“City Opens Inquiry on Grading Practices at a Top-Scoring Bronx School”

Sharon Otterman reports:

When report card grades were released in the fall for the city’s 455 high schools, the highest score went to a small school in a down-and-out section of the Bronx . . . A stunning 94 percent of its seniors graduated, more than 30 points above the citywide average. . . . “When I interviewed for the school,” said Sam Buchbinder, a history teacher, “it was made very clear: this is a school that doesn’t believe in anyone failing.”

That statement was not just an exhortation to excellence. It was school policy.

By order of the principal, codified in the school’s teacher handbook, all teachers should grade their classes in the same way: 30 percent of students should earn a grade in the A range, 40 percent B’s, 25 percent C’s, and no more than 5 percent D’s. As long as they show up, they should not fail.

Hey, that sounds like Harvard and Columbia^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H various selective northeastern colleges I’ve known. Of course, we^H^H^H they give a lot more than 30% A’s!

P.S. In all seriousness, it does appear from the report that the school has problems.

2 thoughts on ““City Opens Inquiry on Grading Practices at a Top-Scoring Bronx School”

Comments are closed.