Could you explain the new rating system that was used to grade schools? I know a two-star school is now a D. How was the formula determined?

State lawmakers in 2010 called for education officials to devise a letter-grade system to gauge public schools’ performance, saying the old star rating system — with five stars being the best — was hard for parents to understand.

The new system, which is based on a 200-point scale like the old one, was put together by local school superintendents, a teachers’ panel and the state’s then-Education Superintendent Paul Pastorek.

After much discussion, and some changes, it was approved, in a 6-4 vote, by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in December 2010. Dale Bayard, Southwest Louisiana’s BESE representative at the time, voted against the proposal.

Each school’s score is based on its students’ performance on standardized tests and on their attendance and dropout rates. The grades roughly indicate the percentage of students who are performing below the basic level.

The current grading scale, along with below-basic percentages:

A — 120-200 (up to 12 percent).

B — 105-119.9 (13 percent to 24 percent).

C — 90-104.9 (25 percent to 36 percent).

D — 75-89.9 (37 percent to 61 percent).

F — 0-74.9 (62 percent or more).

“Plus” signs will be tacked onto the grades of schools that meet their growth targets. Schools whose scores drop at least a tenth of a point will have “minus” signs added to their grades.

The initial letter-grade scale — which applied to the 2010-2011 school year — had a D range of 65-89.9 and an F range of 0-64.9. The scores released next year will be based on the above scale.

Incidentally, a D grade on that scale could correspond to either a one- or two-star rating under the old system, depending on a school’s score.

The star scale, as it stood in 2010:

Five stars — 140-200.

Four stars — 120-139.9.

Three stars — 100-119.9.

Two stars — 80-99.9.

One star — 75-79.9.

Academic watch — 60-74.9.

Academically unacceptable — Below 60.

Online: www.louisianaschools.net.

Feedback: Word earns bonus points

In the course of answering a question about the link between Easter and bunnies on Wednesday, The Informer used the word “fecundity,” which it applied in reference to rabbits’ reproductive prowess.

In response, local radio personality Gary Shannon sent The Informer the following email: “Take 10 extra bonus points out of petty cash for using the word ‘fecundity.’ Nicely played, my friend!”

The Informer answers questions from readers each Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. It is researched and written by Andrew Perzo, an American Press staff writer. To ask a question, call 494-4098, press 5 and leave voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com

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