A recent article in IUSA Today reviewed finding that while
high school student GPA’s appear to be rising, college admission exam scores
(SATs) have not. In fact according to the article, average SAT scores for the
class of 2016 have actually dropped. Conversely, the percentage of “A” students
has increased to 47%. These statistics can be framed around the fact the
graduation rate in US public schools has increased to 83%.
Grade inflation has also crept into college grades. The above-mentioned
study also revealed that as much as one half of all college grades given have
been “A”s.
The question that educators should be asking is -Why?
Is there more pressure from parents and administrators to
demonstrate how successful a school is’? Is the work getting easier? Do grades
really reflect student achievement and performance?
Once again it is time to examine what a grade is and what is
it supposed to reflect. Based on this current research grade shave been
cheapened by inflation for a myriad of factors.
Some institutions have gone to ungraded narrative
evaluations. Others have gone to O, S, U grading (Outstanding, Satisfactory,
Unsatisfactory.) For many teachers in the US, the new school year is only a few
weeks away. IT is time to reflect and prepare for the new year with a candid
and proactive review of how to grade.
C.2017 J. Margolis
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