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. 

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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.

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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.

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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.)


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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.)


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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.

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