When looking at student grades, you may notice letters like A, B, C, D, or F. But sometimes an ‘S’ shows up instead. So what does the S stand for and what does it mean if a student gets an S grade?
S Means Satisfactory
The S letter grade stands for “Satisfactory.” It indicates that the student has completed the requirements for that class or subject satisfactorily. An S grade means the student met the basic expectations and achieved an acceptable level of mastery of the material.
The S grade is typically used in classes where students cannot be accurately assessed using the traditional A-F letter grade scale. For example, some classes may be pass/fail where students either pass by meeting expectations (S grade) or fail by not meeting expectations (U grade). Other classes may involve significant subjective assessment of skills, effort, participation, or development which makes A-F grades difficult to assign accurately.
So the S grade allows teachers to note that the student put in adequate effort and met the basic goals of the class, even if their achievement level does not neatly fit into an A, B, C, D, or F grade.
What is Considered Satisfactory Performance?
What exactly constitutes “satisfactory” performance can vary between schools, districts, teachers, and even individual assignments. Generally, an S grade is centered around meeting basic expectations and requirements rather than demonstrating superior mastery and excellence.
Some common guidelines for what is considered satisfactory performance include:
- Completing assignments and tasks by required deadlines
- Putting forth genuine effort
- Participating actively in class activities
- Demonstrating basic comprehension of key concepts and skills
- Achieving major objectives and goals of the course
The satisfactory threshold is usually around 70-75% of total points, requirements met, skills demonstrated, etc. Anything significantly above that may warrant an Excellent (E) grade, while below may be Needs Improvement (N) or Unsatisfactory (U). But the exact satisfactory cutoffs are subjective and can vary.
How S Grades Affect GPA
S grades are considered passing grades, so they do not negatively impact a student’s GPA. In schools that assign grade point values, an S is often equivalent to a C or 70% score. Here is how S grades may affect GPA calculations:
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| B | 3.0 |
| C | 2.0 |
| D | 1.0 |
| F | 0.0 |
| S | 2.0 |
As you can see, the S grade confers the same 2.0 points as a C grade. So it will not drag down a student’s GPA but it also does not boost it like an A or B grade could. Many schools opt to exclude S grades from GPA calculations altogether and simply treat them as passing marks.
How S Grades Affect Specific Classes
Sometimes an S grade matters more for certain classes than others:
- Prerequisites – Most prerequisite classes require at least an S grade to advance to higher levels.
- Graduation requirements – Students may need at least an S grade in certain subjects to meet graduation criteria.
- Honors/AP courses – Earning an S in advanced classes still demonstrate capability to succeed at that level.
So an S grade satisfies basic needs like prerequisites and graduation without harming the GPA. But students may want to avoid too many S grades in important classes they are trying to highlight on college applications.
What Does an S Grade Signify to Colleges?
When viewing high school transcripts, colleges treat S grades as simple pass/fail marks:
- An S grade means the student completed the class satisfactorily and met baseline expectations.
- It does not tell admissions officers how well the student actually performed, just that they passed.
- Too many S grades could signal prioritizing easy classes over challenging ones.
- But a few S grades are fine, especially in classes not directly related to the student’s goals.
Students should aim to balance S graded classes with plenty of A’s and B’s in their main academic and extracurricular areas. One or two S grades per year in required electives or less relevant subjects will not hurt. But focusing too heavily on easy S grades could backfire if not offset with proven achievement in classes tied to the student’s major and interests.
Strategically Planning S Grades
Here are some tips for strategically earning S grades as needed without overdoing it on transcripts:
- Aim for no more than 1 or 2 S grades per semester or trimester.
- Use S grade classes to fulfill graduation requirements in less relevant subjects.
- Avoid S grades in classes directly related to your academic interests and future major.
- Offset any S grades with proven success in advanced honors and AP courses too.
This balanced approach shows colleges you are willing to challenge yourself but can also manage your workload and stress levels when needed. Just take care not to amass so many S grades that your transcript begins to look easy.
What Does an S Grade Mean Compared to Other Grading Systems?
School districts handle non-traditional letter grades differently. Here is how the S grade typically compares:
Pass/Fail Grading
- Pass = S (Satisfactory)
- Fail = U (Unsatisfactory)
Pass/fail and S/U systems are very similar. The only difference is S specifically means “satisfactory” while pass is a more general designation.
Standards-Based Grading
- 4 = Exceeds Standards
- 3 = Meets Standards
- 2 = Approaching Standards
- 1 = Below Standards
In standards-based systems, an S is equivalent to a 3 meaning “meets standards.” Students exceed with a 4 or fail to meet with a 1 or 2.
Number Grading
- A = 93-100
- B = 85-92
- C = 75-84
- D = 70-74
- F = 0-69
- S = 70-100
For percentage and number grading, an S generally corresponds to 70-100% meaning the student met the minimum threshold similar to a C grade.
In all of these systems, the S sits in the “average acceptable” performance range – not failing but not excellent either. It signals that basic standards were met for passing the class.
Key Takeaways
In summary, here are some key things to keep in mind about S grades:
- S stands for “Satisfactory” and indicates acceptable, passing performance.
- An S grade usually represents meeting 70-75% of standards or expectations.
- S grades do not negatively impact GPA but they do not help it either.
- Too many S grades may signal an easy class schedule to colleges.
- Balance S grades strategically with plenty of proven achievement in advanced classes too.
Understanding what an S grade really means can help students use them purposefully when needed without damaging their transcripts. Just one or two S grades per semester in less relevant classes is fine when offset with A’s and B’s in classes that actually matter to your goals and interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you fail a class and still get an S grade?
No, failing grades are generally U (Unsatisfactory) or F. An S grade indicates you passed the class by meeting the minimum performance standards set by the teacher or school.
Is an S grade good or bad for GPA?
S grades are neutral for GPA. They do not add or subtract any grade points. Some schools count S as equivalent to 2.0 or C grade points, while others exclude S grades from GPA entirely.
Is a P grade better or worse than an S?
P (Pass) and S (Satisfactory) grades are very similar. The only difference is S specifically means the student met expectations while P is a more general “pass” designation. Colleges view them basically the same.
Can you get an S grade in an AP class?
Yes, it is possible to get an S in an honors or AP class. This shows you were able to pass an advanced course but does not reflect how well you mastered the material. Avoid too many S grades in classes related to your major.
Is an S grade good for medical school?
Medical schools strongly prefer letter grades to assess students accurately. An occasional S grade is fine but earning mostly S grades could signal weakness or lack of rigor in your coursework to admissions committees.
Conclusion
S grades serve an important purpose on transcripts but students should use them strategically. The optimal balance is to limit S grades to 1 or 2 less critical classes per semester while excelling with A’s and B’s in your core subjects. This shows you can manage your workload while still challenging yourself with advanced classes in your areas of interest.
Aim to get S grades in required electives or subjects outside your intended major. But avoid over-reliance on easy S grades, as that could make your transcript look weak compared to other applicants.
Overall, the S grade means you met expectations and passed, which is satisfactory for getting into college when balanced thoughtfully with plenty of proven academic achievement too.