Schools

New Grading System Irks Wayne Parents

'I don't see how this benefits the students of Wayne at all,' one parent says of plan that will eventually be used throughout the high schools.

Parents blasted the Board of Education and district officials Thursday for implementing a new grading scheme for high school freshmen.

The new grading plan includes “minus” grades and a separate scale for certain weighted classes. The previous grading format also had a weighted grade scale, but not “minus” grades.

The new format is set to follow the freshman class as they grow older. Eventually, all high school students’ grades will be determined using the new scheme.

Find out what's happening in Waynewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Parents of freshmen said their children receive lower grades than their older schoolmates.

One parent said a sophomore, junior, and senior could finish a marking period with a 3.5 grade point average, but, under the new scheme, that student would only receives a 3.2.

Find out what's happening in Waynewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Let an ‘A’ be an ‘A’,” said Michael Delbalso, whose two freshmen sons attend Wayne Valley. “Colleges look at GPAs. Two points matter, two hundredths matter.”

Parents said students need be treated fairly and that there shouldn’t be two standards.

“These kids deserve a chance to vie for elite schools,” said Lee Goldberg. “If you implement this system, you are dropping kids out of that potential and that shouldn’t be done. Not even one kid should drop out of the bottom.”

A 13-member committee of district and high school officials, teachers, and students met twice in June to discuss the changes. A public forum was held in May. Officials announced the changes in July.

Some parents said they were not aware the new scheme was even implemented until recently.

“I don’t understand how this new grading system went into effect,” one mother said. “I don’t see how this benefits the students of Wayne at all.”

Changes to the high school grading system were made in 2009 when “plus” grades were added.

Grade      Number Grade            Unweighted   Weighted

A             100-93                           4.0                      5.0

A-            90-92.99                        3.67                    4.67

B+           87-89.99                        3.33                    4.33

B             83-86.99                        3.0                      4.0

B-            80-82.99                        2.67                    3.67

C+           77-79.99                        2.33                    3.33

C              73-76.99                        2.0                      3.0

C-             70-72.99                        1.67                   2.67

D+            67-69.99                        1.33                   1.33

D              63-66.99                        1.0                      1.0

D-              60-62.99                       .67                      .67

F                59.99 and below             0                           0

To view the Board of Education meeting from Thursday, click here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here