Beginning the 25-26 school year, we will be transitioning to a more conventional grading scale—one used by most independent and Christian schools both locally and nationally. The new grading scale defines letter grades as follows: A: 90–100%; B: 80–89%; C: 70–79%; D: 65–69%; F: Below 65%. Please note that our new grading system still requires a grade of 65% or better for a passing grade.
Changing our grading system offers several benefits to our students and school community:
We want to motivate, not discourage. Under our former scale, a single mistake on a ten-question assignment earns the child a B, which can be especially frustrating for younger students and their parents. This new scale encourages perseverance and a love of learning.
The new grading system better reflects student performance with balance and integrity. This revised scale offers a fair and accurate measure of learning while allowing room for grace and growth. It minimizes the impact of minor variations in performance, ensuring that final grades reflect a more holistic view of a student’s progress. In this way, we can assess with both academic rigor and compassionate understanding.
We remain committed to Academic Excellence!
Please be assured that this change in our grading system does not translate into lowered expectations. The academic rigor of our program is grounded in the strength of our curriculum and the pace of instruction. The “high bar” we set in every classroom is embodied in the learning objectives, not in the grading scale. Nothing will change regarding academic excellence. Our students will continue to be challenged, stretched, and equipped for success beyond high school.
Many of our graduates pursue four-year college degrees, and we remain steadfast in our mission to thoroughly prepare every student academically, spiritually, and personally for wherever God leads them after graduation.
Plumstead Christian School transcripts have never reported letter grades—only numeric grades. Because of this, your student’s transcript will not be impacted by the change in grading scale. Admissions offices at colleges and universities will continue to see the same number grades as they have in years past, with no conversion to letter grades. Additionally, student GPAs are not affected. It does not affect how transcripts are prepared or how your student’s academic record will be presented to colleges or scholarship committees.
Thank you for your continued partnership as we remain committed to providing your children with opportunities to grow in faith, virtue, and knowledge.