The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE – North Carolina education leaders have approved a change in how high school students are graded.

The state Board of Education on Thursday approved the switch to a 10-point range for each letter grade.

The change goes into effect with freshmen next year.

The state currently uses a 7-point scale, meaning an A is 100 to 93, a B is 92 to 85 and so forth, with a grade below 70 earning an F.

Under the new scale, 100 to 90 would be an A, while a failing grade would be anything below 60.

School officials say the 10-point grading scale could help students with college applications.

North Carolina's largest school districts were pushing for the change, saying it would simplify the system. There are questions about lowering the number for a failing grade.

For instance, a student in Atlanta who earned a grade of 91 in each of his classes would have a 4.0 GPA. In North Carolina, that same student would have a 3.0 GPA.

Charlotte school Superintendent Heath Morrison said the 10-point scale would lead to more students on the honor roll, higher graduation rates and more students taking Advanced Placement classes.

In a district such as Atlanta, a student who earns a 68 in freshman English would be promoted to the next level. In Charlotte, the student would have to repeat the class, Morrison said, making the student more likely to drop out.

Elementary and middle schools would still be able to use grading scales set by their district school boards. The proposal does recommend that all grades use the 10-point scale.