<p>How many with 3.8/3.9? It's already been determined B's are just as much a sign of grade inflation as A's might be. And so a plethoria of A- wouldn't give you a 4.0, but you'd be awfully close. This is an example of presenting statistics to serve your premise.</p>
<p>I'm in NY, but that does not necessarily make a difference as different school districts grade in different ways. My son was in a private school. But I have other kids in other private schools that do not average the same way. Many different systems. </p>
<p>My current high schooler did not do well on his final exams which does not bode well for the way colleges grade. He is one of those diligent kids who keeps up with homework and studies so his scores on quizzes, participation and homework is very good. He also does all right on the unit exams. Where he has problems is with that final exam. This is an area where he needs work. I have a feeling that for now, his teachers are giving him a bit of a break because they recognize the work he is putting into the course. This is not going to continue in college. I can see how that expectation arises, however, as my son could get used to this and would consider it "unfair" when things change.</p>
<p>The biggest thing that will change is that most professors could care less whether you come to class let alone do your homework. It truly becomes an education of choice. Also, most classes will have maybe a test of two but that's it beyond maybe a paper and a final exam. There just wont be as many tools of assessment in college for your son. It seems to me your son might need direction in what to study instead of being overwhelmed by too much information. Some sort of study skills class might go a long way to helping him test better.</p>
<p>If the statement is that grading standards in general are arbitrary, I would agree with that statement. </p>
<p>Amazon.com:</a> Wad-Ja-Get? the Grading Game in American Education: Howard Kirschenbaum: Books </p>
<p>It would take much more digging into much more data to make the case that one school or another has a standard of grading that is "too inflated" or "too tough." First one would have to agree on propositions of value by which one would judge grading standards, as those propositions of value aren't written in stone anywhere for all of us to check.</p>
<p>somewhat off topic but couldn't resist..</p>
<p>I don't know whatever came of it, but the town we used to live in recently built a new HS. They were proposing having an "effort roll" in addition to the "honor roll."</p>
<p>I kid you not, I'll have to see if it made the light of day. The adminstration was seriously pushing for this.</p>
<p>I've worked in public high schools. From my perspective, the root cause is lazy, spineless, underqualified teachers. It's a heck of a lot easier to hand out Bs than to have the emotional and intellectual fortitude, to say nothing of the talent, to educate students. The profession of teaching is not highly regarded, thus although there are a few very bright selfless individuals who teach in public schools because it's what they love, there are many more who are mediocre or worse.</p>
<p><strong><em>I don't know whatever came of it, but the town we used to live in recently built a new HS. They were proposing having an "effort roll" in addition to the "honor roll."</em></strong></p>
<p>There's nothing wrong with recognizing and applauding effort, so long as it's not confused with achievement.</p>
<p>Everyone knows Harvard has pretty significant grade inflation, as do many other elite schools. In Penn at Wharton the curve is something like 20% A's 50% B's. So as long as your in the top 70% of the class, you get at least a B. Which if you are going to class and doing the reading, you would expect (and reasonably so) to do. I highly doubt that an employer is going to look at a Harvard grads GPA of 3.4 and say "this is impressive, but I know Harvard has grade inflation, so this doesnt hold as much weight" Same story with other schools</p>
<p>Two words: Entitlement culture</p>
<p>This article is a direct result of all the inflated GPA's in some high schools....period</p>
<p>Our HS has a "Principal's Breakfast" every month at which hard-working kids, those who add to school spirit or that extra something, are recognized and get their picture in the local paper. Makes them feel good but is not confused with grades.</p>
<p>I had one prof who everyone warned me never to take because he doesn't "give" a's... i had to take him because he was the only prof teaching the course... i studied my butt off the whole semester with my then best friend now ex boyfriend, and him and I got the only 2 A's in the past like three years of him teaching the class. we got a's on the tests when everyone else was doing horrible. I was so proud!!!</p>
<p>I would like to add that a part of this stems from Perfect Attendance Awards that we've all been getting since elementary school. We get rewarded and, at my school, we get Inn-out-Burger for perfect attendance. It's like great, you were here. But did you actually learn anything?</p>
<p>"Does getting a B from a college known to have grade inflation help in the job market?"</p>
<p>That's a pretty big stretch to assume that employers know whether College A inflates grades relative to College B. Why would employers bother to find that out, and how would they find it out anyway?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Effort has replaced quality in high school,
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Speak for your own HS, not everyone else.</p>
<p>There were precisely TWO kids in my son's public HS graduating class of 180 with A averages. There were perhaps another 10-15 with A minus averages. A large number of those kids took all or almost all honors and AP courses. I can assure you that even gifted students who didn't work didn't get As.</p>
<p>I get so sick and tired of people making gross generalizations, especially about public schools.</p>
<p>Well, turning my earlier question around, does anyone in the job market discount a Harvard degree because Harvard supposedly has inflated grades? (I think not.)</p>
<p>Sat > gpa: 1
gpa > sat: 0</p>
<p>Consolation I agree, the concept of inflated grades really does not have meaning in my opinion. At my school, which is a public high in school in Texas, you get the grade you earn. In some science classes that is not true on the curve, but for every other subject the grades depend on how hard you work.
And yes, for the vast majority of people I think that how hard you work determines your grade. In fact out of a class of 495 only 3 peopl have straight A's. I personally am ranked number 13 and have gotten 6 B's, at our school "grade inflation" is something that does not exist. And really I doubt the term grade inflation can even be applied to high schools bc they are all so different.</p>
<p>I have said this repeatedly but at my kids' school there has been exactly four 4.0 students in the past 20 years. Moreover, the average grades for similar courses has remained stable in that time as well (meaning they are still evenly distributed). There is no curve. The school doesn't rank students or weight grades. To have anything higher than a 3.6 GPA is considered stellar.</p>
<p>This is why it become a tad annoying when you see all these 4.8 weighted GPA's. However, I find some solace in the fact that I think the profile sent with transcripts etc, seem to put this in perspective.</p>
<p>But while I knew lots of solid A and B students in high school (late 70's), there was no shame in that B. And frankly a "C" really and truly meant "average." Now C's are seen as failure.</p>
<p>fendergirl,</p>
<p>Just curious, you mentioned your ex-boyfriend and a course that he and you took together, garnering the only "A"s in the class. What course was it?</p>