Exactly. It's like reworking the scoring of the SAT from 1600 to 2400. If you have ANY kind of scaling system in place (which is integral in any kind of ranking system), it will always be converted.

The biggest change I see is that the numbers are based on year long benchmarks, while report cards are received multiple times a year. So basically, if a report card were handed out in the first week of school, nearly everyone would receive ones.

Benchmarks are being planned for every grading period, so that will soon change though.

This is exactly what it is, perhaps it will work for a while until parents figure out how to make A's equivalent to a number etc.. all the pressures and expectations will not change once they do however.

Seriously. I dont get the point of this article, the number grade will be converted to rankings by the students and parents in due time, its not a problem with the ranking, its always a problem with us.