Anonymous wrote:Is this (having straight A's) also a common practice in primary elementary years? In other words, do a lot of he kids get straight ES (exceeds standards) in early elementary years?

We've only been in MCPS for HS so I dont know about elementary, but there does seem to be differentiation at the HS level. At our school only 15% of 9th graders get straight As and it drops to 10-12% by senior year. And you've got weighted GPAs by then too so that factors in the challenge level of the classes.

Is this (having straight A's) also a common practice in primary elementary years? In other words, do a lot of he kids get straight ES (exceeds standards) in early elementary years?

Well my kid has straight As so that moves into the top 15%. But it seems largely irrelevant. We look at what she's learning and if she is being challenged. You can also look at what track they are on. If they start APs in 9th and are ahead in math, and not needing tutoring in multiple classes to keep up, that's probably a good sign.

But how are parents and students supposed to evaluate their success when A is clearly average or really only the top 60%

Same is true at my DCs high school (I think the honor roll percentage is slightly higher but straight As a little lower). The standards are county wide so the high performing schools have high percentages meeting the standards. At my DCs school no one even looks at it or is aware of the honor roll, I guess because most of them have been on it their whole lives.

Anonymous wrote:Just doing a bit of research and learned that approx 65% of the kids at my MS make the honor roll and about 20% get straight A's. What kind of honor is that!

Its called the "feel good" way of educating. The same principle applies to sports leagues where no one loses and everyone gets a trophy.

Just doing a bit of research and learned that approx 65% of the kids at my MS make the honor roll and about 20% get straight A's. What kind of honor is that!