Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Differentiation and Grades

Can those of you with subject-accelerated DC or DC receiving in-class differentiation tell me how they are graded?

For the first time, the school (at our urging) is offering in-class differentiation for DS8 (3rd grade). I didn't think to ask, though, how that could affect his grades. 3rd grade is the first year the kids receive letter grades instead of the effort-type grades. It only makes a difference to me because DS attends a parochial school and there is a program offered in our area that offers four-year scholarships to kids in 4th and 8th grade. One of the points for qualification though, is all As/A+s in the core subjects (I think for both 3rd and 4th grades), and they DO NOT take into account whether the student is taking more challenging courses. It may not be be an issue for DS, but it seems unfair if he received an A- (not a qualifying score) but had done much harder work than a kid who scored an A with the easier standard curriculum.

I wouldn't give up the opportunity for DS to be challenged for anything, but it seems like there may be a way that other schools/parents work this out.

Just wondering how your schools handle it.