The Core Knowledge Blog

For the first time in seven years, Seattle public high-school students who do poorly can receive a failing grade on their report cards.  Since 2000, not one student in Seattle’s public high schools has technically failed a class.  The policy has been to hand out a grade of ”N” for “no credit,” which didn’t affect a student’s grade-point average. A grade of “E,” however, counts as a zero when figuring a GPA, and effective immediately the failing grade of “E” is back. 

“The change has been welcomed by many principals and teachers who believe that students should face more consequences for failure,” the Seattle Times reports. 

The return of the E could cause difficulties for some athletes because the school district requires students to have a C average to play. It also might affect some students’ prospects as they apply to college, although area colleges are aware of what Seattle was doing. But it will stop what many say was an unintended consequence: Some students decided it was better for their GPAs if they just gave up and lost credit for a class rather than earn a D or even a low C.

“For a number of years now, people have been feeling that the N policy is problematic,” said Marni Campbell, principal at Nathan Hale High School.  

A hat tip to Joanne Jacobs, who likes the plan.  My 10th grade social studies teacher would agree.  ”Failure is a part of life,” Mr. Wilson often counseled.