Teenager Failing Classes: What Parents Can Do

If your teenager is failing classes, start by finding out exactly what is going wrong in each class (missing work, low test scores, attendance or something outside school), then talk with the teachers and build a short weekly plan together. Most failing grades come from a few fixable patterns. Bring in a tutor, a mentor or a professional evaluation based on what the cause turns out to be.

First, get the facts before the lecture

A failing grade on a portal tells you very little. Before you say much to your teen, look at the details so the conversation is about specifics rather than character.

Pull up every class. Write down the current grade, the number of missing assignments and the scores on the last two tests.
Sort the problem. Is it work not turned in, work turned in but wrong, tests going badly, or absences? Each points somewhere different.
Check the timeline. Did grades drop suddenly this term, or have they been sliding for a year? A sudden drop often means something changed.
Note the outliers. If one class is fine and three are failing, the fine one tells you something about what works for your teen.

Talk to your teen like you are on the same side

Pick a calm moment, not right after you opened the grade portal. Lead with what you saw, not what you think it means. “I looked at your grades and you have eleven missing assignments in chemistry. What is going on in that class?” lands very differently from “You are throwing your future away.”

Ask open questions and then wait. Silence is fine.
Listen for the real reason: the class is confusing, the teacher is hard to approach, they are behind and embarrassed, friends, sleep, a phone, or something heavier.
Avoid stacking consequences in the first talk. You can decide on those later.
End with one small agreed step, such as emailing one teacher together tonight.

If your teen shuts down, our guide on how to talk to a teen who will not talk has approaches that lower the temperature.

Contact the teachers

Teachers usually know more than the grade shows. A short, friendly email works better than a long one. Ask three things: what is missing, whether late work can still count, and what one change would help most. Better still, have your teen write the email with you watching. It teaches them to advocate for themselves, and teachers tend to respond well to it.

If several classes are failing, ask the school counselor for a meeting with the teachers together. Ask whether the school offers extra help sessions, study hall or a credit recovery option if a class cannot be passed this term.

Build a weekly plan that actually runs

Big promises to “do better” fade by Thursday. A simple weekly routine holds up better.

Sunday check-in (15 minutes). Open the portal together, list missing work and upcoming tests, and pick the priorities for the week.
A fixed work block on school nights. Same time, same place, phone in another room. See ending homework battles for how to set this up without a nightly fight.
Catch-up list. Work through missing assignments oldest first, but only those that still count for credit.
Midweek glance. A two-minute check on Wednesday, not a full inspection.
Notice progress. Point out a turned-in assignment or a better quiz. Effort that gets noticed tends to repeat.

If the core issue is starting work at all, our guide to teen procrastination goes deeper, and how to motivate a teenager in school covers the bigger motivation picture.

Tutor, mentor or professional evaluation?

A tutor is the right call when your teen is doing the work but genuinely does not understand the material in a subject. Tutors teach content.
A mentor fits when the problem is follow-through: missing work, no plan, avoidance, or a teen who will not hear it from a parent. Mentors do not tutor; they help with organization, habits and accountability. More in mentor vs tutor.
A professional evaluation is worth asking about if the struggle has gone on for years, if reading or attention problems keep showing up despite real effort, or if teachers raise a concern. Your pediatrician or school can point you to the right next step.
A licensed mental health professional is the right step if failing grades come with withdrawal, hopelessness, big sleep or appetite changes, or signs of substance use. In a crisis, call or text 988.

Where a mentor helps

Many teens who are failing are not short on ability. They are behind, overwhelmed and avoiding the whole thing. A mentor gives them one steady adult outside the family who helps sort the backlog into weekly steps, checks in by text between sessions, and keeps the plan running when home conversations have become tense. Through mentoring for high school students, a parent joins the intro call, agrees the goals and gets regular progress updates. You can read more about how families fit in on our page for families.

Common questions

Should I take away my teen’s phone if they are failing?

It can help if the phone is clearly eating study time, but it works better as part of a plan you agree on (for example, the phone stays out of the room during the work block) than as a sudden punishment.

Can a failing grade be fixed this late in the term?

Sometimes. Ask the teacher whether missing work can still be turned in and whether any retakes are possible. If not, ask the counselor about credit recovery or summer options.

Is a mentor the same as a tutor?

No. A tutor teaches a subject. A mentor helps with planning, follow-through and accountability, and can work alongside a tutor if your teen has both.

When should I worry it is more than grades?

If you see withdrawal from friends, constant exhaustion, hopelessness or signs of substance use, talk with a licensed professional. In a crisis, call or text 988.

Get started

Want help getting your teen back on track this term? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.

My Teenager Is Failing Classes: What to Do Next