In Fairfax County students have to earn a score of 94% for an A. 93%-90% is considered a B+. Parents are battling the district's tough standards, claiming that in order to get into the best colleges, higher GPA's are needed. Protestors also claim disadvantages for good-driver insurance discounts, earning NCAA eligibility, and merit scholarships.
More than achieving an A, it's also harder for Fairfax County students to pass. The typical 60% needed to graduate and complete courses isn't good enough—students to get 64% for the green light.
The superintendent conducted a study to see how the harder grading standards were affecting students in response to parent complaints. It was decided to slightly alter the sliding grade scale to help boost GPAs. This is inconclusive about whether it will help students get into better colleges.
It's reported that the vote was applauded by local business leaders who joined the Fairgrade effort. They feared that worried families would move out of the area so their children could attend schools with easier grading scales, hurting property values and damaging the local economy.
Opponents of the Fairgrade counter, however, fear that the new grade scale will hurt the reputation of the district, not attracting the same class of families.
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