The Board of Education recognizes its responsibility for providing a system of grading student achievement that can help the student, teachers, and parents judge properly how well the student is achieving the goals of the District's program.

The Board believes that the District's grading system should be a reliable system and one that ensures each student's grades signify accurately his/her degree of accomplishment of those expected learning outcomes which are to be stated for each program at every grade level, kindergarten through twelve.

The periodic issuance of grades and interim reports serves to promote a process of continuous evaluation of student performance which informs the student, parents, pupil services personnel, and school administrators of student progress and is a basis for intervention necessary to bring positive student behaviors to increase student achievement.

It is the responsibility of each teacher, at the beginning of a course to discuss the possible methods for determining course grades. Students should be included in determining the criteria for satisfactory achievement whenever possible. Performance based/authentic tasks, written or oral discourse, portfolios, and self-assessment, as well as more traditional evaluation methods, should be used.

When evaluating student progress and, consequently, assigning an evaluation mark, the teacher should recognize that:

Before the school year begins, each teacher will establish and communicate expectations for all classes they teach and all students in those classes regarding how students' grades could be affected by the items below. Teacher practices in the items below will be sent home in writing to parents/guardians, with a separate sign-off sheet for the parent to sign and return. The parents will keep a copy, provided by the teacher, for future reference. All such expectations shall have the building principal's approval before they are communicated to the parent.

B = Beginning. The student is just starting to meet the standards for his/her grade level in the subject area, but does not yet meet the standards. The student is at a beginner or novice level.

D = Developing. The student is making progress towards meeting the standards for his/her grade level in the subject area, but has not completely met them yet. The student is at an intermediate level.

S = Secure. The student meets the standards for his/her grade level in the subject area and those skills and abilities are mastered. The student is at a proficient level.

E = Extended. The student has gone beyond the standards for his/her grade level in the subject, and is working at a higher grade level than their current year. The student is an expert and could help other students who might be struggling at this grade level and in this subject.

In grades 4 and 5, both BDSE and A, B, C, D, and F will be used simultaneously.

Pluses and minuses are given for informational purposes only for the parent's and student's knowledge. They do not have an impact on grade point average or eligibility.

When averaging grades to arrive at a yearly average, the following scale will be used:

When grades are averaged for the year, the following scale is to be used when recording letter grades:

High school grades will be averaged on a semester basis. When averaging grades to arrive at a yearly or semester average, the following scale will be used:

The four (4) point scale shall also apply to quarterly assessment grades at the high school; however, a quarterly assessment grade need not have the same weight as nine (9) week grade, but can count no more than one-fifth (1/5) of the semester average.

High school grades will be determined by a percentage. The following scale will be used in figuring grades from the percentage:

Semester grades are computed by weighting each nine (9) weeks as 2/5 and quarterly assessment as 1/5 each. Percentages are also used to determine semester grades.

When a student takes a high school course for credit before his/her 9th grade year, that course will count in his/her grade point average as a high school student, beginning with his/her 9th grade school year. If the student chooses to re-take the high school course in order to try to receive a better grade some time between grades 9 and 12, and if s/he does indeed earn an improved grade, the new grade will be computed in the overall grade point average and the old grade will be dropped out of the grade point average. The new grade will count in the new grade point average for completion of the course and average. The new grade will count in the new grade point average from completion of the course and throughout the rest of the student's time in high school. This will also be the case any time a student retakes a high school course between 9th and 12th grade. The lower grade will be dropped and the higher grade will be used to compute grade point average from the time of receiving the grade and forward.

The additional information is included only for courses offering an "S" grade:

S = Honors Grade (superior achievement in accelerated-advanced placement enriched courses only).

Grade averaging in Advanced Placement and Postsecondary Enrollment Options is to be done on the 4.0 scale. The quality point (weighted grade) will be calculated on the transcript by computer. Only academic programs will be weighted when the student participates in Postsecondary Enrollment Options or Concurrent Enrollment.

(Not calculated in GPA)

P = Pass

F = Failure

A student whose work is incomplete ("I" grade) at the end of a grading period must complete the work within two (2) weeks. Additional time may be allowed by the teacher and building principal/assistant principal for extenuating circumstances. If, at the end of two (2) weeks, or additional time given, the required work has not been made up, a final grade will be calculated with all incomplete work calculated as zeros. An incomplete may not be given for the last grading period of a school year.

Grades in special education classes are based on individual student ability, progress, achievement, and effort.

The grading system should be subject to continual review by staff, students, and parents.

R.C. 3313.20

Revised 12/13/05
Revised 11/16/06
Revised 4/10/07
Revised 06/09/09
Revised 5/25/11