March 28, 2013

Grading

Practices

Committee

Report and Recommendations

GPC Background• January 2013 Committee organized and

research/analysis began

• February 2013 First committee meeting

• March 2013 Information posted on website

Second committee meeting

• March 28, 2013 Committee report to School Board

Charge of the Committee

To explore and make recommendations on:

1. Changing the current grading policy from a 7 to 10 point scale,

and

2. Changing the current weighting system from .17 to 1.0 scale.

Committee added:

3. Differentiating the weight for honors vs. AP/IB classes.

Grading Scale

Meeting One Meeting Two

Grading Practices Committee Timeline GPA PowerPoint Presentation

Grading Practices Review (Other Divisions) GPC Agenda – Meeting Two

Cumulative GPA (Current Procedures) What Universities Say – Part Two

Regulation Pertaining to Honors & AP HCPS Transcript/Class Rank Study

Procedures for Computing Class Rank GPA Example – C/D Student

HCPS Transcript Study GPA Example – B/C Student

GPA Example Grading Scale & Weighted Changes

What Universities Say – Part One Straw Poll Document

Group Reports from Meeting One

Documents Associated with GPC’s Work

February 26th GPC Straw Poll

ISSUE YES NO ABSTAIN

1. Move from a 7 point to a 10 point scale

47 1 0

2. Move from a .17 weight to a 1.0 weight

47 0 1

3. Differentiate honors vs. advanced weight (.5 vs. 1.0)

47 0 0

GPA Calculation ExampleCurrent

Grading/Weighting System

10 Point Grading Scale with

Differentiated Weighting

Difference

A/B Student(8 Honors/2 AP)

4.372 4.161 - 0.211

B/C Student(1 Honors)

2.339 2.797 0.458

C/D Student (0 Honors/AP/IB)

1.714 2.233 0.519

Transcript Study: Analyses of Potential Grading Policy Change Effects

• Purpose– Conducted to determine the effect of revising the current

grading/weighting policy on student GPA calculations

– Provided to the Grading Practices Committee with findings for each grading/weighting option

• Methodology– High school course grades at the end of grade 11 from the

2013 senior class were used (all high schools).

GPA Analysis

Average GPA with Current HCPS Grading/Weighting System = 2.91Average GPA with 10 point Grading Scale and Differentiated Weighting = 3.13

Change from Current Grading Scale and Advanced Course Weighting System to 10 point Grading Scale with Differentiated Weighting System

Current GPA Range

Impact of 10 point scale with differentiated weighting

Decreased GPA Increased GPA/No Change Total% % N

< 1.499 1.3% 98.7% 3001.500 - 1.999 2.2% 97.8% 4162.000 - 2.499 1.6% 98.4% 4952.500 - 2.999 1.8% 98.2% 4553.000 - 3.499 2.1% 97.9% 4703.500 - 3.999 24.6% 75.4% 4184.000 - 4.449 86.6% 13.4% 3134.500 - 4.999 96.6% 3.4% 2335.000 - 5.499 100.0% 0.0% 15

Total 21.0% 79.0% 3115* Students with transfer credits were excluded from this analysis.

Transcript Analyses: Summary of Findings

• Change to 10-point grading scale with differentiated weighting system would likely result in increased GPAs, particularly within lower GPA ranges.

• Current GPAs within the highest ranges (≥ 4.0) are likely to experience a decrease.

Implementation Options

• Transition to 10 point grading scale for 2014-2015 school year.– Delay running class rank for class of 2015 until

September 2014.– All high school GPAs recalculated during

summer and distributed to class of 2015.– We do not distribute cumulative GPAs until

class rank is computed.

• Option 1 for differentiated weighted credit.– Move to 1.0 for AP/IB Diploma courses and .5

for honors courses in 2014-2015.– Adjustment happens at one time.– This will also impact more students and GPAs

will be adjusted to a larger degree.

Implementation Options

• Option 2 for weighted credit change.

- Move to 1.0 for AP/IB Diploma and honors courses in 2014-2015.

- In 2016-2017 honors classes weighting will change to .5.

- Change is phased in so current high school students can make scheduling decisions.

- GPAs will be recalculated twice in three years.

Implementation Options

Preferred Option

100% Committee Agreement

Important to Move Forward

One Year Notice is Sufficient

Fair to Everyone

Option 1

• How will transfer credits be calculated?• What if a student fails a course with a 65 and then

converts to the new system?• How will the a new process be communicated to

students and families?• Should the new scale be implemented at the

elementary and middle school level next year?• Should high school courses taken in middle school

factor into a student’s official GPA?

Committee Questions

Next Steps

Two Community

Forums

Division-wide Survey

Report to School Board

and Action

April 2013 April 2013 May 2013