Grading and promotion are based on the degree of success that the individual student has achieved in completing the educational program designed to meet his/her needs.
Students are graded according to their ability and achievement, consistent with the purpose and content of the class or course.
Children in grades 2-12 receive letter grades in all classes and courses taken for credit except where other means of evaluation have been authorized.
Beginning this year, all first graders (and some second graders) will have their progress assessed through use of the numeral 1, to indicate satisfactory progress," and the numeral 2, to indicate that the student needs more time to master a skill.
Grades are based on:
Competence as determined by tests, examinations and teacher evaluation and by demonstration of meeting performance objectives. The completion of assignments as determined by the quality of work done, the regularity with which they
are turned in and punctuality in performing them.
Participation in the day-to-day activities of the class.
Daily work habits in the classroom.
Attendance
Parents of students who are not making satisfactory progress will receive notice of that midway through each grading period. (Consistent with
this provision, a student receives the grade earned even if the parent has not seen the progress report.)
Statements of course objectives/topics are distributed to all students and parents at the beginning of each course.
Teachers' grading factors, and the weight assigned to those factors, are also distributed.
Final semester and course grades are determined by averaging the quarter grades, with additional weight given to the final marking period grade.
Attendance is a Factor
Students who are unlawfully absent receive a zero (0) for that day's work, and the zero is averaged with other daily grades.
Unlawfully absent students are not given make-up work to offset the zero grade.
In addition, in grades 9 to 12 a student who is unlawfully absent 5 or more days per semester course or 10 or more days per full-year course
will receive no grades or credits.
Students in grades 9 to 12 may be lawfully absent but are required to make up the work missed in a timely manner.
Failure to make up missed work will result in zero grades for missing assignments.
Promotion and Retention
Promotion of high school students is based upon the successful completion of specified subjects and the acquisition of units of credit at each grade level.
Appeal of Grades
Report card grades may be appealed by parents and students within ten days of the date the report card is received. Grounds for appealing a grade are
(a) an allegation of an error in computing grades, (b) an allegation that the teacher graded on factors other than those he or she set out at the beginning of the course, or (c) an allegation of personal teacher bias.
The first step in appealing a grade is to contact the teacher involved, providing the reason for appealing the grade.
If the student and/or parent or guardian wish to continue the appeal they should notify the principal, who will schedule a meeting with them,
the teacher and a guidance counselor.
The principal will notify the teacher and the student and/or parents of his or her decision. Decisions of the principal may be appealed to the appropriate Area Assistant Superintendent and subsequently to the Superintendent of Schools.
2.0 Eligibility Marks Standard
In order to be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, students in grade 9 through 12 must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.0 for each grading quarter preceding the start or continuation of their participation in the activities.
Students who do not maintain the 2.0 grade point average are excluded from participation in any extracurricular activity.
Participation--regardless of the activity--is prohibited beginning on the date the new report card is issued, as scheduled in the Board of Education School Calendar.
The exclusion remains in effect until the student attains the required 2.0 quarter grade point average and becomes eligible to participate in a subsequent quarter's extra-curricular activities.
Extracurricular activities are defined as all activities except those for which student participation is necessary to
receive a grade in a specific course in which the student is currently enrolled.
The 2.0 policy applies to all high school students with the exception of individual special education students who have been exempted.