Milwaukee district drops letter grades for K-8

School district to give broader evaluation

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The state’s largest school district is doing away with letter grades for its K-8 and elementary schools, in favor of a system of broader evaluation.

A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report says Milwaukee Public Schools will offer an updated report card. It will identify the skills students need to master in each grade level. Letter grades will be replaced with an AD for advanced, PR for proficient, BA for basic and MI for minimal.

Some skeptics accuse MPS of eliminating letter grades to blur the line of failing students. MPS spokesman Tony Tagliava says students are still graded, but just without traditional grades.

Feedback about a student’s work habits, behavior and effort are separated into a different measure, rated on a scale of 1 to 4.