<p>Is there any disadvantage to applying to the top boarding schools from schools that do not have letter grades, but rather, have lengthy reports on each student for each trimester? These reports are filled out by each teacher, and a page or two long for each subject taken in each trimester. If it is any disadvantage at all, what can be done to overcome the disadvantage. Thanks for your help.</p>
<p>teacher comments often paint a better picture for bs’s than grades themselves</p>
<p>My children attend a progressive pk-8 school with anecdotal reports rather than letter grades. I felt like it worked to oldest son’s advantage in the app process. I never saw it as a liability, and neither did any of the schools he applied to.</p>
<p>A fair number of the more progressive lower schools in the Boston area do this - I have not heard of it being a problem.</p>
<p>My kids attend/atteded a montessori elementary school. I think the reports sent to the middle schools applied to were more informative to the admissions folks than the letter grades they usually get. Unfortunately I think they can work against you in some cases if the teacher highlights a fault in the report.</p>