Walls/Banneker Grading

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have a citation but I can look at end of year grades as a DCPS teacher. You don’t have to believe me but the grades round up. Whoever wrote that their kid got 3 B+ and an A- and got a B+, that’s just not true.

Example from a report card last year:

B B+ B+ A- Final grade: A-

3 + 3.3 + 3.3 + 3.7 = 13.3/4 = 3.325

Wow. Well, I guess I don't need to worry anymore about the A- my kid got this term

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have a citation but I can look at end of year grades as a DCPS teacher. You don’t have to believe me but the grades round up. Whoever wrote that their kid got 3 B+ and an A- and got a B+, that’s just not true.

Example from a report card last year:

B B+ B+ A- Final grade: A-

3 + 3.3 + 3.3 + 3.7 = 13.3/4 = 3.325

Wow. Well, I guess I don't need to worry anymore about the A- my kid got this term

Why would you worry about an A- at all?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t have a citation but I can look at end of year grades as a DCPS teacher. You don’t have to believe me but the grades round up. Whoever wrote that their kid got 3 B+ and an A- and got a B+, that’s just not true.

Example from a report card last year:

B B+ B+ A- Final grade: A-

3 + 3.3 + 3.3 + 3.7 = 13.3/4 = 3.325

Wow. Well, I guess I don't need to worry anymore about the A- my kid got this term

Why would you worry about an A- at all?

Because it appears that you need a 4.0 unweighted to play the lottery college game theses days, sadly.

[Anonymous]

So do all kids at walls pretty much have a 4.0 or above?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So do all kids at walls pretty much have a 4.0 or above?

I think the vast majority do - (and definitely so if you count "weighted" GPAs).

[Anonymous]

People should weigh in on the DCPS survey that's out right now...this is absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do all kids at walls pretty much have a 4.0 or above?

I think the vast majority do - (and definitely so if you count "weighted" GPAs).

I don't see how this arms race ends. If lottery colleges require 4.+...and kids get infinite retakes/do-overs until they make it...how does GPA retain any value/salience as a way of distinguishing applicants from their peers? And if you lose GPA in a test optional world, what objective metrics are left to sort a hyper competitive candidate pool?

[Anonymous]

I have a kid in High School, and I am also a long time teacher. There are a lot of valid reasons for letting kids retake tests—and sometimes for not letting them. Students don’t know each others’ individual situations, so they may not be aware why another student got a retake. And it’s none of anyone else’s business. I encourage my students to concentrate on themselves and no one else. In regards to the hand wringing over GPAs, colleges look at a lot more than just GPA. If your kid got an A- from a 3.7, and another kid got an A- from a 3.5, for example, there are far better things to worry about. Your kid will still have great opportunities. Just make sure your kid is happy, learning, and doing what they need to do. There are real inequities in the world, and this myopic hair splitting is not one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do all kids at walls pretty much have a 4.0 or above?

I think the vast majority do - (and definitely so if you count "weighted" GPAs).

I don't see how this arms race ends. If lottery colleges require 4.+...and kids get infinite retakes/do-overs until they make it...how does GPA retain any value/salience as a way of distinguishing applicants from their peers? And if you lose GPA in a test optional world, what objective metrics are left to sort a hyper competitive candidate pool?

Dartmouth announced this morning that they’re going back to test-mandatory next year. If that is the beginning of a trend, and I think it probably is, then the pressure on GPA will diminish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So do all kids at walls pretty much have a 4.0 or above?

I think the vast majority do - (and definitely so if you count "weighted" GPAs).

I don't see how this arms race ends. If lottery colleges require 4.+...and kids get infinite retakes/do-overs until they make it...how does GPA retain any value/salience as a way of distinguishing applicants from their peers? And if you lose GPA in a test optional world, what objective metrics are left to sort a hyper competitive candidate pool?

Dartmouth announced this morning that they’re going back to test-mandatory next year. If that is the beginning of a trend, and I think it probably is, then the pressure on GPA will diminish.

Very glad to hear this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in High School, and I am also a long time teacher. There are a lot of valid reasons for letting kids retake tests—and sometimes for not letting them. Students don’t know each others’ individual situations, so they may not be aware why another student got a retake. And it’s none of anyone else’s business. I encourage my students to concentrate on themselves and no one else. In regards to the hand wringing over GPAs, colleges look at a lot more than just GPA. If your kid got an A- from a 3.7, and another kid got an A- from a 3.5, for example, there are far better things to worry about. Your kid will still have great opportunities. Just make sure your kid is happy, learning, and doing what they need to do. There are real inequities in the world, and this myopic hair splitting is not one of them.

NP but it seems unfair to let some kids retake a test and not others. What if a kid had a situation at home or on their way to school that affected their test score but they didn’t feel comfortable sharing that with you? I think that is a slippery slope.

[Anonymous]

Definitely agree with the above. I think it’s ok to allow retakes but there should absolutely be a uniform rule for everyone. Regardless of reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid in High School, and I am also a long time teacher. There are a lot of valid reasons for letting kids retake tests—and sometimes for not letting them. Students don’t know each others’ individual situations, so they may not be aware why another student got a retake. And it’s none of anyone else’s business. I encourage my students to concentrate on themselves and no one else. In regards to the hand wringing over GPAs, colleges look at a lot more than just GPA. If your kid got an A- from a 3.7, and another kid got an A- from a 3.5, for example, there are far better things to worry about. Your kid will still have great opportunities. Just make sure your kid is happy, learning, and doing what they need to do. There are real inequities in the world, and this myopic hair splitting is not one of them.

NP but it seems unfair to let some kids retake a test and not others. What if a kid had a situation at home or on their way to school that affected their test score but they didn’t feel comfortable sharing that with you? I think that is a slippery slope.

This is not the definition of a slippery slope. And it is categorically not unfair to let students with extenuating circumstances retake a test. What is unfair is when someone has extenuating circumstances to not be flexible. And this is applicable to the real world. If someone didn't call in to work because they got into a serious car accident, it would not make sense to fire them for not calling in. And I don't require my students to share details, but they usually do of their own choice. And I do not in any way feel my policy gets abused. Very rarely will a student ask to retake because of a circumstance outside of their control. I work hard to establish good relationships with my students, and I find them to be pretty honest. Many will be forthcoming about waiting until last minute to do work, for example, and they never ask for retakes. Also, part of being in school is learning to advocate for oneself. If a student does not feel it is worth it to approach a teacher to ask for a retake, or they can't be bothered (most actually don't want the extra work), then that's their choice and also a life lesson. Don't fabricate problems or slippery slopes where there are none.

[Anonymous]

I mean clearly if there is a car accident, death in the family, illness etc. exceptions should be made. But aside from that there should either be or not be retakes for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean clearly if there is a car accident, death in the family, illness etc. exceptions should be made. But aside from that there should either be or not be retakes for everyone.

Then let's go with "should be" and set the bar at a place of presumptive fairness. But not infinite retakes. You can't just keep doing it again and again until everyone gets a 4.0. Then grades lose any meaning as a differentiator, other than low grades possibly indicating a lack of diligence.