--- title: Are D grades a dropout warning sign? It depends. description: "There’s a big difference between a “hard-fought D” and a “disengaged D\" when it comes to identifying potential dropouts." image: https://hub.graduationalliance.com/hubfs/Stock%20images/Closeup%20portrait%20of%20angry%2c%20mad%2c%20pissed%20off%20handsome%20man%20in%20pink%20hoodie%20with%20arms%20crossed%20looking%20downwards%2c%20isolated%20on%20white%20background%20with%20copy%20space.jpeg --- [1.855.486.8855](tel:1.855.486.8855) [learnmore@graduationalliance.com](mailto:learnmore@graduationalliance.com) - - - [![logo](https://hub.graduationalliance.com/hubfs/Graduationalliance-Jan2017/Image/logo.png)](http://graduationalliance.com) # Insights # Are D grades a dropout warning sign? It depends. Posted by [Greg Harp](https://hub.graduationalliance.com/blog/author/greg-harp) on August 21, 2017 - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) It’s common sense, really: Students who habitually eke out passing grades in middle school and the early years of high school are more likely to fail to receive credit in a class down the road. And in periods in which the incidence of dropping out increases — the junior and senior cohort years — a failure to earn credit for a class can be a major factor in a student’s decision to leave school before graduation. Does that mean we should pull out all the stops to offer additional support to students who earn a lot of Ds? It depends.![Closeup portrait of angry, mad, pissed off handsome man in pink hoodie with arms crossed looking downwards, isolated on white background with copy space.jpeg](https://hub.graduationalliance.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Stock%20images/Closeup%20portrait%20of%20angry%2c%20mad%2c%20pissed%20off%20handsome%20man%20in%20pink%20hoodie%20with%20arms%20crossed%20looking%20downwards%2c%20isolated%20on%20white%20background%20with%20copy%20space.jpeg?width=320&name=Closeup%20portrait%20of%20angry%2c%20mad%2c%20pissed%20off%20handsome%20man%20in%20pink%20hoodie%20with%20arms%20crossed%20looking%20downwards%2c%20isolated%20on%20white%20background%20with%20copy%20space.jpeg) At Graduation Alliance, we work with students across the country who are struggling to get to graduation day. And, over time, we’ve noticed something vital about students who routinely earn just-barely-passing grades: There’s a big difference between a “hard-fought D” and a “disengaged D.” Students who strive to complete work as assigned, but struggle to master concepts and skills, are at a different sort of risk than students who don’t engage but manage a passing grade nonetheless. That’s why it can be helpful, as part of any early warning system, to ask teachers to qualify every barely passing grade. An early accumulation of “hard-fought Ds” could indicate the need for more academic support, while a buildup of “disengaged Ds” could mean a student is in need of additional social and emotional reinforcement. The “D-question” is one of five easy-to-monitor indicators of at-risk students in our new tip sheet, which you can get here. [![Download Our Infographic: 5 Easy-To-Monitor Indicators For At-Risk Students](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2712722/91f4a480-4495-4a6a-b1b5-a87393580caf.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2712722/91f4a480-4495-4a6a-b1b5-a87393580caf) Topics: [dropout prevention](https://hub.graduationalliance.com/blog/topic/dropout-prevention), [indicators of students at-risk](https://hub.graduationalliance.com/blog/topic/indicators-of-students-at-risk) --- **[GRADUATION ALLIANCE](http://graduationalliance.com)** works to provide school districts the resources, support and flexibility needed to assist all students in reaching their educational goals. If your district needs help with a dropout recovery program and/or social and emotional learning assessments, email us at: [learnmore@graduationalliance.com](mailto:learnmore@graduationalliance.com) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Recent Posts © 2017 Graduation Alliance. All Rights Reserved. - - -