Grade inflation at School Without Walls?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the same about Deal when so many posted about their kids having 4.0s to even apply to Walls. I suspect its a national issue as teachers know how impactful grades are to college admissions.

A 3.5 used to be a really good GPA and now it's treated like a C average.

I agree. This a national issue driven by colleges. No one is getting an “A” in DCPS based on 50s and 63s alone. Those policies raise graduation rates; they don’t give anyone a weighted GPA over 4.0.

Before you try to get DCPS to unilaterally disarm, take a good look at what happened in college admissions this year to unhooked smart kids from private schools that tried unilateral disarmament.

BUT...won't this bite colleges in the butt? If the applicant pool is watered down with kids who aren't used to working hard, it doesn't seem like this is in the schools' best interest. I know people complain about millennials not liking to work hard, seems this next generation will be even worse.

It does not appear that colleges are particularly concerned about this.

Not yet. Once these colleges see the outcomes, things will change and they’ll revert back to “the sure thing.”

Doubt it..Colleges are in it for the money so there is no need for them to change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Don't be naive. WS is not a grade any teacher wants to give, It has been mandated by DCPS and administrators. It's a gift to kids who perpetually don't turn in work on time, but an F would cause trouble, so you give them a WS and time to get it in. Canvas has a time stamp. Turning it in does not mean it was turned in on time. It's the default "please don't fail this student" meant to appease parents and keep graduation rates higher. If teachers ever really gave your kids the grades they actually deserve, held them accountable for deadlines, you people would be up in arms and threatening to sue. There is absolutely grade inflation at every high school across the country, and that's why so many parents are left complaining that their "high stats" kids dd not get into colleges they wanted. That's because damn near everybody has high stats now. You need the other stuff. High GPA is nearly irrelevant at this point in admissions.

So, wait a minute. Test scores don’t matter and GPA doesn’t matter, WTH? No wonder mental health issues are a thing for this generation. Mediocrity matters!

[Anonymous]

It's not that they don't matter, it's that if everybody has the same grades the decision weighs heavily toward the other factors when choosing between one student and the other. So no, not "irrelevant" per se, but no longer the major factor. More the baseline.

[Anonymous]

So who is declining their spot? We have a decent wait list number. I'm sure some of you are just appalled by this "not new" revelation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the same about Deal when so many posted about their kids having 4.0s to even apply to Walls. I suspect its a national issue as teachers know how impactful grades are to college admissions.

A 3.5 used to be a really good GPA and now it's treated like a C average.

I agree. This a national issue driven by colleges. No one is getting an “A” in DCPS based on 50s and 63s alone. Those policies raise graduation rates; they don’t give anyone a weighted GPA over 4.0.

Before you try to get DCPS to unilaterally disarm, take a good look at what happened in college admissions this year to unhooked smart kids from private schools that tried unilateral disarmament.

BUT...won't this bite colleges in the butt? If the applicant pool is watered down with kids who aren't used to working hard, it doesn't seem like this is in the schools' best interest. I know people complain about millennials not liking to work hard, seems this next generation will be even worse.

It does not appear that colleges are particularly concerned about this.

Not yet. Once these colleges see the outcomes, things will change and they’ll revert back to “the sure thing.”

Doubt it..Colleges are in it for the money so there is no need for them to change.

Colleges are in it for the money and the outcomes. Private school graduates from top schools offer both. Public school graduates from schools with rampant grade inflation (and emptier pockets) are a much bigger risk. That’s why private school graduates will always be over represented at the most selective colleges.

As someone already mentioned, MIT has already done away with “test optional.” You need to have strong grades AND test scores. Other top schools will soon follow.

[Anonymous]

Interesting...if anything, teachers at J-R are raising standards and grading has become harder over the last year (at least if you look at the distribution of grades by assignment in Aspen). And they have to follow the same DCPS guidelines.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the same about Deal when so many posted about their kids having 4.0s to even apply to Walls. I suspect its a national issue as teachers know how impactful grades are to college admissions.

A 3.5 used to be a really good GPA and now it's treated like a C average.

I agree. This a national issue driven by colleges. No one is getting an “A” in DCPS based on 50s and 63s alone. Those policies raise graduation rates; they don’t give anyone a weighted GPA over 4.0.

Before you try to get DCPS to unilaterally disarm, take a good look at what happened in college admissions this year to unhooked smart kids from private schools that tried unilateral disarmament.

BUT...won't this bite colleges in the butt? If the applicant pool is watered down with kids who aren't used to working hard, it doesn't seem like this is in the schools' best interest. I know people complain about millennials not liking to work hard, seems this next generation will be even worse.

It does not appear that colleges are particularly concerned about this.

Not yet. Once these colleges see the outcomes, things will change and they’ll revert back to “the sure thing.”

Doubt it..Colleges are in it for the money so there is no need for them to change.

Colleges are in it for the money and the outcomes. Private school graduates from top schools offer both. Public school graduates from schools with rampant grade inflation (and emptier pockets) are a much bigger risk. That’s why private school graduates will always be over represented at the most selective colleges.

As someone already mentioned, MIT has already done away with “test optional.” You need to have strong grades AND test scores. Other top schools will soon follow.

Adorable that you don’t think there is grade inflation at top privates. Kid was in a big 3. there’s a lot of mediocrity at these schools. But they’re rich mediocrity, so you deem them better probably.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting...if anything, teachers at J-R are raising standards and grading has become harder over the last year (at least if you look at the distribution of grades by assignment in Aspen). And they have to follow the same DCPS guidelines.

The JR profile data sheet (on their counseling page) seems to indicate some inflation. 5% of the students have GPAs of 4 but 35% are between 3.5-3.99 (unweighted). That is quite high.

[Anonymous]

There is absolutely an "awakening" happening on the part of teachers that the lockdown/post-covid allowances are beyond the pale and a crackdown and heightening of standards is necessary. But just take, for example, the fact that the very lowest grade you can give someone is a 63, even if the actual grade is more like 30. That's nonsense to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the same about Deal when so many posted about their kids having 4.0s to even apply to Walls. I suspect its a national issue as teachers know how impactful grades are to college admissions.

A 3.5 used to be a really good GPA and now it's treated like a C average.

I agree. This a national issue driven by colleges. No one is getting an “A” in DCPS based on 50s and 63s alone. Those policies raise graduation rates; they don’t give anyone a weighted GPA over 4.0.

Before you try to get DCPS to unilaterally disarm, take a good look at what happened in college admissions this year to unhooked smart kids from private schools that tried unilateral disarmament.

BUT...won't this bite colleges in the butt? If the applicant pool is watered down with kids who aren't used to working hard, it doesn't seem like this is in the schools' best interest. I know people complain about millennials not liking to work hard, seems this next generation will be even worse.

It does not appear that colleges are particularly concerned about this.

Getting into a top college is not the primary goal. The goal is to prepare your kid to be able to handle the work and rigor of college.

Reality is top colleges don’t care, because there will always be alot if kids coming from better schools with the rigor and academic challenge. The issue is yourkid from walls will struggle against these kids and it will be sink or swim

You assume a kid from Walls will struggle because they got all As at Walls? Is there a higher grade they could have gotten?

The kids at Walls, if they went to any other public high school in DC, would be straight A students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the same about Deal when so many posted about their kids having 4.0s to even apply to Walls. I suspect its a national issue as teachers know how impactful grades are to college admissions.

A 3.5 used to be a really good GPA and now it's treated like a C average.

I agree. This a national issue driven by colleges. No one is getting an “A” in DCPS based on 50s and 63s alone. Those policies raise graduation rates; they don’t give anyone a weighted GPA over 4.0.

Before you try to get DCPS to unilaterally disarm, take a good look at what happened in college admissions this year to unhooked smart kids from private schools that tried unilateral disarmament.

BUT...won't this bite colleges in the butt? If the applicant pool is watered down with kids who aren't used to working hard, it doesn't seem like this is in the schools' best interest. I know people complain about millennials not liking to work hard, seems this next generation will be even worse.

In DC, perhaps. Move just a little outside the District, and that would not be the case if they attended TJ.

It does not appear that colleges are particularly concerned about this.

Getting into a top college is not the primary goal. The goal is to prepare your kid to be able to handle the work and rigor of college.

Reality is top colleges don’t care, because there will always be alot if kids coming from better schools with the rigor and academic challenge. The issue is yourkid from walls will struggle against these kids and it will be sink or swim

You assume a kid from Walls will struggle because they got all As at Walls? Is there a higher grade they could have gotten?

The kids at Walls, if they went to any other public high school in DC, would be straight A students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the same about Deal when so many posted about their kids having 4.0s to even apply to Walls. I suspect its a national issue as teachers know how impactful grades are to college admissions.

A 3.5 used to be a really good GPA and now it's treated like a C average.

I agree. This a national issue driven by colleges. No one is getting an “A” in DCPS based on 50s and 63s alone. Those policies raise graduation rates; they don’t give anyone a weighted GPA over 4.0.

Before you try to get DCPS to unilaterally disarm, take a good look at what happened in college admissions this year to unhooked smart kids from private schools that tried unilateral disarmament.

BUT...won't this bite colleges in the butt? If the applicant pool is watered down with kids who aren't used to working hard, it doesn't seem like this is in the schools' best interest. I know people complain about millennials not liking to work hard, seems this next generation will be even worse.

It does not appear that colleges are particularly concerned about this.

Getting into a top college is not the primary goal. The goal is to prepare your kid to be able to handle the work and rigor of college.

Reality is top colleges don’t care, because there will always be alot if kids coming from better schools with the rigor and academic challenge. The issue is yourkid from walls will struggle against these kids and it will be sink or swim

You assume a kid from Walls will struggle because they got all As at Walls? Is there a higher grade they could have gotten?

The kids at Walls, if they went to any other public high school in DC, would be straight A students.

In DC, perhaps. Move just a little outside the District, and that would not be the case if they attended TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the same about Deal when so many posted about their kids having 4.0s to even apply to Walls. I suspect its a national issue as teachers know how impactful grades are to college admissions.

A 3.5 used to be a really good GPA and now it's treated like a C average.

I agree. This a national issue driven by colleges. No one is getting an “A” in DCPS based on 50s and 63s alone. Those policies raise graduation rates; they don’t give anyone a weighted GPA over 4.0.

Before you try to get DCPS to unilaterally disarm, take a good look at what happened in college admissions this year to unhooked smart kids from private schools that tried unilateral disarmament.

BUT...won't this bite colleges in the butt? If the applicant pool is watered down with kids who aren't used to working hard, it doesn't seem like this is in the schools' best interest. I know people complain about millennials not liking to work hard, seems this next generation will be even worse.

It does not appear that colleges are particularly concerned about this.

Getting into a top college is not the primary goal. The goal is to prepare your kid to be able to handle the work and rigor of college.

Reality is top colleges don’t care, because there will always be alot if kids coming from better schools with the rigor and academic challenge. The issue is yourkid from walls will struggle against these kids and it will be sink or swim

You assume a kid from Walls will struggle because they got all As at Walls? Is there a higher grade they could have gotten?

The kids at Walls, if they went to any other public high school in DC, would be straight A students.

In DC, perhaps. Move just a little outside the District, and that would not be the case if they attended TJ.

And you know this because…?

Not every kid getting As at Walls would get As at TJ. This is true of some kids getting As at McLean or Justice or whatever FCPS HS you would like to name. But not all. There are plenty of bright kids at Walls. You just assume because they are at Walls they can’t be bright enough for TJ. Even if they are getting the highest grades possible at the school they attend. There are no higher grades.

[Anonymous]

“The average high school grade point average increased significantly from 2010 to 2021, with most of the gains coming during the last five years, according to a new report released today by ACT. During the same time, composite scores on the ACT fell from 21.0 to 20.3, suggesting that grade inflation is a serious problem, the testing company said. In that same time period, most of the students studied changed the way they classify themselves, with A becoming the most common way and the number of B students and C students going down.”

https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2022/05/16/act-says-high-school-gpas-are-rising

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the same about Deal when so many posted about their kids having 4.0s to even apply to Walls. I suspect its a national issue as teachers know how impactful grades are to college admissions.

A 3.5 used to be a really good GPA and now it's treated like a C average.

I agree. This a national issue driven by colleges. No one is getting an “A” in DCPS based on 50s and 63s alone. Those policies raise graduation rates; they don’t give anyone a weighted GPA over 4.0.

Before you try to get DCPS to unilaterally disarm, take a good look at what happened in college admissions this year to unhooked smart kids from private schools that tried unilateral disarmament.

BUT...won't this bite colleges in the butt? If the applicant pool is watered down with kids who aren't used to working hard, it doesn't seem like this is in the schools' best interest. I know people complain about millennials not liking to work hard, seems this next generation will be even worse.

It does not appear that colleges are particularly concerned about this.

Getting into a top college is not the primary goal. The goal is to prepare your kid to be able to handle the work and rigor of college.

Reality is top colleges don’t care, because there will always be alot if kids coming from better schools with the rigor and academic challenge. The issue is yourkid from walls will struggle against these kids and it will be sink or swim

You assume a kid from Walls will struggle because they got all As at Walls? Is there a higher grade they could have gotten?

The kids at Walls, if they went to any other public high school in DC, would be straight A students.

In DC, perhaps. Move just a little outside the District, and that would not be the case if they attended TJ.

And you know this because…?

Not every kid getting As at Walls would get As at TJ. This is true of some kids getting As at McLean or Justice or whatever FCPS HS you would like to name. But not all. There are plenty of bright kids at Walls. You just assume because they are at Walls they can’t be bright enough for TJ. Even if they are getting the highest grades possible at the school they attend. There are no higher grades.

I’m in DC and I agree that the overwhelming majority of kids at Walls won’t be able to do well at TJ. They would likely be the bottom half except for maybe a few truly gifted outliers.

Why? Because many, many of the kids have gone to academically rigorous schools since elementary and VA tracks since elementary. So higher adacenuec standards and learning, working hard to keep up with similar high performing peers. That’s not how it works in DC with the people running the schools. This gap the is additive and gets bigger and bigger as you progress up the grades. Parents in DC try to narrow some if this gap by supplementing outside for challenge.

It is what it is.