Dunbar transitioned to a full implementation of Standards Based Grading this fall. At the end of the first semester of full implementation, there are conflicting opinions regarding standards based grading.

The Dunbar grading policy states “the goal of our updated grading policy and standards-based grading system is to provide consistent, accurate, meaningful ​and supportive feedback.”

However, is this new system really the best way to grade student success?

“I think the idea of standards based grading is a good idea,” said sophomore Cate Cunningham. “I just think that some teachers don’t know how to use it yet and we don’t get all the rules.”

This year, only summative assignments are reflected in a student’s overall grade, though a 15% “employability grade” may be included at the instructor’s discretion. Formative assignments, such as homework, no longer count for a grade. However, this system allows for test retakes, in order to provide students with the chance to prove their growth and achieve mastery of the content. However, some students do not feel that the standards based system is helping students as it should.

“[Standards based grading] is not helping us improve. One single grade can drop your overall average and might be hard to recover, even with retakes,” junior Deepshikha Bassetti said. She is not the only Dunbar student who has these concerns.

“It’s harder to fail, but also harder to get an A,” said sophomore Teagan Garrison.

Other students voice these same concerns and mention that the demand for high test scores can mean more studying for a single test while procrastinating on homework for other classes.

“It’s harder to get an A because all the teachers say a 5 is above and beyond, but really, it’s just a 100. 100’s mean that you’re doing everything you need for the class,” said freshman Wendy Wei.

An additional concern is that standards based grading does not prepare students for college. As of now, colleges do not use standards based grading and retakes are not an option. 

Freshman Tharanie Subramaniam said, “I think it’s good for the moment, but it doesn’t prepare you for college. You cannot retake tests for college every time you fail.”

In spite of these concerns, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) believes that the system helps students in the long run.

“In the adult world, everything is a performance assessment. If adults on the job make poor decisions… the results are generally undesirable.”