Educational Program Report - 2021–2022 First Semester Student Course Grades

Oct 15, 2026

Memorandum dated April 22, 2022 to board members summarizes the 2021–2022 first semester student course grades report. The analysis compares first-semester results across the 2019–2020 pre-pandemic year, the 2020–2021 year under widespread closures and remote learning, and the 2021–2022 current year. Findings highlight changes in the share of students with one or more “F” grades, differences by grade level, race/ethnicity, gender, and special populations, and shifts in grades 75 and above, including widening pre-pandemic equity gaps in high school outcomes.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages292

Reading Time12 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

Overview and Purpose

Historical Comparison Framework (Pre-pandemic to Current Year)

Key Findings: “F” Grades

Key Findings: Grades 75 and Above

Disaggregation by Race/Ethnicity and Special Populations

Contact Information

MEMORANDUM April 22 , 2022 TO: Board Members FROM: Millard L. House II Superintendent of Schools SUBJECT: 2021–2022 First Semester Student Course Grades CONTACT: Allison E. Matney, Ed. D. , 713-556-6700 Attached is a copy of the 2021–2022 First Semester Student Course Grades report. This report analyzes the grades earned by students in the first semester of the 2019–2020 school year (pre-pandemic), the first and second semesters of the 2020–2021 school year (during widespread school closures and remote learning), and the first semester of the 2021–2022 school year. Grades are reported by student grade level, race/ethnicity, student gender, and special populations including economically disadvantaged, English learner, gifted/talented, special education, and homeless students. Results are further disaggregated by high school level (9th 10th, 11th, and 12th, separately) to ensure students are on track to fulfill high school graduation requirements. Key findings include: 􀁸 Among all students, an increase of four percentage points can be seen for students with one or more “F” grades from pre-pandemic to the current year. The percentage of students with one or more “F” grades was especially high for both grading cycles during widespread school closures and remote learning (2020–2021 school year) but has dropped back down to approximately pre-pandemic rates in the current school year for students in grades 1–8. 􀁸 Among high school students, an increase of 15 percentage points can be seen for students with one or more “F” grades from pre-pandemic to the current year. High school students in the current year earned just as many “F” grades this year as campuses return to in-person instruction than they did last year with widespread school closures and remote learning. 􀁸 Students of all race/ethnicities earned fewer “F” grades this year as campuses return to inperson instruction than they did last year with widespread school closures and remote learning, and most groups are returning to pre-pandemic rates. 􀁸 High school students of all race/ethnicities earned just as many or more “F” grades in the current year than they did in the 2020–2021 school year, and earned substantially more “F”grades in the current school year than they did pre-pandemic. 􀁸 Gaps between race/ethnicity groups that existed pre-pandemic have increased substantially in the current year. Hispanic and African American high school students were twice as likely to earn one or more “F” grades in the current grading cycle than White or Asian students. 􀁸 Students in all special population subgroups earned fewer “F” grades this year as campuses return to in-person instruction than they did last year with widespread school closures and remote learning. Some subgroups show returns to pre-pandemic rates. 􀁸 High school students in all special population subgroups except homeless students earned just as many or more “F” grades this year as campuses return to in-person instruction than they did last year with widespread school closures and remote learning, and earned substantially more “F” grades in the current year than they did pre-pandemic. 􀁸 When economically disadvantaged (ED) students are separated by race/ethnicity, significant disparities in students receiving one or more “F” grades can be seen. ED African American students are almost twice as likely to receive one or more “F” grades than ED Asian students. 􀁸 The percentage of all students with grades of 75 or above (grades of “A,” “B,” or “C”) was low for both grading cycles (68 percent and 70 percent) during widespread school closuresand remote learning (2020–2021 school year) but has increased to slightly higher than prepandemic rates in the current school year (79 percent pre-pandemic, 80 percent in the current year) . 􀁸 High school students in the current year earned substantially more grades of 75 or above this year as campuses return to in-person instruction than they did last year

FAQs

What time periods are compared in the grades report?

The report compares the 2019–2020 first semester (pre-pandemic), the 2020–2021 first and second semesters (during widespread closures and remote learning), and the 2021–2022 first semester.

How do “F” grades change from pre-pandemic to the current year?

Across all students, the share with one or more “F” grades increases by about four percentage points from pre-pandemic to the current year, with particularly high percentages during 2020–2021 and a drop back toward pre-pandemic rates for grades 1–8.

What changes are reported for grades of 75 or above?

The percentage of students earning grades of 75 or above is low during 2020–2021 (68–70%) but increases in 2021–2022 to around pre-pandemic levels (79% pre-pandemic, 80% current year), with most groups returning except SE students.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Sophia Brooks