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How Much Do You Really Know About Your
Take This Quiz To Discover What May Be Missing and How You Can Help
You may think you know how your child is performing in school, but what if we told you that quiz grades, GPAs, and report cards may not actually be indicative of their true academic standing? Of course you want to give your child every opportunity and tool they need to succeed, but challenges arise when parents don’t know what those tools are or that their child even needs extra help to begin with. Learn what you can do to ensure your child is reaching their full potential by answering the questions below. You may be surprised by what you’ll learn.
What is the average GPA inflation rate in US schools?
Grades are essential for communicating students’ development and success rates, but when grades don’t accurately reflect their abilities, learning suffers and children and parents can end up feeling confused and frustrated. The goal isn’t to graduate high school with straight A’s; it’s to graduate with a proficiency in various subjects and a preparedness for the future. Nonetheless, grades continue to rise while studies show that actual learning has not improved. In fact, ACT reports that math grades have an especially high inflation rate, with the average adjusted math GPA rate increasing from 3.02 to 3.32 within 12 years. Moreover, in 2022, over 89 percent of high schoolers received an A or a B in math, English, social studies, and science. The bottom line? Grades alone don’t always paint a full or reliable picture of how well your child is doing in school.
Establishing open communication with your child’s teachers is the first step in combating grade inflation. Articulate your specific concerns and don’t be afraid to ask what their grading practices and standards are. At home, prioritize actual learning over simply getting good grades. Emphasize to your child the importance of understanding the material deeply and developing critical thinking skills. Outside resources like Sylvan Learning Center can assist in providing additional tools, like the Insight™ Assessment, which accurately determines where your child stands academically while helping them improve if necessary.
0.13
0.19
0.07
Try again!
Unfortunately, the rate is higher than 0.13.
Correct!
A 2022 report from ACT found that the average high school GPA increased by 0.19 grade points between 2010 and 2021. Additional ACT research shows that high school GPAs have steadily increased over the past decade. While GPAs have improved, however, standardized measures such as ACT composite scores have declined, reaching the lowest average score of the past decade.
Try again!
Unfortunately, the rate is higher than 0.07.
What percentage of parents believe that their child is at or above grade level in reading and math?
Nearly 90 percent
Nearly 50 percent
Nearly 75 percent
Correct!
While that sounds like a large number, a 2023 report finds that almost nine in 10 parents think their child is performing at or above their grade level in school, revealing they may not be fully understanding their child’s academic situation.
Try again!
Unfortunately, the percentage is higher than 50.
Try again!
Unfortunately, the percentage is higher than 75.
Gallup and Learning Heros’ study shines light on the fact that parents are all too often disillusioned when it comes to their child’s classroom performance. While 90 percent of parents believe their child is performing at or above grade level, standardized testing suggests that, in reality, less than half of children are actually performing at grade level. As a result, children may not be receiving the proper academic support they need to succeed.
To better understand your child’s academic positioning, it’s important to facilitate performance discussions with their teachers and assess their standardized test scores firsthand. Establishing an open dialogue with your child can also help you recognize which areas they may be struggling in. Additionally, Sylvan Learning can help provide broader insight into your child’s true academic standing. The results of their Insight™ Assessment provide a personalized learning plan that paired with their expert tutors, have students in their centers seeing up to 3X academic growth in scores! That growth leads to improved test scores, more confidence, and bigger smiles!
What is the average student-to-teacher ratio in a US public school classroom?
30:1
10:1
16:1
Try again!
Thirty to one is actually the average ratio of students to teachers in secondary schools.
Try again!
Ten to one is actually the average ratio of students to teachers in elementary and secondary schools.
Correct!
US elementary and secondary schools have an average student-to-teacher ratio of 16:1. Although the student-staff ratio alone does not guarantee academic success, it can significantly improve a child’s learning experience and achievement. After all, the lower the ratio, the more opportunity there is for individualized student attention.
Unsurprisingly, the student-teacher ratio has been found to be a strong indicator of student success and engagement. It makes sense: The fewer students each teacher works with, the easier it is for them to adapt their teaching methods to suit various learning styles. A lower ratio also helps teachers develop positive one-on-one mentoring relationships with their students while lightening their own workloads, ultimately enabling them to focus on their teaching and grading. In addition, studies show that low student-to-teacher ratios lead to improved test scores and higher graduation rates.
Sixteen students to one teacher isn’t an inherently troubling ratio, but the general rule of thumb is that the lower the ratio, the better. According to data from Statista, Norway, Belgium, Spain, Japan, and Germany all have a lower student-to-teacher ratio than the US at both the elementary and secondary level. Sylvan Learning helps give parents peace of mind by providing a personalized attention that allows for more individualized learning time. The teachers are expert educators who know how to balance direct instruction while also allowing time for application and independent work. Their local tutors understand each school’s curriculum so what they’re teaching at Sylvan has a direct impact in the classroom.
Knowing where your child stands academically is critical to their success. While there’s only so much teachers can do in the confines of the classroom and within a school day, Sylvan Learning can help bridge any learning gaps — even ones you may not know exist. The first step to understanding how your child is truly doing in school is taking Sylvan’s Insight™ Assessment. This assessment provides an in-depth look at your child’s academic status by sharing milestones, benchmarks, and skills your child should be achieving at their grade level. Best of all, Sylvan Learning is currently offering this assessment for $29 until May 31, which is the lowest price of the year. There’s no better time to take control of your child’s education.
Book your child’s assessment
Editor: Kathleen Owens | Visual Designer: Rebecca Hoskins
Grades are essential for communicating students’ development and success rates, but when grades don’t accurately reflect their abilities, learning suffers and children and parents can end up feeling confused and frustrated. The goal isn’t to graduate high school with straight A’s; it’s to graduate with a proficiency in various subjects and a preparedness for the future. Nonetheless, grades continue to rise while studies show that actual learning has not improved. In fact, ACT reports that math grades have an especially high inflation rate, with the average adjusted math GPA rate increasing from 3.02 to 3.32 within 12 years. Moreover, in 2022, over 89 percent of high schoolers received an A or a B in math, English, social studies, and science. The bottom line? Grades alone don’t always paint a full or reliable picture of how well your child is doing in school.
Establishing open communication with your child’s teachers is the first step in combating grade inflation. Articulate your specific concerns and don’t be afraid to ask what their grading practices and standards are. At home, prioritize actual learning over simply getting good grades. Emphasize to your child the importance of understanding the material deeply and developing critical thinking skills. Outside resources like Sylvan Learning Center can assist in providing additional tools, like the Insight™ Assessment, which accurately determines where your child stands academically while helping them improve if necessary.
Mexican
Norwegian
Grades are essential for communicating students’ development and success rates, but when grades don’t accurately reflect their abilities, learning suffers and children and parents can end up feeling confused and frustrated. The goal isn’t to graduate high school with straight A’s; it’s to graduate with a proficiency in various subjects and a preparedness for the future. Nonetheless, grades continue to rise while studies show that actual learning has not improved. In fact, ACT reports that math grades have an especially high inflation rate, with the average adjusted math GPA rate increasing from 3.02 to 3.32 within 12 years. Moreover, in 2022, over 89 percent of high schoolers received an A or a B in math, English, social studies, and science. The bottom line? Grades alone don’t always paint a full or reliable picture of how well your child is doing in school.
Establishing transparent communication with your child’s teachers is the first step in combating grade inflation. Articulate your specific concerns and don’t be afraid to ask what their grading practices and standards are. Outside resources like Sylvan Learning can assist in providing additional support. Their tool, the Insight™ Assessment, accurately determines where your child stands academically and pinpoints any specific skills they need to work on to be on grade level. At home, prioritize actual learning over simply getting good grades. Emphasize to your child the importance of understanding the material deeply and developing critical thinking skills. Outside resources like Sylvan Learning Center can assist in providing additional tools, like the Insight™ Assessment, which accurately determines where your child stands academically while helping them improve if necessary.