Nearly 50% of American high school seniors graduated with “A” averages last year according to a new study.
Nearly 20 years ago, the percentage was approximately 10% lower.
Correspondingly, student SAT scores dropped 24 points — from 1,026 to 1,002 — during the same time frame.
According to USA Today, researcher Michael Hurwitz of the College Board said the rise in “A’s” is “really stunning,” adding that an “A” is now “the modal high school grade” — a sure sign of grade inflation.
Hurwitz said his research is to help assist college admissions personnel making “the best decisions possible.”
The revelation comes as the USA’s public high schools graduate a record number of students: The average high school graduation rate now tops 83%, according to federal statistics.
But that’s not always translating into more college diplomas. A recent study by the Harvard Graduate School of Education found that just 56% of college students complete a four-year degree within six years of entering college. For students who start at two-year colleges, it’s even worse: Just 29% earn a degree within three years.
Examining the academic transcripts of high school graduates in the 18-year period from 1998 to 2016, they found that the average grade point average (GPA) rose from 3.27 to 3.38, even as the average SAT score dropped.
Actually, they said, the upward creep is most pronounced in schools with large numbers of white, wealthy students. And its especially noticeable in private schools, where the rate of inflation was about three times higher than in public schools. …
Recent research suggests that the problem isn’t just showing up in high school. In colleges nationwide, the most popular grade is now an A, according to Stuart Rojstaczer, a former Duke University scholar and founder of the website GradeInflation.com.
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