The purpose of this grading policy is to establish a clear set of guiding principles that all middle school teachers use to fairly, accurately, and consistently communicate student learning progress and achievement.  Ultimately, our grading policies support our school mission:  Empowering students to navigate the future through learning and problem-solving.  

Academic Grading

Teachers document grades frequently (usually weekly) online within Infinite Campus, the district’s online student management database.  All grading and reporting practices will support the following outcomes:  

• The primary purpose of grading is to communicate learning progress and achievement to all stakeholders.
• Grades serve as measures of learning that inform stakeholders to make important decisions about a student’s education. 
• Grades provide points of feedback in a continuous improvement model where students grow academically over time, striving to reach proficiency in all academic areas.   

Grading Scale
To enhance learning, encourage continuous academic growth and student motivation, teachers use a 4-point scale that aligns with Proficiency Levels (see table below).  This 4-point scale eliminates the exponentially negative zero effect while raising the academic bar of proficiency to eighty percent.  Should a student score below seventy percent their understanding of the content is considered partial or in progress and should result in re-teaching and re-learning for the student to reach a proficient understanding.  

Grade Point Average – Academic Honors

Teachers strive to employ a consistent system of grading that will produce a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) for each student each quarter.  Students with a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher at the end of the quarter will be recognized for the honor roll.  Students that have a 4.0 cumulative GPA at the end of the quarter will be recognized with top honors.  Students will be commended at awards assemblies, in the local newspaper and through social media.  They will also have the opportunity to be inducted into the National Junior Honor Society should they consistently perform at this academic level and qualify through an application process. 

Re-teaching / Re-Learning Opportunities

Students will have the opportunity to re-learn academic content in order to reach a proficient understanding within each nine-week grading period.  Teachers will develop classroom routines that encourage, support and ultimately enable students to re-learn and demonstrate proficiency especially concerning the major assessments, writing assignments and projects.  

Weighted Gradebooks

Teaching staff utilize a weighted grading system splitting the grade book into two parts:  student work and assessments.  We purposefully separate student work and assessments to more clearly communicate with stakeholders how a student is progressing in their learning.  Grades 5 – 6 weight their grade book by calculating fifty percent for student work and fifty percent for assessments.  Grade 7-8 weights their grade book by calculating thirty percent for student work and seventy percent for assessments.  Please avoid giving extra credit.