Grade scale alterations explored

The Prince William County School Board is set to discuss possible changes to the grading scale at its meeting Wednesday.

Right now, the grading scale used in Prince William County high schools defines an A as 93 to 100 percent, a B+ as 90 to 92, a B as 84 to 89, a C+ as 81 to 83, a C as 74 to 80, a D+ as 71 to 73, a D as 65 to 70 and an F as 64 and below.

The School Board is considering adopting a 10-point grading scale, which would make an A 90 to 100 percent, a B 80 to 89, and so on. An F would be anything 59 percent or below.

Board members said that they've received many e-mails from parents and students requesting the change, since Fairfax County Public Schools adopted a 10-point grading scale in January.

Many other area school divisions currently use the 10-point scale.

The Fairfax School Board adopted the change last month after thousands of parents lobbied for it, saying the tougher grading scale hurt seniors applying for scholarships and college admissions, based on grade point averages.

The Loudoun County School Board is considering a similar change.

In Manassas and Manassas Park, schools use the same seven-point scale currently in place at Prince William.

Prince William parents and students have taken their cause to the Internet. In addition to e-mailing board members, supporters of the grading scale change have started an online petition that had over 1,300 signatures as of Friday.

The petition, at www.petitionspot.com/petitions/pwcsgradingscale, says county students are at a disadvantage because they are not one of the few counties in Virginia on a 10 point grading scale.

"Prince William County students deserve to have equal opportunity when applying for college," the petition reads.

High school students started a Facebook group to express their concerns. The group, started by Stonewall Jackson High School student Zach Goulet, had 1,122 members as of Sunday afternoon, an increase of about 130 from Friday.

Goulet said he and other students want the grading scale changed because colleges look at high school transcripts, which show a grade point average, not a percentage average.

Under the current Prince William County grading scale, a senior with a 92 percent average in class would have a B+, or a 3.4 GPA.

But a student in another school district that uses a 10-point grading scale, could have the same 92 percent average and would get an A, a 4.0.

"It really just helps the students have an equal chance in their pursuit for college," Goulet said in an e-mail.

The Prince William County School Board could vote on changing the grading scale at their meeting Wednesday.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.