Marion County Public School officials have formalized a longstanding grading practice this year that gives all middle and high school students who failed their first semester a bump to at least 55%, affording any students who “score poorly” for various reasons a chance to redeem their academic standing in yearlong classes.

The change was confirmed in an email to Ocala-News.com on Friday, August 15, by Marion County Public Schools Director of Public Relations Kevin Christian.

According to Christian, although the practice was done for many years prior, this year the practice was formalized with a written provision by the Grading Committee. That committee is comprised of teachers, administrators, and Marion County Education Association representatives.

Currently, the MCPS Student Code of Conduct defines the grade ranges as follows:

  • A = 90–100%
  • B = 80–89%
  • C = 70–79%
  • D = 60–69%
  • F = 0–59%

Under the provision, “any first semester grade of ‘F’ will be converted to 55% before the final course grade is calculated at the end of the year” for yearlong courses in middle and high school.

The district says the move offers students who score poorly in the first semester a chance to redeem their academic standing before the school year ends.

Ocala-News.com was first made aware of the formalization of the grading policy by multiple teachers who were informed of the formalization of the policy by their assistant principals of curriculum before school began.

Earlier this summer, Ocala-News.com reported that, despite earning a “B” grade as a district, Marion County student test scores and high school graduation rates ranked among the lowest in the state.

In fact, Marion County lagged behind in almost every one of the 12 components measured for school grades. The ranking was similar to the 2023-2024 academic school year, despite being a letter grade different.

Additionally, Marion County’s graduation rate was reported at 80 percent, ranking it 61st out of 67 counties in Florida.

Do you support the district’s grading policy? Share your thoughts in a comment below or, if you have more to say on the topic, write a letter to the editor.