Harder to Pass, A+ to Stay Unchanged

Borough school officials have about raising passing grade from 60 to 65. But some have questioned whether compressing high scores—and perhaps making them easier to obtain—at each letter grade would be wise.

After Monday night's Board of Education work session, however, it looks like students will get a mix of old and new.

Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano advocated raising the passing grade, but keeping the school's current grading system from A through C. Maranzano said he came to the conclusion after meeting with staff.

"Everything is the same as it originally was," school board President Cliff Lundin said. "Except the bottom has been raised."

Lundin said the new grading system would take effect in the second marking period, which begins Nov. 14, if passed at next Thursday's Board of Education meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the .

High school administration initially proposed lowering grades like an A-plus from 98-100 to 96-100 while raising the passing grade, Maranzano said.

On the minimum-passing-grade side, Hopatcong joins Lenape Valley (65), Newton (70), and Pope John (70) as the schools with the highest standard. at Kittatinny, Sparta and High Point, students still need just a 60 to pass.

Here's a look at the grading scale.

Do you agree with the readjusted 2011-2012 grading scale? Too harsh? Too easy? Tell us in the comments.