Stafford schools consider new grading scale

STAFFORD — The Stafford County School Board is considering a 10-point grading scale after several regional schools have also raised concerns about their various grading systems.

“We’ve been told that we hold ourselves to a higher standard, but the reality is…that’s not the case,” said Dana Reinboldt, Griffis-Widewater District representative. "Our students are at a disadvantage and this deserves a serious look.”

Stafford school systems currently use a 7-point grading scale. At this time, there is not a statewide mandated policy on grading systems used in Virginia.
For example, a 7-point system in one school district may designate 93 to 100 percent correct as an A, while another with a 10-point system may recognize 90 to 100 percent correct as an A on a test.

The board began questioning the current grading system because some believe that a 10-point grading scale can help make students more competitive when it comes to college admission and scholarships. Spotsylvania High School recently adopted a grading policy change to assign more quality points to higher numerical grades, but the grading scale will stay the same.

During their regular meeting Tuesday night the Stafford school board members discussed the possible change and raised many questions to their staff.

Doreen Phillips, Hartwood District, questioned the effect of a 10-point grading system on dual-enrollment and advanced-placement courses, where students can currently earn GPAs higher than a 4.0.

Stafford’s present grading scale awards and additional 1.0 grade quality points for advanced placement and dual enrollment courses and .5 grade quality points for averages in the higher end of each letter grade.

“If [our students] are truly being disadvantaged then it is time we make some changes,” Chairman Patricia Healy said. “We’re asking for more information.”
Also during the meeting, Lucy Burns, who represents the Stafford Education Association, requested that the school board consider requiring Stafford schools to hold after-school events directly after school rather than in they evening hours as they have traditionally done.

“The increasingly high cost of travel and the expense for extended hours of daycare for employees’ children has long been absorbed by the teachers,” Burns said. “No events would be deleted from the calendar, and no employees would be less accountable for participation in those events. No new expense would be created for the school division.”

Superintendent David Sawyer said he would take a closer look into the matter.

“I’m going to take a really close look at it and observe its implications for families,” he said.

The school board will receive more information on both items during the next meeting Aug. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Alvin York Bandy Administrative Complex.

Melina Downs is a contributing writer for the Stafford County Sun. Reach her at info@staffordcountysun.com.