Dear Mr. Reitenbach,
Hello, I am writing in regards to Avon's grading scale. When I previously questioned the grading scale I received the response that the grading policy was determined by the "Lorain County Board of Education." However, I recently found out that the grading scales are governed locally by the school district. Which means that Avon Local School District and the board members can change the grading scale to mimic our neighboring schools such as Avon Lake, Westlake, Bay Village, and North Ridgeville.
As you are aware Avon's current grading scale is:
A 93-100 4 points
B 85- 92 3 points
C 74- 84 2 points
D 65- 73 1 point
F 0 – 64 0 points
*with AP courses weighing an additional 1 point.
I am advocating for a 10 point scale with pluses/ minuses and an extra point given for Honors and AP courses. The new grading scale, if implemented would look like our neighboring communities of Westlake, Avon Lake, Bay Village, and North Ridgeville which is:
A+ 97 - 100 4.33
A 93 - 96 4.00
A- 90 - 92 3.67
B+ 87 - 89 3.33
B 83 - 86 3.00
B- 80 - 82 2.67
C+ 77 - 79 2.33
C 73 - 76 2.00
C- 70 - 72 1.67
D+ 67 - 69 1.33
D 63 - 66 1.00
D- 60 - 62 0.67
F 0 - 59 0.00
Please keep in mind our high standards are due to our quality teachers, our strong curriculum, and motivated students- not the grading scale. A school district’s academic standards are measured by their four year college attendance rates for High School graduates, MEAN SAT scores, and advanced placement class performance- not their grading scale.
The current scale results in Avon students having a lower GPA than the students on a 10 point scale in our neighboring communities. Our kids are playing catch up when it comes to grades.
Many Avon families know the current grading policies are costing their families money and lost opportunity. By implementing the 10 point scale it will bring our school district and students onto the same level with nearby, competitive school districts and level the playing field for them during the scholarship and college application process. These changes would also put Avon in line with the US Department of Educations recommended grading procedures.
You may ask yourself if a 10 point scale would “dumb down” Avon schools; however, other elite school districts, like neighboring Avon Lake, Westlake, and Bay Village have the standard 10 point scale and these schools carry no stigma of having “dumbed down” their schools. You may also think that the 10 point grading scale would lower academic standards; However, the Superintendents of Bay Village, Westlake, Avon Lake, and North Ridgeville would argue that the 10 point grading scale does not “lower academic standards.”
Therefore; transforming the current grading policies would not change the rigorous academic curriculum and high test scores that have given Avon its elite status among school districts. It would allow our students to compete at the same level as the other neighboring school districts.
Please keep in mind that the grading scale has NO bearing on a schools academic standards. A vast majority of our nations very best high schools use the 10 point scale (The 2008 Gold Medal Winner High Schools).
My question would be for you to ask yourself, what is the harm to the students if we implement the 10 point grading scale. What evidence supports that the current grading policy helps the students? The 2008-2009 Handbook states that our grading scale is "the Lorain County Board of Educations grading policy." Maybe Avon Local School District can look into their own grading policy. I am looking for strong leadership that will reach a fair decision on this issue.
Thank you for your time,
Julie Frick
Mr.Reitenbach's Response on Wednesday, May 13th 2009:
Good evening...I would be more than willing to discuss this topic with you in the future. Even if we were to consider changing the grading scale it would not happen for this school year. Consequently, as this is one of the busiest months for the faculty, administration and me, and we are trying to finish the school year, time is at a premium for all of us, I would respectfully request that we discuss this after the school year....jim
My response:
Mr. Reitenbach,
Thank you for your timely response. I acknowledge your request to pigeonhole this issue due to the faculty, staff, and the administration being overloaded; However, we are all inundated with our daily schedules. I am most certain with efficiently managing our time and with great diligence we can resolve this matter. Furthermore; I do not know when an ideal time would be to discuss this, other than the present so I am continuing this pursuit. I have asked to be put on the Agenda for Tuesdays meeting and I am planning on presenting this to the Board.
I am a realist, I fully understand that the grading scale can not be changed this year and if a change would occur it would not be overnight it would be a lengthy process. Therefore, I am starting now; I have two years until my oldest enters High School and I am very optimistic that this issue will be resolved well before then.
I do thank you for your time and I am looking forward to meeting you on Tuesday.
Sincerely,
Julie Frick
I attended the Board meeting on Tuesday, May 19th and presented reports and newspaper articles to the board members.
My response letter sent on May 20th to the board as well as Mr. Reitenbach was:
Mr. Reitenbach and the School Board members,
First, I would like to thank you for your undivided attention last night at the board meeting. I know I probably inundated you with too many handouts. However, I wanted you to see the information that I gathered in supporting an adoption of a 10 point grading scale with pluses/minuses. I have confidence that you will look over the report prepared for Dr. Jack Dale, the Superintendent of Schools for Fairfax county, (the 13th largest school district in the US) last December objectively. Keep in mind that FOUR of the Fairfax County Public High Schools made the 2009 Gold Medal Winner list of High Schools with the USNews and World Report. You may justify our current grading scale by saying that the college admissions recalculates the grades because on the "official transcript" it states our high grading scale. However, with the staggering percentage of colleges that were surveyed in the above mentioned report stating that this is not done it is a harsh reality for us as parents as to why we need to adopt the 10 point scale. I also understand that some may think that our grading system puts our students at a higher standard which is more desirable and you may think that it is even advantageous to have a tougher scale because it raises expectations and makes our kids work harder. However, my point is not the higher standards, but our present grading scale which places Avon students at a disadvantage when seeking college admissions, merit scholarships, and good driver discounts. To put this in perspective on why I am so relentless about the grading scale is a hypothetical scenario: The Avon student received a 92% in every class throughout their high school career, that student would graduate with a 3.0. Whereas, the Avon Lake, Bay Village, and Westlake student would graduate with a 3.67 in the exact scenario. So I ask you; how is this fair? Can you make me, as well as the other parents and students understand how our current grading scale benefits our students? Furthermore, I am currently looking at how the other schools have made the smooth transition from their old grading scale to their new 10 point grading scale. Primarily, Brecksville- Broadview Heights and the Fairfax county schools. Keep in mind, they adopted the 10 point scale after realizing their High School students were at a competitive disadvantage for college admissions and scholarships (orange tab 3). I would also like to point out that I am not trying to fight the school board I am trying to work with you to achieve the common goal of "creating excellence in education for all children through a partnership of home, school, and community." I am most confident, in working together we can resolve this great concern if not than you will be able to enlighten me as to why our current scale benefits our children. I am looking for strong leadership to "serve the interest of the community" and make a fair and educated decision on this issue. Thank you again for your time. Julie Frick Thursday, May 21st, 2009....I wrote to Mr. Reitenbach the following:
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Hearing no response -as to the other school's that adhere to the 7 point sliding scale I called every High School in Lorain County and found the "other school's" that Mr. Reitenbach spoke of at the School Board meeting....
Wednesday, May 27th I wrote to Mr. Reitenbach the following e-mail:
Mr. Reitenbach, I found out the other "local schools" you were referring to at the school board meeting are: Avon, Clearview, Columbia , Firelands, Keystone, and Midview that were governed by the Lorain County Board of Education. With this knowledge, I talked with the Superintendent, Dr. Rockwell at the Lorain County Board of Education at 440 244 1659 and he informed me that the Avon Local School district is able to change the grading scale - if they would like. He further stated that the Avon Local School District used to be governed under their jurisdiction; however, "that has changed a while ago" he stated. Therefore, I hope that you are institutionalizing an Educational Advisory Team or a Curriculum Advisory team that will reevaluate Avon 's current grading scale. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Julie Frick |
Mr. Reitenbach's response on May 27, 2009: Good afternoon...Last week, after the board meeting I charged the high school (faculty and administration) with taking a thorough look at the issue of grading. I am confident that they and the district will take a complete look at the issue relative to the pluses and minuses to each grading system and report back to the board of education regarding this issue. I appreciate your research on the 90-100 grading scale. jim
My response to Mr. Reitenbach on May 28th, 2009 was as follows: