RALEIGH—North Carolina high schools students will have a different grading scale this fall.
The state board of education unanimously voted Thursday morning to switch to a 10-point scale for all high school students.
It will replace the 7 point scale, which has been around since the 70’s. That means a student who gets a 90 would receive an “A” instead of a “B”.
“We’re very delighted that the state board of education was sensitive to the needs that have been expressed by the folks in the field who have to be the implementers of this policy, ” said Rebecca Garland the Deputy State Superintendent.
The board had wanted the change for only freshman.
However it received e-mails and calls from parents and students asking for it to reconsider, saying unless the rules apply to everyone in high school. Students in the same class doing the same quality of work could get different grades.
Thomas Humble is Principal at Raleigh Charter High School, he said he’s pleased with the decision, but expects some challenges ahead.
“They’ll be a cognitive dissidence for everybody. What is an 85, is it a high B or a mid-B. What is a 70? Is it a low C or nearly a failing grade. And i think that’s going to take some adjustment on the part of our teachers and students as well, ” said Humble.
The 10 point scale will not be retroactive. It will affect how GPA’s are calculated and where a student ranks in the class.
