The Appalachian School of Law uses a 4.0
grading scale. For purposes of computing a student’s
grade point average (GPA), letter grades are assigned the
following numerical values:
| A+ 4.33 |
B- 2.67 |
D+ 1.33 |
| A 4.00 |
C+ 2.33 |
D 1.00 |
| A- 3.67 |
C 2.00 |
D- 0.67 |
| B+ 3.33 |
C- 1.67 |
F 0.00 |
| B 3.00 |
|
|
The Law School requires rigorous grading curves
for all of its courses. Starting with the 2004-2005 academic
year, the mean (average) grade in first-year courses, other
than Legal Process, may not exceed 2.50. In Legal Process
and in all required upper-level courses, the mean grade
may not exceed 2.67. The mean grade in Elective, Practicum,
and Seminar courses may not exceed 3.00; however, the majority
of upper-level courses are required courses, subject to
the 2.67 maximum mean.
For years prior to 2004-2005, the grading mean for required
courses was even more rigorous. In those years, the mean
grade in first-year courses could not exceed 2.33 and the
mean grade in required upper-level courses could not exceed
2.50.
Because of this grading policy, the grade averages of
ASL students or graduates may appear low when compared with
those of students at other law schools. For example, for
the graduating Class of 2004, the average student had a
law school GPA of 2.48, while students in the top 25% of
the class had GPAs of 2.84 or above and students in the
top 10% of the class had GPAs of 3.16 or above. We therefore
strongly encourage potential employers and others to pay
closer attention to a student’s relative standing
in his or her class than to the student’s actual grade
point average.
For further information about the Law School’s grading
policy, contact Associate Dean Sandra McGlothlin (smcglothlin@asl.edu)
or Director of Student Services/Registrar Nancy Pruitt (npruitt@asl.edu)
at 800-895-7411.
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