Fairfax Grading Scale Unfair?

FAIRFAX CO., Va. (WUSA) -- A Fairfax County group of parents called 'Fairgrade' says the school system's grading scale is putting its students at a disadvantage.

Fairfax uses a six-point scale where an "A" requires 94 to 100 percent. Montgomery County uses a ten point scale where an "A" is 90 to 100. Plus, Montgomery County gives an extra point for honors and AP courses. Fairfax only gives a half point for AP classes.

Fairgrade says two students making exactly the same marks for the same courses, could earn a 3.5 in Fairfax and a 4.6 in Montgomery.

Fairgrade says its spent months researching grading scales and college entrance policies across the country. They also looked at the 45 top public high schools, including Langley High School. They found only Fairfax County and an Illinois high school use the six point scale. 33 of them use the ten point scale.

Fairgrade says not only does it hurt students when applying to college, but the group says it has hard facts proving it keeping students from getting into college honors programs, costing students merit based-scholarships, academic eligibility requirements for college sports, and even car insurance discounts.

The group provides this glaring comparison: Last year, only 5% of Langley High School seniors had a weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher. At Montgomery County's Churchill High, 36% had a weighted 4.0 or higher.

If you'd like more information, or are interested in signing Fairgrade's petition, contact them at this address: fairgrade.fcps@gmail.com

The group presented its findings to Fairfax County School officials, including Superintendent Dr. Jack Dale. He declined to be interviewed on this subject at this point.