To the Editor:

On Feb. 9, the Isle of Wight School Board finally did the right thing.

They voted in a 10-point grading scale. It is known as a “modified” 10-point scale and looks remarkably like that of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Suffolk.

While the motion was verbal, those taking notes believe the scale was presented and approved as follows: A is 93-100 percent and equals a 4.0; A-, 90-92 and equals a 3.7; B+, 87-89 and equals a 3.3; B, 83-86 and equals a 3.0; B-, 80-82 and equals a 2.7; C+, 77-79 and equals a 2.3; C, 73-76 and equals a 2.0; C-, 70-72 and equals a 1.7; D, 65-69 and equals a 1.0; and F, less than 65 and equals a 0.0.

An implementation plan will be presented for the board’s consideration at the March meeting.

The majority of Virginia school districts that have converted in the past two years adopted modified 10-point systems. With last week’s vote, at least 212,000 high school students in the Commonwealth, or 55.6 percent, are now, or soon will be on a 10-point system.

While there are pros and cons to this, as with any other grading scale, Isle of Wight students will now compete on a more level playing field for merit-based scholarships and acceptance to colleges of choice.

I commend school board members for being willing to step back, swallow their pride and fix the flawed grading scale they adopted last month.

Chuck Dunlap
Fair Grades for Isle of Wight Students
Smithfield