Education Dive

The authors do acknowledge that grades can be a subjective measure of student performance because not all teachers grade the same way. But they say that doesn’t mean grades are not a reliable predictor of students’ later performance.

They also offer a few reasons why good grades in 9th grade can keep students on a path of higher achievement throughout high school. For example, students who have a high GPA in 9th grade might be more likely to gain access to advanced courses in subsequent years. Teachers might also feel more favorable toward and have higher expectations of students who “demonstrate early success in high school.” Students, they add, might also feel more confidence in themselves and be more likely to adopt a growth mindset...