Grading and Assessment: How to Best Measure Student Success
April 14, 2025
For decades, the value of grades in K-12 schools and the accuracy of high school GPAs in predicting career and college readiness have been debated. The pandemic, with its resulting "grade inflation," has added to the complexity to this ongoing debate.
This report examines the key factors shaping school grading policies and educators’ practices, exploring both traditional grading systems and new methods for assessing student knowledge and skills. By reviewing best practices, analyzing the high school-to-college GPA connection, and addressing concerns about grading and assessment, this report aims to advance the conversation on what truly reflects student achievement and why it matters.
This report examines the key factors shaping school grading policies and educators’ practices, exploring both traditional grading systems and new methods for assessing student knowledge and skills. By reviewing best practices, analyzing the high school-to-college GPA connection, and addressing concerns about grading and assessment, this report aims to advance the conversation on what truly reflects student achievement and why it matters.
Assessment What Are Grades Really For? What Research Says About 4 Common AnswersDiffering opinions about the purpose of grades are at the heart of the grading debate.
Assessment Grading for Equity: Inside One District’s Big Policy ShiftDistricts have been shifting grading to strictly assess student learning without add-ons such as extra credit.
Assessment Why Some Schools Are Ditching Class Rank and Weighted GPAsEducators wonder whether it is time to revisit class rank and weighted GPAs.
Assessment What Should Teachers Do When Students—or Parents—Ask for a Better Grade?Plenty of students, and even parents, ask teachers to change their grades. Here's how teachers react.
Assessment Interactive How Teachers Approach Grading, in ChartsTeachers weigh multiple factors, including subjective perceptions, when selecting grades, beyond just assignments and test scores.
Assessment Download A Strengths-Based Guide to Assessing Student Progress (DOWNLOADABLE)Help students succeed with clearer, fairer rubrics that simplify grading and improve assessment consistency.
Assessment Download A Guide to Equitable Grading in Schools (DOWNLOADABLE)See how traditional and equitable grading practices differ in this downloadable guide.
