# Why no letter grade "E?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 15, 2001, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-letter-grade-e/50226 "2001-01-15T22:26:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sorrel554](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@sorrel554](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sorrel554)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-letter-grade-e/50226/21 "2001-01-16T17:56:16Z")
Our school system (central Kentucky) used Es instead of Fs in an A through E scale. E didn’t stand for anything or signify a lesser failure; it meant you flat-out failed, just as F did in other schools. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-letter-grade-e/50226/22 "2001-01-16T18:36:45Z")
I can tell you that in the mid 70’s my NYC elementary school used A-E where E meant failing. ---
**Author:** ![Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ac91a4/32.png) [@Knighted\_Vorpal\_Sword](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knighted_Vorpal_Sword)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-letter-grade-e/50226/23 "2001-01-16T18:50:11Z")
My high school (and we’re talking twenty years ago) used A through E. E was failure, and there was only one type of failure - the worst kind. In fact, I never knew there was such thing as an “F” grade until I went to college. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-letter-grade-e/50226/24 "2001-01-16T21:19:54Z")
In high school and later part of parochial school, we had A-E with E as failing. Prior to 7th grade, in Catholic school we had the following: VG-Very Good G-Good S-Satisfactory NI-Needs Improvement U-Unsatisfactory. Pretty stupid if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2001, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-letter-grade-e/50226/25 "2001-01-16T23:38:09Z")
When I was attending high school (early '80s, Buffalo Public Schools), percentage grading was the norm. No letter grades, no four-point scale. 64% and below was considered a failing grade; 65% and above a passing grade. 90% to 95% would get you on the Merit Roll, and 96% to 100% landed you on the Honor Roll. Other high schools in Western New York had similar grading systems at the time. I don’t know how they grade now, though. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-letter-grade-e/50226/26 "2001-01-17T00:16:48Z")
I think this is asked and answered, no? ---
**Author:** ![jeyen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a4c791/32.png) [@jeyen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeyen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2001, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-letter-grade-e/50226/27 "2001-01-17T00:39:16Z")
Sure, **manhattan**. Close it on up. Jeyen [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-letter-grade-e/50226.md?page=1)