Waiting for an update on the Grades app or Parent Portal is  very stressful for Diamond Bar High School students, as a simple decimal difference  can be a deal-breaker for the grade you want.  

With the different policies that DBHS teachers follow in  rounding grades, there are two reactions a student experiences.  Some fall into despair seeing the .5 at the end of their grade, knowing that their teacher would never round it, therefore dropping them down a whole letter grade.

While others rejoice in the fact that their teacher’s lenient rounding policy will guarantee them a higher letter grade.

Teachers should stick to a specific grading scale to maintain a uniform grading policy to avoid both playing favorites and having to listen to students complaints.

Sticking to a policy such as rounding up any grade that is .5 away from the next letter grade would create a set scale for all teachers to follow.

A uniform rounding policy is needed in order to maintain an even playing field and equal opportunity for all students. Some teachers argue that if a student worked hard in class all year, there should be no need to round a grade, as the grade supposedly reflects the student’s effort.

However, even though a student may invest time and effort into a project or studying, it does not always pay off. This is why it isn’t always fair  to round grades according to effort, as the work put in by the student may not reflect the end result.

Playing favorites is also a cause for concern with rounding policies. Some teachers round certain students because they are closer to them than  other students. But rounding grades because of a teacher-student bond is clearly unfair.

If one student has  their grade rounded, other students who seek  a bump in their grade should also be granted the same privilege. Any room for favoritism should be reduced as much as possible since it is unfair for certain students to have their grade improved over another.

An overarching rounding policy would reduce the number of students who come up to teachers daily about bumping up their grade and would also make it easier for teachers to fix grades when it comes time for report cards. With a fixed scale, teachers can provide a legitimate reason  for not rounding a student’s grades and changes can be made quickly and efficiently.

An even-handed rounding policy will not only benefit the students, but also help teachers with maintaining a more regulated gradebook.

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