What’s the difference between getting an ‘A’ or an ‘F’ in a class? You’d think one means adding four points to your GPA and the other means failing the class and having to take it again.
Think again.
A recent Al’s Morning Meeting column by Poynter’s Al Tompkins linked to an Arizona Daily Star five-part series showing that a number of students in Tucson-area school districts are moving into the next grade level even after failing essential classes. The article said, “Nine in 10 students were promoted last year, but grades revealed nearly one-third failed basic subjects.”
Even when students received passing grades in classes, other records showed they may not have earned those grades.
Tompkins’ column includes other resources for exploring the issue further.
At the other end of the spectrum, a recent St. Petersburg Times article reported that some Hillsborough County high school students have GPA’s higher than 5.0 – one student’s is 8.68. That’s because the school district gives extra credit for honors, AP and online college classes.
“But to what end? Other Florida school districts, such as Pinellas and Pasco, have grading scales that top out at 5.0. And Florida universities routinely recalculate Hillsborough’s astronomical scores, bringing them in line with those of other applicants,” the article said.
Florida universities may be recalculating some scores, but the Tampa Tribune reported that even a 4.0 GPA isn’t always enough to gain admission to the University of South Florida, once known as a “safety school.”
