Research links family structure to student success amid university grading changes

New research from the Institute for Family Studies and the American Enterprise Institute suggests that family structure is a more significant predictor of academic performance and mental health in children than race or income. The study, utilizing data from the National Survey of Children’s Health, found that 74 percent of children from intact, married-parent families achieved top grades, compared to 60 percent from other family structures. Additionally, children not raised by both biological parents were reported to be 47 percent more likely to face school disciplinary issues and more than twice as likely to experience depression.

In a separate development regarding academic pressure, the University of Michigan Ann Arbor’s College of Literature, Science and Arts has announced it will implement a pass/no-credit grading system for first-semester students starting in Fall 2027. The university aims to mitigate student stress and mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, during the initial transition to college. Critics of the move argue that the policy addresses the symptoms of academic pressure rather than the underlying causes, suggesting that students should instead be provided with better resources to manage expectations and accountability.