The A+ Epidemic: Navigating High School Grade Inflation in 2024

High school grades are on the rise, but not necessarily for the right reasons. From 2010 to 2021, the average high school GPA jumped from 3.17 to 3.36 - that's a big leap in just a decade. Even more eye-opening: by 2022, almost 90% of high school students were getting A's or B's in their main subjects. This grade inflation is making it harder for colleges to tell who's truly prepared for college.

What Does This Mean for Your Teenager?

At first glance, higher grades might seem like good news. After all, who doesn't want to see their child succeed? But this trend raises some important questions:


1. Do these higher grades actually reflect better learning and understanding?

2. How will colleges view these inflated grades when making admissions decisions?

3. Are students being adequately prepared for the challenges of college and beyond?


Why Is This Happening?

Understanding the reasons behind grade inflation can help you navigate this new educational landscape:


  • Grade weighting: More students are taking advanced classes, which often use different grading scales and can inflate GPAs.Many schools give extra weight to grades in honors or AP courses.
  • Changes in teaching methods: Many educators now focus on mastery-based learning, allowing students to revise work until they achieve a desired grade.
  • Pressure on teachers & high schools: There's often pressure to maintain high graduation rates and college acceptance numbers.
  • Pandemic effects: The shift to online learning led to more lenient grading policies in many schools.


The Growing Gap Between Grades and Test Scores


While grades have been on the rise, standardized test scores haven't followed suit. In 2023, the average SAT score fell to 1028, the lowest since the test changed in 2016. The ACT scores are also dropping. The average ACT score for the class of 2023 was 19.5, which is the lowest in over 30 years. While high school grades in subjects like math are getting better, the test scores in math are getting worse. This is happening in all main subjects - English, science, and social studies too. More students are getting A's, but their test scores aren't matching up.


This gap between grades and test scores is worrying for a few reasons. It might mean that good grades don't always show how much a student has learned. In 2023, almost half of the students who took the ACT didn't meet any of the college readiness benchmarks. This is up from 36% in 2019. Only about 1 in 5 students met all four benchmarks in 2023, which is less than the year before.



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Impact on College Admissions

A high GPA alone may no longer be enough to stand out. With so many students achieving high grades, colleges are looking for additional ways to differentiate applicants. This means that even straight-A students need to demonstrate other qualities and achievements to be competitive.


Colleges are looking more closely at course rigor, extracurricular activities, and essays. They want to see that students have challenged themselves with advanced courses and have developed interests and skills outside the classroom. Essays are becoming increasingly important as a way for students to showcase their unique perspectives and experiences.


Some schools are returning to requiring standardized test scores, seeing them as a more consistent measure across different high schools. While there was a trend towards test-optional policies, especially during the pandemic, some institutions are reversing this due to concerns about grade inflation. These scores can provide a standardized benchmark that grades alone may no longer offer.


How You Can Support Your Teenager

As we navigate these changes in education, it's crucial to keep the big picture in mind. While good grades are important, they're just one part of your child's educational journey. The skills, knowledge, and character they develop during high school are what truly prepare them for future success.


Here are some ways to help your student navigate their high school years:


1. Encourage challenging courses: Even if it means slightly lower grades, the rigor will be appreciated by colleges.

2. Foster a love of learning: Help your child focus on acquiring knowledge and skills, not just achieving high grades.

3. Support well-rounded development: Encourage meaningful extracurricular activities and personal projects.

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