Attention students and parents:


The following outlines the formula that will be used to calculate second semester grades, along with the rationale for the changes. The goal for this change is to acknowledge those who have shown a high level of achievement and improvement, while providing motivation for as many other students as possible to push their abilities in the final stretch of the year.


Students who go into final exams with the following semester average will have grade calculated as explained below:


A (89.5%) or higher grade going into exams: Interview style reflection on the year, covering a combination of standards, skills, and reflection on student’s experience. This may come in the form of a survey style response paired with a few short answer items to expand on main points. Examples may include: best practice, engagement, student’s own view of progress, class structure, etc. Student must complete the reflection/survey for a complete grade and to retain a grade of A.


Rationale: Students have demonstrated a top level understanding, knowledge and skill set consistently throughout the semester and/or have shown significant enough improvement to not warrant a traditional skill-based test. A high stakes test is not necessary when students have already earned such a high assessment level.


85% or higher average + A on final = A on semester
80%-85% + exam grade must average 90% for A (so an 83% would need a 97% exam for A)

75% or higher + B or higher on final = B for semester
70%-75% + exam grade must average 80% for B (74% would need 86% exam for B)

65% or higher + C or higher on final = C for semester
60%-65% + exam grade must average 70% for C (62% would need 78% exam for C)

55% or higher + D or higher on final= D for semester
Below 55% + exam grade must average 60% (50% would need 70%, 40% would need 80%, etc.)

Final exam grades may still negatively affect overall semester grades if lower than the Q3/Q4 average. Exam grades lower than the semester average or not high enough to make the jump to the next higher grade level will be calculated at the standard semester grade weight.

Rationale: Gives students at all grade thresholds more incentive to push for high achievement on exams and during the semester. Currently, there is little incentive for students who fall in the middle of a letter grade (73-77, 83-87, etc.) or below a mid-high F to put a lot of effort into exams because the math says they can’t climb and are unlikely to fall.