In middle school and high school, each student’s grade point average shall be the sum of the point values, as defined below, of all the grades received for all courses attempted, divided by the sum of the credits for all courses attempted. All grades for all courses taken shall be included in the calculation of grade point averages; the ‘P’ grade shall not be computed.
During the 2022-23 school year, we will continue to utilize the grading practices we developed in response to our educational landscape, and continue our study and discussions around grading practices. The following grading guidelines will be used in Northshore for all classes in grades 6-12:
- Five grade bands (A, B, C, D, and NC), with A representing 100%-90%, B representing 89%-80%, C representing 79%-70%, D representing 69%-60% and NC representing 59%-40%.
- Elimination of the zero grading floor, replaced with a floor of forty (40%) percent. This includes missing assignments. Teachers may increase this floor from 40% if so desired.
- NCs are given for students who have not yet achieved (sixty) 60%.
Assessment of student learning will separate student behaviors from grades given for assignments. This means:
- Student behavior should not contribute to academic grades (e.g., no penalties for missing class, no penalties for lack of participation, etc.).
- Student participation should not be used as a factor in a student’s grade if it penalizes a student’s grade. Participation in class is an important factor in many courses, especially in classes where world languages must be practiced orally so that students develop fluency in the language. Incentives for participation that are not connected to a grade are acceptable.
- With specific classroom, content, and/or SDLT approved qualifiers, students will be allowed to retake tests or quizzes, and revise their work in an effort to improve below-standard grades.
- Contracts and/or “two for ones” should be used for students who need accommodations to improve their grades to the communicated standard.
- Contracts for students who receive NCs is any agreement made between the teacher and student that helps remedy the NC. Examples of contracts include:
- Asking students to demonstrate mastery of a particular concept in some manner by a specific date.
- Allowing students to use their second quarter grade as their grade to replace the first quarter NC.
- “Two for ones” refers to one particular type of contract, specifically to the practice of allowing a student to complete a different assignment in lieu of completing one that was not turned in or that did not meet standard.
- Extra credit should be provided only for activities based on identified academic standards.
- Academic dishonesty should be remedied through behavioral interventions (e.g., being taught about plagiarism and having to redo an assignment) rather than through interventions that impact grades.
- At a minimum, students must have the ability to turn work in at least one week late for full credit; teachers may add additional time to accept late work for full credit.
Percentage Scale
(District Directed)
|
Alpha Mark
Scale |
GPA Scale
(State Required
11-point System)
|
93 - 100% |
A |
4.0 |
90 - 92.9% |
A- |
3.7
|
87 - 89.9% |
B+ |
3.3 |
83 - 86.9% |
B |
3.0 |
80 - 82.9% |
B- |
2.7 |
77 - 79.9% |
C+ |
2.3 |
73 - 76.9% |
C |
2.0 |
70 - 72.9% |
C- |
1.7 |
67 - 69.9% |
D+ |
1.3 |
60 - 66.9% |
D |
1.0 |
40 - 59.9% |
NC |
|
Pass/fail, credit/no credit, and satisfactory/unsatisfactory marks may also be used. These non-numerical marks/grades shall be clearly identified and excluded from the calculation of grade point average.
Marks/grades for all courses taken shall be included in the calculation of grade point averages. Grade point averages shall be calculated to two decimal places and reported for each semester or other term and for the cumulative credits earned for all courses attempted in high school.
The grading system includes pluses for every grade except A and NC, and minuses for every grade except D and NC. Letter grades or numerical marks will be used as allowed under WAC 392-415-050.