Expunging HS grades from middle school: what's the cut-off point?

[Anonymous]

I'm the parent on an 8th grader. I am curious what the cut-off point is for expunging a high school course grade taken in middle school.

It seems to make little sense to expunge a final grade of A- for example. But would you expunge a B+? Or would the cut-off point be anything less than a B+?

[Anonymous]

If you expunge then you will also have to re-take that class (depending on the class) so it will slow progress in that subject. A B+ isn't a bad grade and over the course of HS will be easy to overcome if the student gets other decent grades. If it's a language and you are switching languages, then it really doesn't matter what the grade is. If it's math, then you will have to retake that class if you expunge, and if you are concerned about a B+, then they likely mastered a majority of the material and the thought of sitting through a whole other year of that same math class would drive me nuts.

[Anonymous]

It completely depends on your student and the class.

I recommend my 8th grade algebra kids to expunge C+'s and below. A "B" is not worth retaking the entire course, in my opinion. I would rather the student have the opportunity to take higher level math than lose a year and get an A in algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you expunge then you will also have to re-take that class (depending on the class) so it will slow progress in that subject. A B+ isn't a bad grade and over the course of HS will be easy to overcome if the student gets other decent grades. If it's a language and you are switching languages, then it really doesn't matter what the grade is. If it's math, then you will have to retake that class if you expunge, and if you are concerned about a B+, then they likely mastered a majority of the material and the thought of sitting through a whole other year of that same math class would drive me nuts.

Not sure what the final grades will be yet, but the classes are a language class (A-, B, A, and a B+ for 4th quarter so far) and a math honors class (C, B-, B-, and a A- for 4th quarter so far). DC will take the same language in high school.

Would you expunge the math grade?

[Anonymous]

Also, would it be worth retaking the math class in the summer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you expunge then you will also have to re-take that class (depending on the class) so it will slow progress in that subject. A B+ isn't a bad grade and over the course of HS will be easy to overcome if the student gets other decent grades. If it's a language and you are switching languages, then it really doesn't matter what the grade is. If it's math, then you will have to retake that class if you expunge, and if you are concerned about a B+, then they likely mastered a majority of the material and the thought of sitting through a whole other year of that same math class would drive me nuts.

Not sure what the final grades will be yet, but the classes are a language class (A-, B, A, and a B+ for 4th quarter so far) and a math honors class (C, B-, B-, and a A- for 4th quarter so far). DC will take the same language in high school.

Would you expunge the math grade?

Is it H. Algebra or Geometry? I wouldn't be as concerned with grades as math skills. Does DC have a solid foundation to take the next level math in high school or would it be beneficial to repeat the class. That is the question you need to answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you expunge then you will also have to re-take that class (depending on the class) so it will slow progress in that subject. A B+ isn't a bad grade and over the course of HS will be easy to overcome if the student gets other decent grades. If it's a language and you are switching languages, then it really doesn't matter what the grade is. If it's math, then you will have to retake that class if you expunge, and if you are concerned about a B+, then they likely mastered a majority of the material and the thought of sitting through a whole other year of that same math class would drive me nuts.

Not sure what the final grades will be yet, but the classes are a language class (A-, B, A, and a B+ for 4th quarter so far) and a math honors class (C, B-, B-, and a A- for 4th quarter so far). DC will take the same language in high school.

Would you expunge the math grade?

Is it H. Algebra or Geometry? I wouldn't be as concerned with grades as math skills. Does DC have a solid foundation to take the next level math in high school or would it be beneficial to repeat the class. That is the question you need to answer.

Geometry Honors

DC received an A- in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you expunge then you will also have to re-take that class (depending on the class) so it will slow progress in that subject. A B+ isn't a bad grade and over the course of HS will be easy to overcome if the student gets other decent grades. If it's a language and you are switching languages, then it really doesn't matter what the grade is. If it's math, then you will have to retake that class if you expunge, and if you are concerned about a B+, then they likely mastered a majority of the material and the thought of sitting through a whole other year of that same math class would drive me nuts.

Not sure what the final grades will be yet, but the classes are a language class (A-, B, A, and a B+ for 4th quarter so far) and a math honors class (C, B-, B-, and a A- for 4th quarter so far). DC will take the same language in high school.

Would you expunge the math grade?

I agree with PP, that with math you need to be concerned about skills. Knowledge from Geometry will be needed in Trig and Calculus, so if your DC is planning on going that route would need a good foundation in Geometry. However, retaking this class may affect the availability to take even higher level math courses.

Looking at the grade... this averages to an overall B- grade. And the C was at the beginning of the year, so his understanding of the concepts seemed to improve by 4th qtr (A-). I'd take it and be heppy to have one more class completed, and one more open spot in the HS schedule.

A B- alone is a good grade for us.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks to all for your advice.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend expunging and retaking a C or below. Our older dc has three middle school courses on his transcript with an A, a B, and a B-.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you expunge then you will also have to re-take that class (depending on the class) so it will slow progress in that subject. A B+ isn't a bad grade and over the course of HS will be easy to overcome if the student gets other decent grades. If it's a language and you are switching languages, then it really doesn't matter what the grade is. If it's math, then you will have to retake that class if you expunge, and if you are concerned about a B+, then they likely mastered a majority of the material and the thought of sitting through a whole other year of that same math class would drive me nuts.

Not sure what the final grades will be yet, but the classes are a language class (A-, B, A, and a B+ for 4th quarter so far) and a math honors class (C, B-, B-, and a A- for 4th quarter so far). DC will take the same language in high school.

Would you expunge the math grade?

Realize that there is a final exam that has to count for between 10-20% of the overall grade. An A on the final could easily average those grades to a solid B depending on weight.

You have until August to decide if you are expunging or not. Wait until you see his final exam grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you expunge then you will also have to re-take that class (depending on the class) so it will slow progress in that subject. A B+ isn't a bad grade and over the course of HS will be easy to overcome if the student gets other decent grades. If it's a language and you are switching languages, then it really doesn't matter what the grade is. If it's math, then you will have to retake that class if you expunge, and if you are concerned about a B+, then they likely mastered a majority of the material and the thought of sitting through a whole other year of that same math class would drive me nuts.

Not OP, but DS is getting a B+ in 7th grade agerba so I was wondering about this. If he has a solid foundation, why would he have to retake the class if I expunge? The paperwork says he can choose to either move forward to 8th grade geometry or retake algebta, and that if he expunged both algebra and geometry, then he might not be able to get an advanced diploma. I see no upside to having DS start high school with a B or B+ added to his high school GPA, if it can be avoided. I he loses the opportunity to get a high school math credit. Is there any other reason not to expunge if DC gets a B? Has anyone's DC gotten a B in middle school algebra, expunged it and been required to retake? Or was DC allowed to move into Geometry? Constructive, non-judjmenyal feedback appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you expunge then you will also have to re-take that class (depending on the class) so it will slow progress in that subject. A B+ isn't a bad grade and over the course of HS will be easy to overcome if the student gets other decent grades. If it's a language and you are switching languages, then it really doesn't matter what the grade is. If it's math, then you will have to retake that class if you expunge, and if you are concerned about a B+, then they likely mastered a majority of the material and the thought of sitting through a whole other year of that same math class would drive me nuts.

Not OP, but DS is getting a B+ in 7th grade agerba so I was wondering about this. If he has a solid foundation, why would he have to retake the class if I expunge? The paperwork says he can choose to either move forward to 8th grade geometry or retake algebta, and that if he expunged both algebra and geometry, then he might not be able to get an advanced diploma. I see no upside to having DS start high school with a B or B+ added to his high school GPA, if it can be avoided. I he loses the opportunity to get a high school math credit. Is there any other reason not to expunge if DC gets a B? Has anyone's DC gotten a B in middle school algebra, expunged it and been required to retake? Or was DC allowed to move into Geometry? Constructive, non-judjmenyal feedback appreciated.

The issue with expunging a great grade like a B+, is that...

1. It will be obvious on the transcript that Algebra was omitted
2. You are operating under the assumption that your ds will never get anything less than an A in Geometry or in any high school course in any subject.
3. After your ds starts high school and starts getting high school grades, you might find that a B+ on the transcript would actually bring the GPA up, and you can't get it back.

[Anonymous]

No, it's not on the transcript. Colleges only see HS, not MS courses. Our DD is in Alg Honors in 7th grade. Her grades ate D+, C+, B+, A(so far). She passed the practice SOL with 87%. She has stated that she would like to retake Alg next year as she doesn't feel confident in her skill set. Her teacher had recommended her for Geometry honors next year. We will let DD decide as she needs to understand the material; however, research suggests that retaking may not be the best decision. But we will allow her to decide what is best for her.

[Anonymous]

Colleges do see high school courses that were taken in middle school. I have seen the transcripts sent to colleges for my kids and they have included Honors Algebra I, Honors Geometry, and their world language. They are also included in the cumulative GPA, unless a parent requests that they be expunged within the time limit.