Fairfax County Public Schools - Debate Over Grading Policy

Debate Over Grading Policy

Fairfax County Public Schools was known for their use of a 6-point grading scale. Prior to May 7, 2009, 94-100% received an A, 90-93% was a B+, 84-89% was a B, and so on. In 2008, a parent group raised concerns about whether the FCPS method of computing grades and applying weights for advanced courses are adversely affecting FCPS applicants for college admissions, honors program placements, and merit-based scholarship awards. Fairfax County Public Schools worked with the parent group to conduct a joint investigation into the issue. After investigation, The Fairfax County School Board approved a modified ten-point scale, complete with pluses and minuses. The new scale went into effect at the beginning of the 2009-10 school year. 93-100% is an A, 90-92% is a B+, and an 83-86% is a B, and so on. FAIRGRADE, an organization started which aims to work with the FCPS research team to focus on issues that may occur because of FCPS's current grading scale, believes some areas in which students may be affected disadvantageously include:

• College admissions
• Receipt of valuable merit-based academic scholarships
• Admissions to college honors programs
• NCAA athletic eligibility
• Car insurance "good student" discounts

An example used in one report to illustrate a disadvantage of the 6 point scale noted that students in other counties can maintain higher GPA's than Fairfax County students even if they are not doing as well numerically. For example, if a student in an honors course in another county maintained a 92% average in a course for the year, he or she would receive an A and have a 4.5 to be averaged into his or her GPA, however, a Fairfax County student who maintained a 92% would get a B+ and would have a 3.5 averaged into their GPA. Saying that the significantly lower grade point value averaged into the Fairfax County student's GPA could make the student a less competitive candidate for colleges is incorrect. All of the top colleges are aware of the grading scale and are sent the appropriate documentation. So saying that it hurts a student's chances is wrong. All colleges know the difference in scales and are intelligent enough to take this into account when looking at applications. However, some college officials around the United States who have weighed in on the debate said that it would not hurt FCPS's reputation as an excellent public school system if they changed their grading policy. UCLA is among these colleges.

On January 2, 2009, Superintendent Jack D. Dale announced his decision on the issue, recommending the changing the weights of advanced courses but maintaining the six-point grading scale. Dale stated there was no conclusive evidence the six-point grading scale is disadvantageous for the students of FCPS. FAIRGRADE responded that "there is still opportunity with the School Board". -->

On January 22, 2009, the FCPS School Board directed Superintendent Dale to report back to it with a new version of the grading scale by March 2009. The Board also approved changing the weighting for Honors to 0.5 effective with the 2009-2010 school year and for AP and IB courses to 1.0 retroactively.

Beginning September 2009, the grading system was changed to a 10 point grading system with plusses and minuses. In this new grading system students must have a 92 for an A, 90 for an A-, 88 for a B+, and so on. Students receive a 4.0 for A's, 3.7 for A-'s, 3.3 for B+'s, and so on. Students still must reach 64 to pass.