Grading Procedure

  • The uniform procedures for evaluating and communicating student progress in learning the AKS are as follows:

    1. The teacher(s) of each student is responsible for evaluating the individual student’s progress toward the achievement of the AKS.

    2. Teachers are accountable for grade calculations and reporting that is clear, complete and conducted according to the approved standard system of weights and measures. Teachers will use district gradebook software for grade reporting and for parent portal communication.

    3. Principals are responsible for implementing a local process for monitoring grading procedures. The number of individual grades for each category (percent of spread) should be monitored at the school level to ensure percentages are fair and equitable. A principal, in consultation with the assistant superintendent, may correct a teacher assigned grade if it is determined that the grading procedures were not followed.

    4. Final grades should represent the learning of the AKS over the entire grading period.

    5. Grades should reflect academic achievement only and should not evaluate effort and participation. Students are not to be penalized in grading because of fees owed.

    6. No minimum grade should be established. Teachers are responsible for providing intervention strategies for students not progressing satisfactorily and for allowing additional opportunities for reassessment and/or completing assignments.

    7. The teacher's evaluation of student progress toward the AKS should be made continuously available through the parent portal. Schools should ensure that progress reports are sent home to parents a minimum of two times during an 18 week semester.

    8. Teachers who need to change a student's grade after a final grade is posted for the report card must secure the approval of the supervising principal and/or his/her designee.

    9. The grade is a report of the individual student's progress (as defined by the AKS) to the student, to his or her parents, and to others who are concerned with the student's progress in education. Student academic progress shall be graded by means of a numerical average according to the following scale for grades 2 - 12:

    90% and above A shall indicate excellent progress
    80%-89% B shall indicate above average progress
    70%-79% C shall indicate average progress
    0%-69% U/F shall indicate unsatisfactory progress/failure of acceptable progress

    The following guidelines for grading reflect individual needs within each of the three levels: elementary, middle and high.

    ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

    1. The Progress Report is designed to be used to assist teachers in informing parents about the on-going growth and development of their students, as defined by the AKS.

    2. Gradebooks are established based on course numbers. Refer to the Elementary School District Gradebook setup for percentages by category for each course.

    3. The student will be given an academic grade at the end of each eighteen (18) weeks or two (2) times each school year.

    4. Early release days, two days in the fall and two days in the spring, are provided to conduct parent conferences for the purpose of discussing student progress.

    5. Grades K-5 Reading and Writing Communication Reports will be used by all elementary schools to help report student progress in reading and writing at the Fall and Spring Early Release Conferences and at any other time as needed.


    MIDDLE SCHOOL

    1. Gradebooks are established based on course numbers. Refer to the Middle School District Gradebook setup for percentages by category for each course.

    2. The student will be given a final academic grade in each semester course. A final report of grades will be completed at the end of each eighteen (18) weeks or two (2) times each school year.

    3. Early release days, two days in the fall and two days in the spring, are provided to conduct parent conferences for the purpose of discussing student progress toward learning the AKS.


    HIGH SCHOOL

    1. Course teams of teachers who teach the same subject and/or grade level should work cooperatively to set number and variety of assessments for each category.

    2. Gradebooks are established based on course numbers. Refer to the High School District Gradebook setup for percentages by category for each course.

    3. The student will be given a final academic grade in each semester course. A final report of grades will be completed at the end of each eighteen (18) weeks or two (2) times each school year.

    4. All teachers in grades 9-12 will distribute a common course level syllabi which are expressed in terms of AKS learner objectives to be used for each course of study and should file copies of the syllabi with the principal and/or his/her designee.

    5. Incompletes should not be given on final report cards. All preassigned work for a class will be due on the day a student returns to that particular class after an absence or according to arrangements made with that teacher. Students will be given five (5) days to make up work or follow other arrangements granted by the teacher. All incomplete work carried over into a new marking period should be completed no later than the tenth day of the following semester to ensure GHSA guidelines are followed.

    6. In order to facilitate the teacher's determination of a senior's grades at an early date, all major projects, term papers, etc. must be graded by the end of the 16th week of the semester.

    7. Parents of seniors must be notified at the beginning of the last six-weeks or anytime thereafter if a senior's average drops to a failing grade in any class(es) required for graduation.

    8. Students in Gwinnett County Public Schools who take Advanced Placement courses or International Baccalaureate courses that have a standardized national exam are to have 10 points added to their final grade in the course. These points are not associated with the student's performance on the Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams. Students who take a higher level mathematics course after the successful completion of AP Calculus will have 10 points added to the final grade of that course. Students who take a higher level science course after the successful completion of AP Biology, AP Chemistry or AP Physics will have 10 points added to the final grade for that course. Students should not receive more than a 100% average in any course except Advanced Placement courses, International Baccalaureate courses, higher level math courses taken after AP Calculus or higher level science courses taken after AP Biology, AP Chemistry or AP Physics.

    9. High school graduating seniors who have an overall “A” average, 90% or greater, will be exempt from taking local semester examinations for the second semester except when an EOC Assessment is required. High school graduating seniors who have an “A” average, 90% or greater, in a specific course may be exempt from taking a local second semester examination on a course by course basis.

    Updated District Grade Books SETUP for fall 2020. 7.22.2020.xlsx