by Eduardo Calderon|News Editor
Since elementary school, every student has received their progress reports and report cards as numerical averages, but everyone seems to forget NEISD’s alphabetical grading system.
According to www.neisd.net, “100-90 (A) Excellent, 89-80 (B) Above Average, 79-75 (C) Average, 74-70 (D) Below Average, and 69-0 (F) Failing. Our grading philosophy is to thoughtfully consider what students already know and what the need to learn.”
However there has been talk about making changes to the alphabetical grading system.
“There has been discussion by the board about getting rid of the ‘D’ connotation,” Principal John Mehlbrech said, “It must be approved by the school district.”
No longer having a ‘D’ category is a step that many districts have already made.
“Other districts use a ‘C’ as 70-79, which will help kids to the next level, but it will not make a difference or affect their rank,” Mehlbrech said.
Dropping the ‘D’ category can help students from the classroom to the sports field.
“Some issues come from athletic scholarships, athletes have lost full ride scholarships due to getting a ‘D’ in the district’s [grading system],” Mehlbrech said, “Division 1 scholarships require a 2.3 GPA now from the previous 2.0 minimum, earning a ‘D’ in the current grading system may be less likely to receive a D1 scholarship.”
In the classroom, no longer having a ‘D’ category will benefit those students in college credit classes.
“In terms of Dual Credit, SAC kicks students out from the program if they have a ‘D’ grade but it won’t be possible if there is no ‘D’ category,” Mehlbrech said, “For college acceptance, they see the letter grade, with our system some students may get passed up by others just because their district has a no ‘D’ grading system.”
Changing the alphabetical grading system does not pose an immediate effect to teachers grading in the classroom.
“There’s no big difference, or change our current grading method since we put all the grades in numerically,” biology teacher Oscar Velasquez said.
The current grading system could limit a student’s possibility of progressing their education even further.
“[The current] grading system gives disadvantages for students, even though we could be the better option,” junior Joshua Riding said, “[A no ‘D’ system] is more fair and better for kids.”
Making changes to the grading system depends on the necessity that the district has for it.
“It really depends on how fast the districts wants it to go, the process is at the tip of the iceberg all the schools are having this discussion, then there will be a district proposal,” Mehlbrech said, “All of this will benefit and help students.”
