Explain how grades are inflated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

The above post is completely false. One retake for a quiz per quarter. Tests cannot be retaken. No extra credit assignments. This is flat out prohibited by MCPS regulations.

The main reason grades are inflated is from the following: an 89.5 (q1) and 79.6 (q2) = an A.

But that rarely or never happens.

Maybe, but there is definitely an incentive for kids who get an A in the first semester to slack off in the second semester.

No student who intends on going to college will play this kind of game purposefully.
From your post I can see you're not an MCPS parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

The above post is completely false. One retake for a quiz per quarter. Tests cannot be retaken. No extra credit assignments. This is flat out prohibited by MCPS regulations.

The main reason grades are inflated is from the following: an 89.5 (q1) and 79.6 (q2) = an A.

But that rarely or never happens.

Maybe, but there is definitely an incentive for kids who get an A in the first semester to slack off in the second semester.

You mean quarter. And the PP above has no basis to claim “it rarely happens.” This policy negatively affects students who strive to do their best for the entire semester. It’s hard to differentiate oneself with this policy.

I have never seen it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I constantly see people talk about how MCPS inflates grades and makes things too easy, but many private schools—both local and national—have similar, if not identical, grading scales. Retakes aren’t that common either. Maybe it’s just my kid’s school, but it seems normal to me. Maybe there’s something I’m missing. Thanks!

My daughter had a 4.4 and wasn’t in the top quarter of her class. Honors classes getting the same GPA bump as AP classes, retakes, having a 79.5 and an 89.5 equal an A for the semester. All examples of things which inflate grades.

That's not our MCPS. If you get a 79.5 its a C. And, that's not really grade inflation.

MCPS definitely rounds a 79.5 up to a B. MCPS has policies in place to explicitly improve overall GPAs, it makes them look good, it improves pass and graduation rates which are the numbers they are really concerned about. The students most hurt by grade inflation are the high academic achievers (Top 10% or so). It is very hard now to really stand out academically. The vast majority of students probably benefit from it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

You have second hand information.

I have a child at an MCPS HS.

Retakes are limited to certain assignments at teacher’s discretion.

I have never seen extra credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they give you a "study guide" which tells you what to study and the tests are so easy that almost everyone gets an A.

Mmm.. no. Perhaps your child is in remedial?

This is an MCPS forum. There is no "remedial" in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they give you a "study guide" which tells you what to study and the tests are so easy that almost everyone gets an A.

Mmm.. no. Perhaps your child is in remedial?

This is an MCPS forum. There is no "remedial" in MCPS.

There is though??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

The above post is completely false. One retake for a quiz per quarter. Tests cannot be retaken. No extra credit assignments. This is flat out prohibited by MCPS regulations.

The main reason grades are inflated is from the following: an 89.5 (q1) and 79.6 (q2) = an A.

But that rarely or never happens.

Maybe, but there is definitely an incentive for kids who get an A in the first semester to slack off in the second semester.

No student who intends on going to college will play this kind of game purposefully.
From your post I can see you're not an MCPS parent.

Strongly disagree. If kids get A's in the first and third quarters, there is a lot of settling for B's in the second and fourth quarters because they know they'll be rounded up to A's for the semester. There are no quarter grades on transcripts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

This is just complete BS. MCPS and FCPS, LCPS are top schools and students perform at much higher level than some other state school systems.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

The above post is completely false. One retake for a quiz per quarter. Tests cannot be retaken. No extra credit assignments. This is flat out prohibited by MCPS regulations.

The main reason grades are inflated is from the following: an 89.5 (q1) and 79.6 (q2) = an A.

But that rarely or never happens.

Maybe, but there is definitely an incentive for kids who get an A in the first semester to slack off in the second semester.

No student who intends on going to college will play this kind of game purposefully.
From your post I can see you're not an MCPS parent.

Strongly disagree. If kids get A's in the first and third quarters, there is a lot of settling for B's in the second and fourth quarters because they know they'll be rounded up to A's for the semester. There are no quarter grades on transcripts.

Not the kids that we know. They are serious and driven to excel in academics. They do not count on retake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

The above post is completely false. One retake for a quiz per quarter. Tests cannot be retaken. No extra credit assignments. This is flat out prohibited by MCPS regulations.

The main reason grades are inflated is from the following: an 89.5 (q1) and 79.6 (q2) = an A.

But that rarely or never happens.

Maybe, but there is definitely an incentive for kids who get an A in the first semester to slack off in the second semester.

No student who intends on going to college will play this kind of game purposefully.
From your post I can see you're not an MCPS parent.

Strongly disagree. If kids get A's in the first and third quarters, there is a lot of settling for B's in the second and fourth quarters because they know they'll be rounded up to A's for the semester. There are no quarter grades on transcripts.

Not the kids that we know. They are serious and driven to excel in academics. They do not count on retake.

It has nothing to do with retakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

The above post is completely false. One retake for a quiz per quarter. Tests cannot be retaken. No extra credit assignments. This is flat out prohibited by MCPS regulations.

The main reason grades are inflated is from the following: an 89.5 (q1) and 79.6 (q2) = an A.

But that rarely or never happens.

Maybe, but there is definitely an incentive for kids who get an A in the first semester to slack off in the second semester.

No student who intends on going to college will play this kind of game purposefully.
From your post I can see you're not an MCPS parent.

Actually a lot of them do in our MCPS hs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

You have second hand information.

I have a child at an MCPS HS.

Retakes are limited to certain assignments at teacher’s discretion.

I have never seen extra credit.

Zero extra credit, some teachers all limited retakes but its rare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

The above post is completely false. One retake for a quiz per quarter. Tests cannot be retaken. No extra credit assignments. This is flat out prohibited by MCPS regulations.

The main reason grades are inflated is from the following: an 89.5 (q1) and 79.6 (q2) = an A.

But that rarely or never happens.

Maybe, but there is definitely an incentive for kids who get an A in the first semester to slack off in the second semester.

No student who intends on going to college will play this kind of game purposefully.
From your post I can see you're not an MCPS parent.

Strongly disagree. If kids get A's in the first and third quarters, there is a lot of settling for B's in the second and fourth quarters because they know they'll be rounded up to A's for the semester. There are no quarter grades on transcripts.

Not the kids that we know. They are serious and driven to excel in academics. They do not count on retake.

Over here in Kennedy that’s the norm no overachievers here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

The above post is completely false. One retake for a quiz per quarter. Tests cannot be retaken. No extra credit assignments. This is flat out prohibited by MCPS regulations.

The main reason grades are inflated is from the following: an 89.5 (q1) and 79.6 (q2) = an A.

But that rarely or never happens.

Maybe, but there is definitely an incentive for kids who get an A in the first semester to slack off in the second semester.

No student who intends on going to college will play this kind of game purposefully.
From your post I can see you're not an MCPS parent.

maybe not all subjects - makes no sense to try hard in say ap gov when you know you are going to study engineering or math in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in another state, but my sister lives in MCPS. Based on our conversations ...

1.) Her kids can always retake tests/quizzes. Mine have almost never had that option.
2.) Written work. In my kids' district, a pretty good term paper with a couple of lapses in logic, sourcing, etc., might get an 86. They'd get some detailed feedback and edits. In my niece's and nephew's, the same paper would get an A, with very little feedback.
3.) Extra credit. I remember her telling me once that her kid had a 110 in Spanish, LOL.

The above post is completely false. One retake for a quiz per quarter. Tests cannot be retaken. No extra credit assignments. This is flat out prohibited by MCPS regulations.

The main reason grades are inflated is from the following: an 89.5 (q1) and 79.6 (q2) = an A.

But that rarely or never happens.

It happened to my kid 4 times in 4 years. B/C = B and the A/B = A.

He ended up with a 3.8 and got into T25 schools.