FCPS Grading Policy Changes
Grading Changes - Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Jack Dale presented his recommendations on increasing the grade point weight for honors courses to the Fairfax County School Board at its business meeting on June 25. Dale’s recommendations were based on the findings of a committee formed—at the request of the Board—to address issues related to honors courses and the weighting of grades for FCPS students. The change in the weighting for honors courses is part of a revamped grading scale and weighting system that the School Board approved inJanuary.
These changes to the FCPS grading policy include a modified ten-point grading scale that uses pluses and minuses and an increase in the weight for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses from 0.5 to 1.0.
Dale recommended that honors courses in mathematics, science, English, and social studies receive a 0.5 weight. The weighting of honors courses will begin during the upcoming 2009-10 school year and will be retroactive. As an example, a student who is a junior during the 2009-10 school year who took an honors course as a freshman will receive an additional 0.5 weight for that course added to his or her transcript retroactively. Dual enrollment courses that are currently weighted will continue to be weighted.
In addition, students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) will receive a weighting of 0.5 for all required math, science, English, and social studies courses. The weighting of 0.5 will be awarded to all math courses above the level of AP courses that are not dual enrollment and to all science, math, and technology research and mentorship courses.
New FCPS Grading Scale - effective Fall 2009
A (93-100) = 4.0
A- (90-92) = 3.7
B+ (87-89) = 3.3
B (83-86) = 3.0
B- (80-82) = 2.7
C+ (77-79) = 2.3
C (73-76) = 2.0
C- (70-72) = 1.7
D+ (67-69) = 1.3
D (64-66) = 1.0
F (below 64) = 0.0
AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment Courses
In January 2009, the Fairfax County School Board voted to change the FCPS grading policy by increasing the grade point weight (GPA) for Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), selected dual enrollment college, and honors courses.
In late January 2009, current FCPS students who currently take or have taken year-long AB or IB course were granted an additional .5 weight – for a total of 1.0 – added to their GPA calculation for each AP or IB course taken. Also, current FCPS students who currently take or have taken selected semester-long dual enrollment courses were granted an additional .25 weight - for a total of .50 - added to their GPA calculation.
Theses changes were retroactive for all AP, IB, and selected dual enrollment courses on a student’s transcript. The June 2008 GPA visible in a transcript was also updated to include the extra weight for all applicable courses.
The seventh semester transcripts for current seniors that were sent to colleges in early February 2009 included the additional weights for all applicable courses.
Background and Resources
An FCPS Grade Policy Report was released January 2, 2009.
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Interview with Peter Noonan- FCPS Grading Policies Asst. Superintendent of Instructional Services Peter Noonan discusses grading policy changes. May 2009. |