Schools in Louisiana will be using a new grading scale this year. Instead of the 7-point system that has was in place before, a new 10-point scale will be implemented. The change became a reality when House Bill 424 was passed by the Louisiana State Legislature.

Under the previous 7-point grading system, letter grades were based on the following scale:

A: 100-93
B: 92-85
C: 84-77
D: 76-70
F: Below 70

Per the new 10-point system, the grading scale will now be:

A: 100-90
B: 89-80
C: 79-70
D: 69-60
F: Below 60

Why the Change?

The primary reason was for students in Louisiana to be able to have their educational proficiency evaluated along the same lines as schools in other states. As an additional benefit students will now have a better chance of achieving higher grades. Other considerations were that performance could be more easily measured, evaluation of academic records will be simplified, and transcripts for students applying to colleges or transferring to different districts will be more equitable.