The Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority reported that about one in six Kentucky high school seniors has a 4.0 grade point average. In a 4.0 system, that's straight As. Still, no more than one third of the 4.0 students scored 28 or higher on the ACT test. A perfect score on the ACT is 36, and no one can expect every 4.0 student to ace this exam, but one might expect most of them to score at least 28 on the test. The problem may start in high school and sooner with added pressure on students to attend college and succeed while they're there.
Scholarships also play a role in how a student's performance is measured.
Grade inflation may be worsened by Kentucky's adoption of a state program that bases scholarships for postsecondary education on high school grades. It is difficult not to think that teachers and administrators, at least in Kentucky, have felt increased pressure to make sure their students max out their scholarship opportunities. So we can accurately say that grade inflation exists. The issue is complex especially at the college and university level. Most who were quoted in last week's Collegian article agree that the issue really comes down to departmental differences.