D grades may be on their way out at Boulder Valley schools

Camera ^ | 08/29/2010 | Amy Bounds

[george76]

The days of scraping by with D's in high school classes may be waning.

Three Boulder Valley high schools -- don't give D grades to students. The reasoning is that a D wouldn't be good enough in the working world -- who wants a doctor or a mechanic performing D-level work -- so it's not good enough for high school students, either.

"D's seem to be really sending a mixed message -- well, you've performed below average, you haven't really met the standard, but you're passing," New Vista Principal Kirk Quitter said.

More high schools nationwide are considering whether a D is still good enough, with one school district in New Jersey recently deciding to only give grades of A, B, C or F.

So far, no comprehensive Boulder Valley high schools have eliminated Ds on student report cards.

But Deirdre Pilch, Boulder Valley's assistant superintendent of school leadership for middle and high schools, said

[Nervous Tick]

>> New Vista Principal Kirk Quitter

MY high school principal told me NEVER to be a Quitter!

Levity aside, I think eliminating “D” grades is a good idea. As long as they don’t also eliminate “F”.

[Mark was here]

Rehab is for quitters.

[ryan71]

So they can rescale everything, no doubt.

A - 100-80
B - 79-60
C - 59-40
F - 39

[chessplayer]

Yup. A, B, C, and F. Good enough.

[Domangart]

They need to make each week a step toward a goal. All lectures will be on play back. If you don’t get it you don’t go on.

[Izzy Dunne]

well, you've performed below average, you haven't really met the standard, but you're passing,

Is this the crap that passes for logic these days?

You can argue that the standard is too low if you want, but you have, in fact, set the standard, which is "D" = passing.

[Myrddin]

Remember what you call the person who graduates at the bottom of the class in medical school...doctor.

[Myrddin]

Terrible news...half the students performed below average.

[george76]

Found a way to save the tax payers some money.

Let the “ assistant superintendent of school leadership for middle and high schools...” go

[Jack Hammer]

Just give everyone an “A” - problem solved, and it eliminates the need to study or learn anything.

[omega4179]

I thought this thread would be about a stupid ass liberal scheme but it actually is brilliant. D really is for burger flippers. They are actually doing the kids a favor with an F.

[Izzy Dunne]

half the students performed below average.

You know that that is a logic fallacy, too, right?

It's often cited as a truism, but it's phony.

If 5 scores are 100, 100, 100, 100, 0, then the average is 80 and four of them are above average.

[Myrddin]

There's lots of dead weight in the schools. Teachers aspire to leave the classroom and warm an administrative chair with a fat paycheck and little work. Time to end that bit of public employee welfare. Most provide little value for the money spent.

[DoughtyOne]

John McCain, West Point is on the line...

[Anti-Bubba182]

High School grades are somewhat relevant for College admissions and not much else.

[longun45]

The “D” should stay, it means get off your but and get to work. You can do better.

[Clock King]

So B students can now be A students and feel good about themselves. Are there going to be 3 dozen valedictorians as well?

[Myrddin]

Fine. Half the students scored below the median.

[NavyCanDo]

BEWARE of grading changes. They are Never good

I'm not sure how the High Schools in our district does it, but my son's elementary school does it this way.

Grading (Kent, WA Elementary Schools) Notice there is no “failed”

4 Expert
3 Practitioner
2 Apprentice
1 Novice