As progress reports are being published today, we wanted to share some reminders and information about our new grade scale.
This school year, Attleboro High School transitioned to a 4.3 scale to provide more meaningful feedback, improve consistency across classes, and align with post-secondary expectations. The goal is to ensure that a student’s letter grade reflects what they know and can do while maintaining a familiar reporting system for both course grades and GPA.
While grades assess students’ progress towards mastering course content and skills, this is not a standards-based grading system. We continue to use letter grades, report cards, and GPAs as we always have. The 4.3 scale helps ensure that grading practices across departments are aligned and transparent.
As you review progress reports with your student, please keep in mind:
1 - Practice and classwork matter: These learning activities provide opportunities for students to make mistakes, challenge themselves, and receive feedback without being penalized for not getting everything right on their first attempts. This practice work helps students improve their knowledge and skills so that they can demonstrate their learning on assessments.
2 - Feedback and growth are key: Teachers provide feedback throughout each unit so students can strengthen their understanding before major assessments.
3 - Grades reflect progress toward mastery: A grade represents where a student’s learning currently stands based on what they’ve demonstrated through their coursework.
We’re grateful for the thoughtful questions and engagement we’ve received from families this fall. As with any transition, we’ll continue communicating and building consistency so that the system works smoothly for all students.
If you have questions after reviewing your child’s progress report, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their teacher, guidance counselor, or house assistant principal. Thank you for your continued support and partnership! Please see the frequently asked questions listed below for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this standards-based grading?
No. AHS continues to use traditional letter grades (A–F) and GPA. The 4.3 scale helps ensure that grading is clear, consistent, and aligned across all courses.
Q: How is practice used to support learning?
Practice is where students learn, make mistakes, and improve and it’s essential that they have the chance to make those mistakes without penalty. Just like athletes or musicians, students need opportunities to try, revise, and grow before being evaluated. These practice experiences help them build confidence and understanding so that, when it’s time for an assessment, they can show what they truly know.
Teachers will regularly provide feedback on practice work to help students improve, even though those assignments don’t directly factor into the final grade.
Q: Can my child get an “Exemplary” grade if they ask questions in class?
Yes. Be reassured that students have always been encouraged to ask questions. During everyday classroom experiences, questions are an essential part of the learning process, and we want students to ask them! That said, it's also important to clarify that during assessments—when students are being asked to independently show what they can do—teachers have always limited the types of questions they can answer.
During tests, students can certainly ask clarifying questions (example: Do I need to show my work for this math problem?), but sometimes students ask questions that go beyond clarification (example: Can you tell me the steps to solve this problem?), and if teachers answer those questions it impacts a student’s ability to demonstrate their learning independently. Again, this practice is not related to a particular grade scale; it’s a long standing expectation that ensures grades reflect what students know and can do.
Q: How does this align with college grading?
Our 4.3 system mirrors the GPA structure used by most colleges and universities. While colleges may use percentages within individual courses, their transcripts and GPAs follow the same logic. This change ensures our students’ grades are both accurate and easily understood by admissions officers.
Q: Will this impact college admissions or scholarships?
No. Colleges interpret grades within the context of each school’s grading system. Our scale gives an accurate GPA and shows colleges how a student performs on meaningful learning targets. Admissions officers want to see students who can apply their learning and then take this into account in relation to the other components of the application.
The Attleboro Public Schools does not, in any education program or activity that it operates, discriminate or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race*, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, religion, disability, age, genetic-information, active military/veteran status, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, or pregnancy-related condition, homelessness, ancestry, ethnic background, national origin, immigration status, or any category protected by state or federal law. The Attleboro Public School District prohibits sex discrimination. Individuals may report concerns or questions to the District’s Civil Rights and/or Title IX Coordinators. The notice of nondiscrimination is located at https://www.attleboroschools.com. *race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture, hair type, hair length and protective hairstyles.