Anonymous
11/25/2025 08:46
Subject: Art Grades
If the bad grade can be traced back to his dysgraphia, I wonder if you can ask the school to just grade this class for him on a pass/fail basis. A friend of my son had a learning disability and dyslexia which made him struggle a lot with learning a second language and the school agreed to grade him on a pass/fail basis in Spanish . Granted, that w was in middle school but it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Anonymous
11/25/2025 08:33
Subject: Re:Art Grades
My son sounds similar and we are also in a private school. For art and photography there are graded “reflections” for each project. My son worked so hard and was so proud of his first pen and ink drawing and just did the minimum reflection because he didn’t realize that was 15% of the grade.
After I met with the teacher and explained the dysgraphia and the level of effort the drawing exhibited, things were a little better. But DS is still is a little sad that his art grade wasn’t truly reflective of his art effort.
In following years the art teacher made a change to the course that the reflection could be an audio recording talking about their pieces or a written reflection.
After I met with the teacher and explained the dysgraphia and the level of effort the drawing exhibited, things were a little better. But DS is still is a little sad that his art grade wasn’t truly reflective of his art effort.
In following years the art teacher made a change to the course that the reflection could be an audio recording talking about their pieces or a written reflection.
Anonymous
11/25/2025 08:28
Subject: Art Grades
Is he not cut out for Art - or this art teacher?
Look at the requirements for applying to University of California. I believe they require an art class - not sure if there is a grade required.
Is it a semester class that is done in 3 weeks? I would have your child meet with the teacher ASAP and get direct feedback on who they can better connect with the course / improve grade. Do you have time over thanksgiving to look at Canvas (or what ever app they use) together to see what is happening?
Look at the requirements for applying to University of California. I believe they require an art class - not sure if there is a grade required.
Is it a semester class that is done in 3 weeks? I would have your child meet with the teacher ASAP and get direct feedback on who they can better connect with the course / improve grade. Do you have time over thanksgiving to look at Canvas (or what ever app they use) together to see what is happening?
Anonymous
11/25/2025 08:25
Subject: Art Grades
Anonymous wrote:Just an FYI-many colleges recalculate the GPA removing classes like PE etc., The art class may end up being a non-issue. On the flip side it's too bad that your child has been so turned off by his art class.
You may be correct, but it's still stressful to see a C printed on your report card for a class that is just a random requirement. That's why the intro classes for PE, Art, Music should just be Pass / Fail. If someone wants to take advanced classes, that's a different story.
You should just be graded on your effort and not on the finished product.
Anonymous
11/25/2025 07:04
Subject: Art Grades
Anonymous wrote:DS in 9th grade made very good grades in everything except Art. He made a C+. I know he is trying and he spends a lot of time on his projects. He has dysgraphia so he has a hard time with drawing. He also has ADHD (medicated but probably still a bit disorganized and has a hard time with starting and staying focused at times when meds wear off). He brought home his major project (painting),and I thought it was great. He was proud of it and enjoyed the process he said. I did not meet with teacher during parent-teacher conferences as I just met with the main academic teachers due to time constraints/scheduling, but now, I wish I had to see what is going on. DS felt ashamed of his grade. He said he had no idea he was that bad at art. He's worried how this will look on his record. He has always made all As - even in art (but that was in public MS). Should I reach out to the teacher? Should he reach out to the teacher? Maybe he's not understanding what he is being graded on. He says he will not take art after this year, so. should we just ignore it and move on? Wondering how it affects his overall GPA.
if your kid can’t explain to you how he’s being graded, definitely reach out to the teacher. There’s a non zero chance your teacher wants to give your kid a higher grade because of effort and product, but due to the rubric literally can’t. Approach it with the attitude you’ve got here - my kid is discouraged and I don’t understand the grading - and it should be fine!
Anonymous
11/24/2025 18:28
Subject: Art Grades
Thank you for the advice. He chose to take this art class, and he thought it was fine until he received his grade! Now, he feels like he is not cut out for art!
Anonymous
11/24/2025 15:30
Subject: Art Grades
Did he choose this class? I'm surprised that by 9th grade, students can't choose their art elective. My dysgraphic kid is taking photography to fulfill his visual arts requirement.
I would have him talk to the teacher first to get more understanding of the teacher's concerns and expectations. You can get involved if that's not satisfying.
I would have him talk to the teacher first to get more understanding of the teacher's concerns and expectations. You can get involved if that's not satisfying.
Anonymous
11/24/2025 14:45
Subject: Art Grades
Anonymous wrote:Unless this is an advanced class art grade is usually about effort, completion and following directions. I am an excellent artist, went to RISD. In high school, I got a C+ in art one quarter because I did not following the EXACT directions.
This. The only time my HSer got below a 95 on an art project was for one that took her an extra week. She was given a grade at the deadline (an 80), but was allowed to keep working on it outside of class and the grade was adjusted up when she did finish it.
OP, it’s worth reaching out to the teacher (or better, have your son do so, at least initially) to figure out what’s going on because it probably has something to do with meeting assignment requirements or deadlines. Most HS art teachers are not grading for talent. Your son may not even be aware that he’s not meeting some expectation. The ADHD may well be at play; the dysgraphia likely not.
Anonymous
11/24/2025 12:54
Subject: Art Grades
Unless this is an advanced class art grade is usually about effort, completion and following directions. I am an excellent artist, went to RISD. In high school, I got a C+ in art one quarter because I did not following the EXACT directions.
Anonymous
11/24/2025 12:39
Subject: Art Grades
Just an FYI-many colleges recalculate the GPA removing classes like PE etc., The art class may end up being a non-issue. On the flip side it's too bad that your child has been so turned off by his art class.
Anonymous
11/24/2025 12:33
Subject: Art Grades
I'd reach out for sure and get a sense of the issue. It will certainly be part of his grades and be baked into his overall GPA, but also, it's clear something is amiss and I think that's the one class you really do need to check in with.
It's not like college where only your major is key - all the grades are included in a GPA and a transcript.
It's not like college where only your major is key - all the grades are included in a GPA and a transcript.
Anonymous
11/24/2025 12:30
Subject: Art Grades
This is probably more about following instructions and fulfilling assignment requirements.
Anonymous
11/24/2025 12:26
Subject: Art Grades
DS in 9th grade made very good grades in everything except Art. He made a C+. I know he is trying and he spends a lot of time on his projects. He has dysgraphia so he has a hard time with drawing. He also has ADHD (medicated but probably still a bit disorganized and has a hard time with starting and staying focused at times when meds wear off). He brought home his major project (painting),and I thought it was great. He was proud of it and enjoyed the process he said. I did not meet with teacher during parent-teacher conferences as I just met with the main academic teachers due to time constraints/scheduling, but now, I wish I had to see what is going on. DS felt ashamed of his grade. He said he had no idea he was that bad at art. He's worried how this will look on his record. He has always made all As - even in art (but that was in public MS). Should I reach out to the teacher? Should he reach out to the teacher? Maybe he's not understanding what he is being graded on. He says he will not take art after this year, so. should we just ignore it and move on? Wondering how it affects his overall GPA.