**Understanding Letter Grades & Their History**

**Grade Conversion Chart**

| Letter Grade | GPA | Percentage Range |
|————–|——|——————|
| A+ | 4.3 | 97-100% |
| A | 4.0 | 93-96% |
| A- | 3.7 | 90-92% |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87-89% |
| B | 3.0 | 83-86% |
| B- | 2.7 | 80-82% |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77-79% |
| C | 2.0 | 73-76% |
| C- | 1.7 | 70-72% |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67-69% |
| D | 1.0 | 63-66% |
| D- | 0.7 | 60-62% |
| F | 0.0 | 0-59% |

**The Evolution of Grading**

Grading systems have transformed significantly over time. In the 1700s, colleges used varied approaches:
– Yale ranked students as “optimi” (best) to “pejores” (worst)
– William & Mary used simple No. 1 (top) and No. 2 (satisfactory) rankings
– Harvard employed complex numerical scales (1-200)

Mount Holyoke College pioneered our modern system in 1887, introducing A-B-C-D-E grades, with E (later F) for failure below 75%. This letter system gradually became the standard we know today.

**Beyond Traditional Grades**

While letter grades efficiently quantify performance in objective subjects like math, they may not fully capture learning in creative or subjective areas. Some innovative schools now use detailed written feedback instead of letter grades, focusing on growth and understanding rather than competition.

Though most schools maintain traditional grading, many educators are finding ways to balance quantitative assessment with qualitative feedback – creating environments where learning matters more than the grade itself.