By the numbers
The percentages represent how important on a scale of 1 to 4 do colleges and universities consider various factors
Grades in college prep courses: 91 percent
Grades in all courses: 87 percent
Admission test scores: 85 percent
Counselor recommendation: 62 percent
Teacher recommendation: 59 percent
Essay or writing sample: 57 percent
National Association for College Admission Counseling Admissions Trend Survey
LEBANON — Students in Lebanon City Schools next year will find that letter grades aren’t what they used to be.
The school board unanimously approved a measure Tuesday that changes the district’s eight-point grading scale to a 10-point grading scale. That means there are two more percentage points per letter grade. If a student earns a 90 or 91 percent on a test next year, the student will receive an “A” grade, whereas this year that score results in a “B.”
Lebanon High School Principal Sam Ison presented research that shows letter grades and grade point averages provided by high schools are key factors that college admissions offices consider when evaluating applications.
Universities generally do not adjust grade point averages when comparing students who come from districts with different grading scales. The same can be said of the evaluation processes for scholarships, Ison said.
“If you have an eight-point scale and our kids are getting Bs when other kids are getting As, that puts them at a disadvantage,” he said.
Lebanon senior Tyler Duvelius said the 10-point grading scale will make a big difference in helping Lebanon students be more competitive. He said he and a friend, whose GPAs are separated by 2 points, were both accepted into Capital University, but the one with the higher GPA was offered more scholarship money.
“That 1 or 2 point difference cost him $6,000 a year,” Duvelius said.
School board member Ryan Patterson said he wasn’t convinced at first that the move would be good, until looking at the research that showed the vast majority of schools are using the 10-point scale.
“This is what we’re here to do. To educate them well and give them every opportunity for success,” he said. “We’re not making it easier (to earn an A), we’re leveling the playing field.”
The change will go into effect district wide next school year.
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