Has Grading For Learning Squelched Grade Inflation?

We have posted numerous times about grade inflation in the school district, which is great on the ego, but has a nasty after-bite if one opts to go on to college.

Looking back over the years we documented the following for middle school kids and grade inflation, using the honor roll as our data:

2008 3rd Quarter:  55% of all middle schools made the honor roll; 18% scored perfect 4.0's
2010 2nd Quarter: 60% of all middle schools made the honor roll
2010 3rd Quarter: 55% of all middle schools made the honor roll; 8.4% scored perfect 4.0's

This year, "Grading for Learning" was put into place, in which instead of letter grades, kids earned number grades from 1-4, with 4 equivalent to "mastering" a subject.  Honor roll is earned by earning nothing but 3's and 4;s in classes.  And the results are:

2012 3rd Quarter:  22.3% of middle schoolers (grades 6 &7) made the honor roll.
WOW!  Much more statistically "likely".  Sure, some kids that may have been used to making the honor roll now aren't getting there, but this is reality. And perhaps it gives kids an opportunity to reflect more on the need to work a little harder.

This percentage is pretty consistent between the two middle schools and between grades:
Patrick Marsh: 22.5%  (18.0% 6th grade; 27.2% 7th grade)
Prairie View: 22.2%  (26.5% 6th grade; 18.2% 7th grade)
all 6th graders: 22.0%
all 7th graders: 22.6%

If this is what Grading For Learning will look like down the road, then our hat is off to Alice Murphy and all those who coordinated this initiative.  We need to be honest with our kids.  If their learning is not up to par, then the kids need to make some adjustments.  Parents. you can help out at home, too.

SPHS: Same. Old. Story.
The high school has been running about 40% on the honor roll (which statistically unlikely) for years.  This year:  in the 3rd quarter we're at 39.9%.
Same old story.
Same old song and dance (my friends).
The range for grades 10-12 was 35.7% to 43.2%.

Good Lord...those middle schoolers will hit high school, and instantly become geniuses!

The grading for learning in the middle schools seems to correlate well to what we see on WKCE tests:  we're just an average school district in terms of learning.  We CAN...and should...improve

Lost In the Shuffle...What IS Right In SPASD

Too often we all get caught up in our own worlds and things get lost in the shuffle.
SP-EYE is not too big as to be able to acknowledge that we're not immune.

In between the Ashley Fields fiasco, budgetary bumbling, and other posts involving adults not faring too well in sandbox play, the kids, teachers, coaches, and advisors just keep on keepin' on.  Notable recent achievements include:

• a national title for the co-ed cheer team,
• recognition of  Patrick Marsh Middle School as the AWSA 2011-2012 Wisconsin Middle School of Excellence for Medium-Sized Schools,
• district recognition as a 2011-2012 AP® Achievement District,
• SPHS senior Ellen Keal has advanced to Finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship program,
• and a special shout out to Westside Elementary principal  Rick Mueller, who hasn't been adequately recognized formally, yet should be because of all the wonderful changes and advancements he's brought to the  Westside community.  We continually hear things from reliable sources via the coconut telegraph. If there were an award for district administrator of the year, our vote would be cast for Rick Mueller.

The phrase "It's all about the kids" has turned trite, and needs to be retired...to say the least.  But ultimately what we all want is for a district which allows all students to grow and expand their horizons individually and collectively.  These are but a few examples of what can and does happen.