Is St. Albans Grading Fair? I Heard NCS Isn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that NCS grading is brutal. Is St. Albans grading fair for the boys? Are there teachers at STA that refuse to give A's or only give one A for the entire English/history department?

My STA kids all got As in their NCS English classes. Not sure what the fuss is about.

If you look online at the long list of English courses offered at NCS, I think you could admit that perhaps your son did not take the class/es that are being referenced by those above?

Your son must be in in 11 or 12 grade because that's when taking English classes at the other school becomes allowed. Grading by that point gets less brutal (or perhaps students become better writers). But in 9-10th grades, no matter how hard you try, hardly anyone will get above 90 for anything. For science / math, only very few select have As.

Grading is brutal. And yes, some colleges know the low grading scale but many don't, and with the test optional trend the grading is hurting college admissions. And often you need to show GPA not only for college admissions but for other competitive applications. I have one graduate and one current Upper School student, so speaking from experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that NCS grading is brutal. Is St. Albans grading fair for the boys? Are there teachers at STA that refuse to give A's or only give one A for the entire English/history department?

My STA kids all got As in their NCS English classes. Not sure what the fuss is about.

Sorry wrong PP quote.

Your son must be in in 11 or 12 grade because that's when taking English classes at the other school becomes allowed. Grading by that point gets less brutal (or perhaps students become better writers). But in 9-10th grades, no matter how hard you try, hardly anyone will get above 90 for anything. For science / math, only very few select have As.

Grading is brutal. And yes, some colleges know the low grading scale but many don't, and with the test optional trend the grading is hurting college admissions. And often you need to show GPA not only for college admissions but for other competitive applications. I have one graduate and one current Upper School student, so speaking from experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that NCS grading is brutal. Is St. Albans grading fair for the boys? Are there teachers at STA that refuse to give A's or only give one A for the entire English/history department?

My STA kids all got As in their NCS English classes. Not sure what the fuss is about.

If you look online at the long list of English courses offered at NCS, I think you could admit that perhaps your son did not take the class/es that are being referenced by those above?

They were placed in English classes at NCS - they got As. That’s the story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that NCS grading is brutal. Is St. Albans grading fair for the boys? Are there teachers at STA that refuse to give A's or only give one A for the entire English/history department?

My STA kids all got As in their NCS English classes. Not sure what the fuss is about.

If you look online at the long list of English courses offered at NCS, I think you could admit that perhaps your son did not take the class/es that are being referenced by those above?

Your son must be in in 11 or 12 grade because that's when taking English classes at the other school becomes allowed. Grading by that point gets less brutal (or perhaps students become better writers). But in 9-10th grades, no matter how hard you try, hardly anyone will get above 90 for anything. For science / math, only very few select have As.

Grading is brutal. And yes, some colleges know the low grading scale but many don't, and with the test optional trend the grading is hurting college admissions. And often you need to show GPA not only for college admissions but for other competitive applications. I have one graduate and one current Upper School student, so speaking from experience.

So it’s a 9/10 grade problem in a few subjects which isn’t quite the same as saying all Upper School grading is brutal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grading at NCS US can be very tough, my daughter just had a writing assignment where the grade was capped at 90. You could not get a higher grade, period. Also grading is very teacher dependent and some teachers definitely have reputations for being very harsh graders.
Both schools are hard. If you have kids at both, seems like STA comes out ahead in terms of admin and day to day operations.

My daughter is at NCS and I have never heard of this happening. What class and grade? I have a hard time believing this.

in such a small school, i’m not going to out myself or my daughter. i’m not lying and we will be discussing with school. my daughter was not the only student who was told this and so i tend to believe multiple girls on this one. maybe there is a further explanation but on its face it’s crazy.

What do you mean "capped at a 90?" You mean that the highest grade in the class was a 90 on this assignment? If so, that is totally reasonable. I'm a college professor, and especially in a small class you will find on occasion that nobody in the class does a good job on an assignment. That doesn't mean I should hand out an A "just because."

When you say "capped at a 90" people think you are trying to say that the teacher won't give out an A, no matter how good your work is. I highly doubt this is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that NCS grading is brutal. Is St. Albans grading

So it’s a 9/10 grade problem in a few subjects which isn’t quite the same as saying all Upper School grading is brutal.

For English, it is mostly 9/10 grade problem. For math/science, it is throughout the entire high school. I was simply responding to the STA parent who son took an English class at NCS and believes she/he knows the whole picture. I have a relatively recent STA graduate too, btw.

[Anonymous]

6:48 posted here,

For English, it is mostly 9/10 grade problem. For math/science, it is throughout the entire high school. I was simply responding to the STA parent who son took an English class at NCS and believes she/he knows the whole picture. I have a relatively recent STA graduate too, btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that NCS grading is brutal. Is St. Albans grading fair for the boys? Are there teachers at STA that refuse to give A's or only give one A for the entire English/history department?

My STA kids all got As in their NCS English classes. Not sure what the fuss is about.

If you look online at the long list of English courses offered at NCS, I think you could admit that perhaps your son did not take the class/es that are being referenced by those above?

Your son must be in in 11 or 12 grade because that's when taking English classes at the other school becomes allowed. Grading by that point gets less brutal (or perhaps students become better writers). But in 9-10th grades, no matter how hard you try, hardly anyone will get above 90 for anything. For science / math, only very few select have As.

Grading is brutal. And yes, some colleges know the low grading scale but many don't, and with the test optional trend the grading is hurting college admissions. And often you need to show GPA not only for college admissions but for other competitive applications. I have one graduate and one current Upper School student, so speaking from experience.

How does NCS deal with this parent?! Soooo difficult.

I have news for you - STA students also had difficult grading in 9th and 10th grade! Guess how I know? Because my straight A student couldn’t get better than a C or B in English in ninth grade at STA. It was brutal and ruined his GPA! This is how life goes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that NCS grading is brutal. Is St. Albans grading fair for the boys? Are there teachers at STA that refuse to give A's or only give one A for the entire English/history department?

My STA kids all got As in their NCS English classes. Not sure what the fuss is about.

If you look online at the long list of English courses offered at NCS, I think you could admit that perhaps your son did not take the class/es that are being referenced by those above?

Your son must be in in 11 or 12 grade because that's when taking English classes at the other school becomes allowed. Grading by that point gets less brutal (or perhaps students become better writers). But in 9-10th grades, no matter how hard you try, hardly anyone will get above 90 for anything. For science / math, only very few select have As.

Grading is brutal. And yes, some colleges know the low grading scale but many don't, and with the test optional trend the grading is hurting college admissions. And often you need to show GPA not only for college admissions but for other competitive applications. I have one graduate and one current Upper School student, so speaking from experience.

How does NCS deal with this parent?! Soooo difficult.

I have news for you - STA students also had difficult grading in 9th and 10th grade! Guess how I know? Because my straight A student couldn’t get better than a C or B in English in ninth grade at STA. It was brutal and ruined his GPA! This is how life goes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that NCS grading is brutal. Is St. Albans grading fair for the boys? Are there teachers at STA that refuse to give A's or only give one A for the entire English/history department?

My STA kids all got As in their NCS English classes. Not sure what the fuss is about.

If you look online at the long list of English courses offered at NCS, I think you could admit that perhaps your son did not take the class/es that are being referenced by those above?

Your son must be in in 11 or 12 grade because that's when taking English classes at the other school becomes allowed. Grading by that point gets less brutal (or perhaps students become better writers). But in 9-10th grades, no matter how hard you try, hardly anyone will get above 90 for anything. For science / math, only very few select have As.

Grading is brutal. And yes, some colleges know the low grading scale but many don't, and with the test optional trend the grading is hurting college admissions. And often you need to show GPA not only for college admissions but for other competitive applications. I have one graduate and one current Upper School student, so speaking from experience.

At a certain point, parents have to ask whether it is worth it. I'd much rather have my DS attend Gonzaga and graduate with a 4.4 GPA than attend STA and graduate with a 3.4 because of massive deflation.

Colleges don't give prep school kids a break on GPA anymore, and they don't care that your fancy school deflates grades. Schools tout their matriculation, but fail to disclose that the majority of the Top 20 admits are legacies, athletes, URMs, or Questbridge applicants. In a test-optional world, the deflation the Cathedral Schools do only hurts the kids.

How does NCS deal with this parent?! Soooo difficult.

I have news for you - STA students also had difficult grading in 9th and 10th grade! Guess how I know? Because my straight A student couldn’t get better than a C or B in English in ninth grade at STA. It was brutal and ruined his GPA! This is how life goes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that NCS grading is brutal. Is St. Albans grading fair for the boys? Are there teachers at STA that refuse to give A's or only give one A for the entire English/history department?

My STA kids all got As in their NCS English classes. Not sure what the fuss is about.

If you look online at the long list of English courses offered at NCS, I think you could admit that perhaps your son did not take the class/es that are being referenced by those above?

Your son must be in in 11 or 12 grade because that's when taking English classes at the other school becomes allowed. Grading by that point gets less brutal (or perhaps students become better writers). But in 9-10th grades, no matter how hard you try, hardly anyone will get above 90 for anything. For science / math, only very few select have As.

Grading is brutal. And yes, some colleges know the low grading scale but many don't, and with the test optional trend the grading is hurting college admissions. And often you need to show GPA not only for college admissions but for other competitive applications. I have one graduate and one current Upper School student, so speaking from experience.

How does NCS deal with this parent?! Soooo difficult.

I have news for you - STA students also had difficult grading in 9th and 10th grade! Guess how I know? Because my straight A student couldn’t get better than a C or B in English in ninth grade at STA. It was brutal and ruined his GPA! This is how life goes!

At a certain point, parents have to ask whether it is worth it. I'd much rather have my DS attend Gonzaga and graduate with a 4.4 GPA than attend STA and graduate with a 3.4 because of massive deflation.

Colleges don't give prep school kids a break on GPA anymore, and they don't care that your fancy school deflates grades. Schools tout their matriculation, but fail to disclose that the majority of the Top 20 admits are legacies, athletes, URMs, or Questbridge applicants. In a test-optional world, the deflation the Cathedral Schools do only hurts the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6:48 posted here,

For English, it is mostly 9/10 grade problem. For math/science, it is throughout the entire high school. I was simply responding to the STA parent who son took an English class at NCS and believes she/he knows the whole picture. I have a relatively recent STA graduate too, btw.

I’m sorry you’re having a bad experience it NCS but that is not our experience. And in regards to math and science I just asked my daughter yesterday and she said she has a 95 in her AP science class and she’s an 11th or 12th grade. She’s a good student but science is not normally where she excels so I’m sorry to say I disagree with your assessment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard that NCS grading is brutal. Is St. Albans grading fair for the boys? Are there teachers at STA that refuse to give A's or only give one A for the entire English/history department?

My STA kids all got As in their NCS English classes. Not sure what the fuss is about.

If you look online at the long list of English courses offered at NCS, I think you could admit that perhaps your son did not take the class/es that are being referenced by those above?

Your son must be in in 11 or 12 grade because that's when taking English classes at the other school becomes allowed. Grading by that point gets less brutal (or perhaps students become better writers). But in 9-10th grades, no matter how hard you try, hardly anyone will get above 90 for anything. For science / math, only very few select have As.

Grading is brutal. And yes, some colleges know the low grading scale but many don't, and with the test optional trend the grading is hurting college admissions. And often you need to show GPA not only for college admissions but for other competitive applications. I have one graduate and one current Upper School student, so speaking from experience.

How does NCS deal with this parent?! Soooo difficult.

I have news for you - STA students also had difficult grading in 9th and 10th grade! Guess how I know? Because my straight A student couldn’t get better than a C or B in English in ninth grade at STA. It was brutal and ruined his GPA! This is how life goes!

At a certain point, parents have to ask whether it is worth it. I'd much rather have my DS attend Gonzaga and graduate with a 4.4 GPA than attend STA and graduate with a 3.4 because of massive deflation.

Colleges don't give prep school kids a break on GPA anymore, and they don't care that your fancy school deflates grades. Schools tout their matriculation, but fail to disclose that the majority of the Top 20 admits are legacies, athletes, URMs, or Questbridge applicants. In a test-optional world, the deflation the Cathedral Schools do only hurts the kids.

Cathedral school and Sidwell kids did quite well last year in college admissions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:6:48 posted here,

For English, it is mostly 9/10 grade problem. For math/science, it is throughout the entire high school. I was simply responding to the STA parent who son took an English class at NCS and believes she/he knows the whole picture. I have a relatively recent STA graduate too, btw.

DP. I also had a son graduate recently and my daughter is in 11th or 12th grade at NCS and I have to say I don’t really know what you’re talking about. She’s doing quite well in her science and math classes and she used to really struggle in math in middle school so I must say I’m a little surprised that she’s turned this corner but she has thankfully.

My advice to you is to not compare your daughter with your son. She may not be as strong of a student as your son was and that’s okay. You need to embrace the student that she is. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The grading at NCS US can be very tough, my daughter just had a writing assignment where the grade was capped at 90. You could not get a higher grade, period. Also grading is very teacher dependent and some teachers definitely have reputations for being very harsh graders.
Both schools are hard. If you have kids at both, seems like STA comes out ahead in terms of admin and day to day operations.

My daughter is at NCS and I have never heard of this happening. What class and grade? I have a hard time believing this.

in such a small school, i’m not going to out myself or my daughter. i’m not lying and we will be discussing with school. my daughter was not the only student who was told this and so i tend to believe multiple girls on this one. maybe there is a further explanation but on its face it’s crazy.

What do you mean "capped at a 90?" You mean that the highest grade in the class was a 90 on this assignment? If so, that is totally reasonable. I'm a college professor, and especially in a small class you will find on occasion that nobody in the class does a good job on an assignment. That doesn't mean I should hand out an A "just because."

When you say "capped at a 90" people think you are trying to say that the teacher won't give out an A, no matter how good your work is. I highly doubt this is true.

You have no knowledge on which to make your judgment, which makes you a pompous windbag. Yes, the grade is capped at a 90 because the teacher will not give out grades above that… just because.