only send the final grade to schools/colleges (not any quarter grades).

But the fact that a kid with a C- in a quarter could end up with a B for the year in and of itself proves the point that it takes A LOT to not get As/Bs in DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Gosh people can be mean! I’d just be honest and say that your child really struggled with virtual learning, as is evident in his drop in grades, and try to explain why. Maybe there was another area (helping care for a sibling?) where your child did thrive during the pandemic that you could high light.. I get how competitive these school are, but I am hopeful that the right school will give him a chance. It would be hard to imagine that people aren’t keenly aware of how difficult virtual schooling was/is on kids (but goodness, by reading these comments maybe people just live in holes), and have an understanding of the depression, mental health issues etc that plagued kids. Fingers crossed for your kiddo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of miserable people on this thread. Some of the more artistic and creative kids found it hard to sit in front of a computer all day. I cant speak to public, but our private was a GRIND. Big 3 and it was WORK. All day on zoom and then more online school for homework. I thought my kids would have a mental collapse. Give the OP a break, every child reacted differently in Covid, I have multiple kids and saw that myself. My kids are back to getting great grades, but there were some bumps during Covid for sure. It does not mean they were lazy.
OP, just explain it the best you can and try to get good scores on the entrance exams. Good luck.

There is very very little homework in public middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is applying to privates. He was all A's through 6th grade and all A's in 8th grade, but he had mostly B's and even a C during the remote year. Privates only want 7th & 8th grade transcripts, so we'll have 4 lousy terms and 1 normal (good) term reported. Has anyone received guidance from the schools on how to address this? I'm thinking about asking if we can submit transcripts for additional years and trying to explain. I plan to call the schools to discuss, but welcome any feedback/experience others have had with this

Well since everybody went through Covid, you can’t really use it as a distinguishing factor.

Do you think everyone had the same covid experience? I can tell you we lost family and we know people who lost their livelihoods. We know kids who didn’t go to school for 18 months, kids who worked virtually from their parents workplace - or car - when their parent couldn’t wfh. I am sure you had a hard time, too. Right?

If you were doing virtual, you were going to school. Except if the parents choose no school, the kids were in school. But the more successful kids had involved parents.

Sorry your rich friends lost their jobs but given their income there was no excuse for not having savings to get them through it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woah. I think the parents with B students/Covid slackers are out in force.

I had a kid who came out of public last year and it was ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE not to get As last year. There were limitless retakes and the lowest possible grade in DCPS (for example) was a B. Teachers gave As for turning in ANYTHING.

Kids who got Bs literally did not do anything.

Why should a selective private school take a kid who elected to do nothing last year over a kid who played by the rules and turned in assignments?
When there are 10 kids for one spot at these schools, why should it go to a kid who didn't do anything when the other 9 did?
There is zero chance an admissions committee would select this kid over the others unless he/she has some crazy talent.
It's a major liability for the school the next time this kid hits a bump in in the road.

This is simply not true for DCPS. My Deal kid had a C- and a D+ in two classes he struggled with and after missing a week for a COVID and a week for a death in family. Yes, you can’t have gotten any zeros (50s instead) and anything turned it can’t be below a D but it was not a given B. Thankfully, he did manage to get both classes back to a B but only after making up and addressing missing assignments, but he could have ended the year with the C and D. Any many kids with parents that weren’t on top ended up with Ds and Fs.

No, this isn't true. DCPS only gave As and Bs as final grades last year (20-21). Alls Cs and Ds were turned into "P".

From their Covid grading policy:

A Students who earn an A or B will have the benefit of this grade published on their
B transcript and the associated GPA weight.

C Students who earn a C or a D will not be penalized for this lower grade being published.
D Instead they’ll be assigned a “P” (for passing) and it will be GPA neutral.

F I Students who are earn a failing final grade will be assigned an “I” for incomplete.

Even still, PP said everyone was given A/B and that is not true.

Also, I just pulled my DC’s Deal report card. He was in fact given a C- for term 2 final report card. His final grade for the year in that class was a B but he did get a C- posted on official report card.

DCPS transcripts only send the final grade to schools/colleges (not any quarter grades).

But the fact that a kid with a C- in a quarter could end up with a B for the year in and of itself proves the point that it takes A LOT to not get As/Bs in DCPS.

Has nothing to do with DCPS grades. Had a B, C, B, A. Each term is brand new. Term 2 he had COVID and had a rough term. Good to know they only send final grades. I’m not sure how true that is because they just sent this last quarter grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woah. I think the parents with B students/Covid slackers are out in force.

I had a kid who came out of public last year and it was ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE not to get As last year. There were limitless retakes and the lowest possible grade in DCPS (for example) was a B. Teachers gave As for turning in ANYTHING.

Kids who got Bs literally did not do anything.

Why should a selective private school take a kid who elected to do nothing last year over a kid who played by the rules and turned in assignments?
When there are 10 kids for one spot at these schools, why should it go to a kid who didn't do anything when the other 9 did?
There is zero chance an admissions committee would select this kid over the others unless he/she has some crazy talent.
It's a major liability for the school the next time this kid hits a bump in in the road.

This is simply not true for DCPS. My Deal kid had a C- and a D+ in two classes he struggled with and after missing a week for a COVID and a week for a death in family. Yes, you can’t have gotten any zeros (50s instead) and anything turned it can’t be below a D but it was not a given B. Thankfully, he did manage to get both classes back to a B but only after making up and addressing missing assignments, but he could have ended the year with the C and D. Any many kids with parents that weren’t on top ended up with Ds and Fs.

No, this isn't true. DCPS only gave As and Bs as final grades last year (20-21). Alls Cs and Ds were turned into "P".

From their Covid grading policy:

A Students who earn an A or B will have the benefit of this grade published on their
B transcript and the associated GPA weight.

C Students who earn a C or a D will not be penalized for this lower grade being published.
D Instead they’ll be assigned a “P” (for passing) and it will be GPA neutral.

F I Students who are earn a failing final grade will be assigned an “I” for incomplete.

Even still, PP said everyone was given A/B and that is not true.

Also, I just pulled my DC’s Deal report card. He was in fact given a C- for term 2 final report card. His final grade for the year in that class was a B but he did get a C- posted on official report card.

DCPS transcripts only send the final grade to schools/colleges (not any quarter grades).

But the fact that a kid with a C- in a quarter could end up with a B for the year in and of itself proves the point that it takes A LOT to not get As/Bs in DCPS.

Has nothing to do with DCPS grades. Had a B, C, B, A. Each term is brand new. Term 2 he had COVID and had a rough term. Good to know they only send final grades. I’m not sure how true that is because they just sent this last quarter grades.

Covid should last a week. So, blaming covid seems silly and if it was longer you can provide medical documentation as to it lasted longer. But, that doesn't explain the B's that were before or after covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I participate in interviews for my alma mater. I know your situation is different in that you're talking about a younger kid, but as a general rule, we've not been impressed with any sort of "explanations" (i.e. excuses) for "Covid year grades." All our other applicants maintained their 'A' records throughout the year, so I really don't care that you're such a social person you just couldn't deal with remote learning.

To be fair, if that’s all you do, you’re not really responsible for any real aspect of admissions.

[Anonymous]

Just be honest

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't ask about sending more transcripts. I'd just send them. I'd also send an update with 2nd quarter 8th grade grades as soon as you have them. They'll be able to see that year was an anomaly. I don't think you need to explain until the interview, at which time your kid needs to be prepared to address it. Apply to a range of schools and see what happens.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is applying to privates. He was all A's through 6th grade and all A's in 8th grade, but he had mostly B's and even a C during the remote year. Privates only want 7th & 8th grade transcripts, so we'll have 4 lousy terms and 1 normal (good) term reported. Has anyone received guidance from the schools on how to address this? I'm thinking about asking if we can submit transcripts for additional years and trying to explain. I plan to call the schools to discuss, but welcome any feedback/experience others have had with this

Well since everybody went through Covid, you can’t really use it as a distinguishing factor.

Do you think everyone had the same covid experience? I can tell you we lost family and we know people who lost their livelihoods. We know kids who didn’t go to school for 18 months, kids who worked virtually from their parents workplace - or car - when their parent couldn’t wfh. I am sure you had a hard time, too. Right?

If you were doing virtual, you were going to school. Except if the parents choose no school, the kids were in school. But the more successful kids had involved parents.

Sorry your rich friends lost their jobs but given their income there was no excuse for not having savings to get them through it.

Rich friends? Could you point out my rich friends? Oh, you just assumed that. OK. And the kids in virtual in parking lots because they don’t have wifi? You know those kids too?

You teveal more and more about yourself each time you post.

[Anonymous]

…reveal more…

[Anonymous]

OP, if your kid was virtual, you are the one who is ultimately responsible. Why did you allow it? Be honest, is my advice.

[Anonymous]

Wasn't every single kid in the world impacted by Covid? I don't think you can explain bad grades this way.