The new grading scale on campus has everyone talking. After 51 years, the grading scale students have learned to both love and hate has undergone some change. With a clear impact on the St. Dominic community, students, teachers and administration gave their opinions on the alteration.

The 2015-2016 school year is making a big mark on the St. Dominic timeline. We became the first Archdiocesan school to break away from the previous grading scale. According to Mrs. Eaton’s research, the grading scale has always been the same until this year. Among the main reasons for the change were equity and the responses in annual parent surveys. St. Dominic is a college preparatory school, so modeling a college-level grading scale was a logical step to take.

Comprised of eight faculty members, The Grade Scale Review Team met numerous times to discuss the matter. They analyzed 200 randomly selected report cards, 50 from each grade level, from last school year. Next, they calculated how a new grading scale would have impacted those students’ report cards. The results of the study were astonishing. The Grade Scale Review Team calculated that 78% of all students in St. Charles and St. Louis County had an advantage in grading over St. Dominic students. The advantages could clearly be seen in college admission and college scholarship opportunities. It was time to make a change.

The new grading scale includes the following:

A+= 93 – 100 (4.0)

A- = 90 – 92.99 (3.7)

B+ = 87 – 89.99 (3.3)

B = 83 – 86.99 (3.0)

B- = 80 – 82.99 (2.7)

C+ = 77 – 79.99 (2.3)

C = 73 – 76.99 (2.0)

C- = 70 – 72.99 (1.7)

D+ = 67 – 69.99 (1.3)

D = 63 – 66.99 (1.0)

D- = 60 – 62.99 (0.7)

F = 0 – 59.99 (0)

Previously, grades could be rounded up. For example, if a student had a 92.5% in the class at the end of a semester, their grade could be rounded to a 93%. With the new scale, this is no longer an option.

Some students love the new grading scale. Coming from a public school background, senior Sean Dolan agrees with the change.

“Having more grade security is really nice and beneficial to everybody,” said Dolan.

The grading scale takes some of the pressure off of the students, enabling them to perform better. Teachers will have happier students, and happy students work harder. The change will also require students to adapt to their learning environment. This will apply even more so in college and in their future professions.

On the other hand, some students dislike the new grading scale. They feel less pressure so they are not as motivated to work hard for their grades. However, Mrs. Eaton disagrees.

“Absolutely not…students in this school are capable of amazing accomplishments, and as supportive educators willing to go the extra mile for the students, it is our job to constantly raise the bar,” said Mrs. Eaton.

As for the future of St. Dominic High School, the grading scale will remain the same.

“If we’re going to take the time to change it, it’s not going to be a one-year change. We are committed that this is the grade scale,” said Mrs. Eaton.

It is a student’s responsibility to work hard inside and outside of the classroom. The numbers will take care of themselves. As students adapt to the new change, they prepare themselves for college and where life will take them beyond the doors of 31 St. Dominic Drive.