Hanover County provides excellent educational opportunities for our students, and our teachers are awesome. However, after reviewing our grading scale there is concern that our students are no longer on equal playing ground in comparison to our surrounding counties, the majority of Virginia, and the rest of the Country. 

The U.S. as a whole appears to be moving in the direction of a 10-point grading scale with weighting for honors, AP, IB, dual enrollment, and other advanced courses. A 10-point grading scale offers many advantages to students.

THE ADVANTAGES:

• College admissions are translated from grades and a 10-point scale would favorably impact students.

• Motivates students to attempt college prep, AP and honors classes

• Greater eligibility for academic scholarships, honors programs, and honors/scholars housing that are based on GPA

• Positive effects on student self esteem

• Aligns with the grading scale used by most colleges and universities

• Students with a higher GPA can earn saving incentives (e.g. auto insurance and other “good student” discounts)

When evaluating students for admission, many colleges look at GPA on a four-point scale. When Hanover reports their information in the current scale then it is just translated to a four-point scale. So your GPA then depends on how many A’s, B’s, pluses,minuses, etc. you receive and how those correspond to a university’s four point scale. Your GPA would only change if the class grading scale changes the number of A’s or B’s you get.

The majority of our colleges and universities use a 10-point grading scale. Changing our grading scale to a 10-point scale would create a smoother transition for our students.

Admission-based scholarships are awards in recognition of the academic achievements of graduating high school seniors. A look at grading scales across Virginia shows that some students can earn A's with a grade of 90, while others need to hit 92, 93 or 94 to claim the top grade. The grading differences may not matter within the school walls, but the points add up when students are earning scholarship money. Honors programs and honors housing are equally stringent in their GPA requirements.

Self-esteem is a vital topic during the high school years. Researchers view the enhancement of self-concept as a vital component to achievement academically as well as in social and emotional experiences across the life span. Research shows that positive academic achievements or failures can affect how "children develop a sense of self-worth or self-esteem. GPA has an influence on a student’s self esteem. A student who works and strives to earn that one or two points for a boost in their GPA, has a very difficult challenge at being successful under a 7-point scale.

Students earning higher GPAs are eligible for savings incentives at retailers as well as insurance agencies.

Who else uses a 10-point scale?

• U.S. Department of Education’s Institute for Education Sciences
• NAEP High School Transcript Study converts to 10-point grading scale unless the high school reports an alternative scale (National Center for Education Statistics, 2007)
• President’s Education Awards Program
• The College Board, a national testing organization, for its data gathering purposes
• The majority of colleges and universities
• Chesterfield County, Henrico County, City of Richmond, Fredericksburg City, Fairfax 
County, Loudon County, etc.

Why doesn't the Virginia Department of Education dictate an equal grading system across the Commonwealth of Virginia? Wouldn't that make the most sense?

Impact of potential 10 point scale:
Moving to a 10-point grading scale would bring Hanover County Public Schools inline with many, if not most, of the school districts to whom our students are compared, such as Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Richmond City, Fredericksburg City, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, etc. The 10-pt. scale is the most commonly used grading scale in the country.

Scoring students against a 10-pt scale versus the current 7-point scale would make more Hanover County students eligible for college admissions in the extremely competitive college application environment.

For students at the upper end of the GPA range, moving to a 10-point grading scale would enhance the ability to compete for scholarships and honors programs, where high minimum GPA requirements exist.

Students scoring at the lower end of the GPA range may be more motivated to work harder. Graduation rates may improve; dropout rates may decrease.....research shows that this happened when Florida changed to a 10-pt grading scale.

Moving to a 10-point grading scale would provide continuity for Hanover County students pursuing post-secondary education. The 10-pt.grading scale is utilized in nearly all college/university settings.

Athletic ineligibility may be less problematic for students and coaches.

Changing to a 10-point grading scale may afford Hanover County students more opportunities for internships, jobs, academic programs, research opportunities, national competitions and awards, all of which require high school transcripts.

We thank you all for your support and encouragement in trying to make these changes for the better!