|
Assessment
A teacher's systematic assessment of a student's learning throughout the
marking period, the semester, or the year will determine the student's
grade. Examples of assessments are tests, classroom participation (group
work, class work, discussion), performances, written compositions, daily
grades, projects, lab demonstrations, recitals, portfolios, reports, journals,
notebooks, and out-of-class assignments.
Students in middle school taking courses which award Carnegie units (high
school credit) must follow the same course content and take the same assessments
as students in high school taking the same course.
Back
To Top
Marking
Period Grades
General
The grade assigned at the end of each interim and marking period will
represent learning and work completed during that period. Grades will
be based on a variety of assessments. Major projects, including written
compositions, will be a part of the marking period grade in which the
project is due. Exam grades will be a part of the marking period in which
the examinations are administered.
Middle School
Each nine week long marking period must include a minimum of ten assessments
documented in the grade book. Four of the ten assessments must be major
assessments such as tests, written compositions, performances or projects.
Five assessments will take place before each interim report.
Teachers will determine a numeric grade each marking period based either
on a numerical average or on a percentage system of points possible compared
to points earned. The following scale will be used to determine letter
grades. 93 to 100 = A, 85 to 92 = B, 77 to 84 = C, 70 to 76 = D, and
0 to 69 = F. When students leave middle school, courses carrying Carnegie
units must be reported to the receiving high school using the numeric
SC Uniform Grading Scale.
High School
Each nine week long marking period must include a minimum of fifteen
assessments documented in the grade book. Homework, class participation,
and other assessments may count within the fifteen, but seven must be
major assessments such as tests, written compositions, performances or
projects. Seven assessments will take place before each interim report.
The cumulative numeric grade must be reported on interim reports.
Teachers will determine a numeric grade each marking period based either
on a numerical average or on a percentage system of points possible compared
to points earned.
Back
To Top
Final
Grades
The final grade for courses will be based on marking period grades no
lower than 50. The final grades for courses carrying Carnegie units will
be expressed numerically.
Back
To Top
Testing
A.
Tests must reflect what is taught both
in content and format.
B. Each major test must have a writing component where the student
responds in complete sentences.
C. Each major test should include questions that require different
levels of thinking.
D. Nine weeks marking period exams are required and will count no more
than 10% of the final grade for the marking period.
E. Final exams are required and will count no more than 20% of the
final grade of the final nine week marking period.
F. Alternative assessments such as products or performances may be
considered as a marking period exam or a final exam.
G. ALL STUDENTS WILL TAKE EXAMS IN ALL COURSES THAT BEGIN JANUARY 1,
2001.
Back
To Top
Non-Standard
Grades
The following grades award no credit due to excessive absences. If attendance
waivers are not granted, each grade will be calculated into the GPR as
a 62 average.
EA = grade of 93 through 100
EB = grade of 85 through 92
EC = grade of 77 through 84
ED = grade of 70 through 76
I = Incomplete (Requires administrative approval)
WN = withdrew from course after the deadline set by SC Uniform Grading
Policy. (See page 9.)
Back
To Top
Misbehavior
and Grades
Student misbehavior will not be a factor in calculating grades. Misbehavior
will be handled through the teacher's behavior management plan and the
school discipline policy.
Back
To Top
Homework
and Out of Class Assignments
Work that students do outside of class is generally of three types: (1)
homework assigned for practice, (2) work such as reading assigned as
preparation for in-class activities, and (3) out-of-class assignments
that are graded such as written compositions and projects.
Teachers should consider the following guidelines in developing procedures
for work assigned for out of class:
A.
Guided practice should be provided in
class so that students receive clear
instructions about assignments, understand
the purpose of the assignment, and have
opportunities to ask questions and receive
feedback about the assignment.
B. Teachers decide the weight given to homework in calculating grades;
however, the weight given to homework assigned as practice should not
result in a student's failure of the course.
C. The amount of homework should be based on the needs of individual
students.
Back
To Top
Make-Up
Work
Students should make-up missed work in a reasonable amount of time as
set by school policy. The teacher will determine the assignments which
students must make-up. Teachers will establish and teach procedures for
make-up work. Make-up procedures will be included on the Course Requirements
and Procedures Form.
Back
To Top
Teacher
Judgement
If the application of the grading system results in an obvious inequity,
the teacher, with the principal's approval, may make adjustments to the
student's grade.
Back
To Top
Transfers
When students transfer during a marking period, receiving teachers will
count the grades from the sending school in calculating grades for
the marking period. The grade the student had when transferring should
reflect the time spent in the previous school. For example, if a
student transfers in the middle of the first nine-weeks marking period
with an average of 90, the teacher at the receiving school will average
the 90 as half of the first nine-weeks grade. (See Conversion Process
for Letter Grades, page 7.)
Back
To Top
Homebound
Guidelines
A.
The classroom teacher is responsible for providing assignments and
tests for homebound students.
B. Grades will be assigned by the classroom teacher with input from
the homebound teacher if the student returns to school.
C. If homebound instruction does not cover an entire marking period,
then the classroom grades should be computed along with the homebound
grades to arrive at the student's grade for the marking period.
Back
To Top |
