Report Card Season: What Grades Really Tell You (and What They Don’t)”

Wow! and just like that it is November! Can you believe it? It feels like the academic year just started, However, the first quarter has ended here in New York, and many families have had their first parent-teacher meeting of the year. This means that report cards have come to you already or they are on the way. Some parents will be pleased and ready to reward their children for good grades, but some may be worried and a bit anxious to open that report card. You may be asking "What does that number/grade even mean. I wanted to write this blog to help you understand what those reports actually tell us and what they may be leaving out.

Grades Show Achievement, But Not Always Understanding

As you look at the report card, you will see grades which have been obtained after the teacher/s looked at specific assignments, quizzes, and tests. The grade basically represent a summary of your child's performance for that class. However, it might not necessarily reflect their understanding. I have tutored many students who are able to have amazing conversations about the books or articles we are reading. However, their report card sometimes do not reflect that. Now, when we face a situation like this with our tutees, we come up with a plan to help our student develop better test taking skills since we want them to be able to reflect their understanding of the concepts at school and not only during our sessions.

I have also worked with students who get good grades in their report card. However, when their parents or I ask them to summarize a chapter they read, or we ask them why they think they character made that choice, they stare at me and don't know what to say. Hence, it helps to look closely at our kids and what they can really do. It's important to look beyond the grade itself and ask, “What skills has my child mastered—and what still feels tricky?” In that way, we can take those lower grades with the understanding that our kids are learning and showing progress but we can then focus on the specific need they have which may be test-taking skills for example.

I have also worked with students who get "good grades" in their report card. However, when their parents or I ask them to summarize a chapter they read, or we ask them they why they think they character made that choice, they stare at me and don't know what to say.

Effort and Confidence Matter Too

As you look into that report card and the grades, remember that they don't really tell you how much effort went into completing their projects, or whether they asked questions and how much they tried to get certain questions right. When a child is motivated and they keep trying, they build the perseverance necessary to succeed as adults in a world where things don't just come easily most of the time. Thus, when you see that your child has studied and worked hard, but the grades don't reflect it, take the sign that they need support. However, take time to praise their effort and reinforce the fact that they are persevering through their increasingly complex assignments and projects.

How to Read Between the Lines

Looking at a bunch of letters may be confusing and disheartening if they are not what you were hoping they would be. Teachers sometimes include comments at the bottom or the side of the report card. Please make sure that you are taking time to write.

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself (or your child’s teacher) to better understand what’s behind the grades:

• “Which specific skills are strong right now?”

• “What areas should we focus on next?”

• “How can we support this at home?”

• “Are there any patterns—like rushing, anxiety, or missing assignments—that affect grades?”

The answers to these questions give you a clearer picture than the letter alone ever could.

What to Do Next

Ok, so you have looked at the report card and it has raised some questions or concerns. Do no panic! This is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and plan.

At Accelerate Tutoring, we help families look beyond the grade to understand where each child truly stands in reading, writing and math.We want children who are confident in their learning and not just dependent on a letter or grade that can hide a world of progress. Our free skill check-ups and personalized assessments reveal strengths, gaps, and the best next steps for progress—so that learning feels less stressful and more successful.

Ready to see the full picture?

Book a free reading or math assessment today.Let’s turn this report card season into a season of growth and confidence.

Click here for a Free Assessment