Test Scores Down, GPAs Up: The New Angst Over Grade Inflation

Teachers say they have to balance ‘giving grace’ to struggling students with maintaining high expectations

By Matt Barnum of The WSJ. Excerpts:

"Dating back to 2020, when the pandemic upended American education overnight, many schools have adopted a more lenient approach to grading. Some eliminated zeros or removed penalties for late work. Many teachers report “giving grace” to struggling students. Others say they have felt pressure from administrators to limit failure rates."

"A national analysis of the class of 2022 found that among students who took the ACT, high-school grades had risen, even as ACT scores had dipped."

"many school systems have enacted new policies that continue to affect students’ grades.One increasingly common approach is a minimum grade—often 50%—for each assignment, even if a student doesn’t turn it in."

"High-school grades have been rising for at least two decades. A U.S. Department of Education study found that the typical GPA of a high-school graduate had risen from 2.7 (a C+) in 1990 to 3.1 (over a B) in 2019. Teachers cite pressure from parents and administrators, as well as the heightened competitiveness of college admissions. 

But the recent divergence between grades and test scores has vexed education advocates. “Grades are sending signals that students are doing well at a time when there is serious reason for concern,” said a recent report released by three education groups."

"Research has found that students tend to learn more in classes with teachers who are tougher graders."