Mastery Grading

Mastery Grading

Grades are intended to communicate a student’s understanding of the standards and mastery of the grade level concepts and skills.  We have been reporting students’ mastery of the standards for several years through grade level benchmarks.    We want to continue to keep you informed on what your child has learned and mastered in addition to the timeliness and completion of their work.

To this end, our grade reports closely align with what your child knows at a basic level of understanding and how they can apply that learning at a higher level.  Our focus on standards acquisition prepares students with the foundational  base that they need to be successful each year in high school, college, and in their careers.

Grades are reported in two categories:  assessments (formatives and benchmarks) and assignments.   Assessments are worth 70% of the grade report and assignments are worth 30%.  All content teachers’ grades reflect the same structure.

Assessments clearly report to parents and students what a students knows:

• Formatives are short assessments that  reflect student understanding of a single standard.  They are a point in time assessment and students may retake a formative and have that grade replaced.  Formatives are weighted equally in the assessment category.  There will be approximately one formative grade a week.
• A performance assessment is designed to measure a student’s growth past a simple level of basic understanding.  These are being integrated into our assessment piece.
• Benchmarks are given at the end of each quarter and have a higher value as this is a summative assessment.

Assignments consist of those practice and reinforcement activities that help a student practice the standard. Teachers are free to assign point values to assignments.  As assignments consist of practice and work that a student may receive assistance on, they do not always reflect independent knowledge and complete understanding of a standard.

Grades will more closely resemble standards acquisition than work completion.  Students will have every opportunity for support after school, during intercession, and during reteach/enrich.  If after these opportunities the student has demonstrated mastery of  the material, the teacher will adjust the original assessment grade.  Instructionally, teachers use  assessments to guide their instruction and to provide continuing opportunities for students to learn.

Our grade reports have simplified codes for missing assignments and teachers apply them consistently to help you understand how missing assignments are computed in the averages:

M-MISSING. Assignment has not been handed in.

L-LATE.  Completed and turned in, but late.  Assignment was given a grade.

EX-EXEMPT. Student is excused from this assignment and does not need to complete.

O-ZERO. Completed assignment but quality or completion did not earn points.

C-COMMENT .  Teacher has entered a comment.

Blank-ABSENT. Grade is in transition.  Student has the time frame given in our absence policy to complete.

All assessments and assignments entered in PowerSchool are clearly defined and reference the corresponding grade level standard.

View Q & As about Mastery Grading.