Little Homework, Yet Reaping A's

Students get A's despite shirking on class preparation, says study

By Laura B. Weiss -- School Library Journal, 6/1/2005

With 55 percent of high school students surveyed saying they devote three hours or less per week to homework, a new study is raising questions about the degree of students' preparation for college work.

"It's a real wake-up call" to schools, says Indiana University professor, Martha McCarthy, director of Indiana University's (IU) High School Survey of Student Engagement (HSSSE). The 2004 nationwide survey of over 90,000 students from 103 schools reveals that students do little outside preparation for school, but still receive A's and B's.

While fully 82 percent of students surveyed plan to attend college, their academic skills will likely fall short of what will be required of them once they get there, says McCarthy.

According to statistics cited in the study, 40 of every 100 ninth graders will enroll in college after high school graduation. But only 27 will still be in college a second year, due in part to students' lack of critical skills, including writing ability, concludes the report.

The survey also found that there was little trade off between few hours spent on homework and good grades. About two-thirds (65 percent) of the students who spent three or less hours a week on homework received mostly A's and B's.

"There's no question, we have some grade inflation," says McCarthy of the elevated grades earned despite lackluster preparation for class.