KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
September 3, 2019
By Natalie Cook Clark
Katy ISD has instituted a new grading system for the 2019-2020 school year. The policy, approved by the board of trustees last month, removes the letter "D" from the grading scale.
No More "D's"
At last month's Katy ISD Board meeting, a new policy changing the Academic Achievement Class Ranking and district grading policy was approved. The change removes the letter "D" from the grading scale and also makes changes to class rankings.
Changes to Class Rankings
Students who began the 2019-20 school year as juniors, sophomores or freshmen will also see a modification to the class rank reporting practice that is a part of that grading policy. While eleventh grade students in the top 10 percent will continue to receive a class rank in the spring semester of their junior year, all other students will receive a quartile rank during that same time. This will have no adverse effect on students below the top 10 percent. This year’s graduating seniors will continue to follow the previous class rank reporting practice in which a ranking will be issued for every member of the class of 2020.
Labeling Students Feeds An Unhealthy Culture
“We’ve found over time that labeling all students with an exact rank feeds a culture of unhealthy competition, stress and pressure,” said Dr. Christine Caskey. “The quartile ranking is beneficial to both the students and the campuses as it acknowledges success, while also allowing more latitude and anonymity within the parameters of each quartile,” added Caskey.
Quartile ranking is consistent with the majority of Texas state public college admission policies.
Katy ISD campuses will be reviewing the updated policy with students in the coming weeks to help inform students and families of the recent changes.