Conceptualizing grade inflation

Adam Tyner and Seth Gershenson

Economics of Education Review, 2020, vol. 78, issue C

Abstract: Evidence of grade inflation in U.S. high schools is often misinterpreted due to confusion about how grade inflation is, or should be, defined. This note reduces the confusion by introducing a typology of grade inflation and discussing the implications of each type. We then provide empirical examples of each type of grade inflation using transcript and test-score data from Algebra I classes in North Carolina over a recent ten-year period. Year-specific (static) grade inflation has been, and remains, higher in schools serving relatively disadvantaged student populations; however, differential changes over the past ten years (what we term dynamic grade inflation) have significantly narrowed the socioeconomic gap in static grade inflation.

Keywords: Grade inflation; Achievement gaps; Grading standards (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:78:y:2020:i:c:s0272775720305239

DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2020.102037

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