Higher Grades in Harder Courses

Return to National Report Card >>

Percentage of students getting Ds or Fs in college prep and lower-level courses. Quartiles are based on eighth-grade achievement test results.

See text below for description of chart.

Bottom Quartile

  • 47% received Ds or Fs in lower-level English courses
  • 23% received Ds or Fs in college prep English courses

3rd Quartile

  • 31% received Ds or Fs in lower-level English courses
  • 16% received Ds or Fs in college prep English courses

2nd Quartile

  • 23% received Ds or Fs in lower-level English courses
  • 10% received Ds or Fs in college prep English courses

Top Quartile

  • 8% received Ds or Fs in lower-level English courses
  • 4% received Ds or Fs in college prep English courses

Source: Cooney & Bottoms, Middle Grades to High School: Mending a Weak Link