Third-grade teacher asks Raleigh County board to add numerical grades to elementary report cards

Amanda Sammons Meadows, a third-grade teacher at Maxwell Hill Elementary, told the Raleigh County Schools Board that elementary report cards would better show student growth if numerical scores accompanied letter grades.

"I'm asking you to consider adding the numerical grade onto the elementary report cards," Meadows said, describing situations where a student whose score rose from 70 to 79 is shown the same letter grade (C) and loses an opportunity to see demonstrated growth. Meadows said letter grades at the elementary level can obscure meaningful progress and that families deserve "a clear and accurate picture of their child's progress."

Meadows told the board that the district’s grading system (she referenced Schoology) can display both formats and that printed report cards can be adjusted to include numbers alongside letters. She said she sometimes manually adds numbers for students and parents so families can see small-but-important increases that letter-only reporting hides.

Why it matters: Meadows argued numerical grades help families and students see incremental growth and better target interventions. She acknowledged state grading scales remain in force but noted district printing choices can be altered to provide additional context.

Board response: Board members asked clarifying questions about whether both formats print by default; Meadows and other staff said the online system can show both numeric and letter equivalents and that printed outputs typically include the options that the district selects. No formal board action was recorded during the meeting on changing the district’s printed report-card format.

Next steps: Meadows asked the board to consider the request before the first report cards are distributed. The board did not record a motion on the item during this meeting.