FAIRGRADE Gives Dale an "F"
On Friday, January 2, 2009, Superintendent Dale made his much anticipated recommendation to the School Board about
the FCPS Grading Policy. He recommended changing the weights for advanced courses only. He recommended
that the outdated, FCPS six point grading scale remain in place. Dale says there is no conclusive evidence that
shows the six-point grading scale disadvantages FCPS students. One wonders if Dale read his own 120-page FCPS
staff report.
The FCPS report has conclusive evidence that the current grading scale hurts students’ chances when they apply
to colleges, for college honors programs, and for merit-based scholarships. Fairfax County parents should be
outraged by Dale’s decision to disregard the evidence in his own staff’s report.
Dale is WRONG. Here's why:
- The FCPS Report shows the actual high school grades (A,B, C, or D) are the MOST important factor in
college admissions. This finding is repeatedly acknowledged in the report with citations from the
National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC), the College Board, and FCPS’ own
survey of colleges that staff conducted for the report.
- The FCPS Report shows that 55% of colleges do NOT recalculate
GPAs for college admissions.
- The FCPS Report shows that 89% of colleges compare an individual
applicant against the entire applicant pool.
- The FCPS Report confirms that FCPS students have notably lower
unweighted and weighted GPAs than non-FCPS students with similar SAT scores who are graded on a 10-point
scale, thereby putting FCPS students at a competitive disadvantage.
- The FCPS Report shows that 75 school systems in 12 different
states have adopted the 10-point scale in the last few years.
- The FCPS Report found one study that it used to justify its
decision to stick with the current six-point scale, but that same study also would support switching to a
10-point scale with pluses and minuses.
- Grading scale has NO bearing on a high school’s
academic standards. Most of our nation’s best high schools use the 10-point scale (see the 2008
Gold Medal Winner High Schools).
- A high school’s academic standards are defined by the
percentage of graduates attending four-year colleges, mean SAT scores and AP/IB scores - all areas in which
FCPS students excel nationally.
Here is what you can do:
Call and email Superintendent Dale and the School Board to register your opinion about Dale’s recommendation.
Attend the School Board meeting this Thursday, January 8, 2009.
Wear a white shirt.
| Date: | Thursday January 8, 2009 |
| Time: | 7:00 PM |
| Location: | Luther Jackson Middle School (map) |
| 3020 Gallows Road | |
| Falls Church, VA 22042 |
DO NOT LEAVE ACTION TO OTHERS. ATTEND THE MEETING. SIGN UP TO SPEAK AND EXPRESS YOUR CONCERNS TO THE SCHOOL BOARD. (go to: http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/requestspeak.htm)
The School Board will also meet for a work session on January 12th and a vote is expected on January 22nd at 7:00pm at Luther Jackson Middle School.
Please forward this update to friends, family, and neighbors.