Gaston County Schools
County Schools
Grade Composition
Purpose: Grades shall reflect student performance in various subject areas aligned with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. The makeup of the student's grade shall be based on various classroom and learning assignments.
Elementary
Elementary K-5
• Accurate grades are based on the most consistent pieces of evidence.
• Evidence must align with the score of the proficiency scale.
• Evidence can include observations, checklists, anecdotal notes, student work samples, quizzes, tests, projects, etc., and should be kept in a student portfolio.
• An assessment can cover more than one standard, but it should be clear which parts of the assessment are tied to which standards.
• While group work and collaboration are an important part of the classroom, only work that can be attributed to individual students should determine proficiency.
• Scores will be recorded on the Schoology District Mastery Page. Scores can reflect digital and/or non-digital artifacts.
• School-level professional learning communities shall help determine additional assignments when needed, for each discipline.
• The teacher shall adhere to the IEP, the 504, and any Tier Plan.
Middle
• Assignments shall carry different weights based on the importance of the activity, time spent on the activity, and the degree of involvement.
• The nine weeks grade shall be determined by the following:
- 40 percent - tests (major - projects, papers, and performances)
- 30 percent independent work - (quizzes, classwork, common assessments, etc.),
- 20 percent guided work -(group activities, teacher-led activities, etc.) and
- 10 percent homework
• A minimum of three (3) tests (major - projects, papers, and performances) shall be given during each grading period for all middle school courses. In addition to test grades, a minimum of five (5) guided assignments and four (4) independent assignments shall be given in each grading period for all middle school courses.
• District and state formative assessments should not be used as grades (iReady diagnostic, NC Check-ins)
• Academic grades shall not be reduced for misconduct or punishment.
• Teachers shall supply a copy of their grading procedures to the principal, students, and parents..
• Teachers shall work with Professional Learning Communities to determine interventions and monitor progress to ensure mastery of content knowledge.
• Teachers shall enter grades in PowerTeacher weekly.
• PowerSchool will show the official student average; Canvas will display grades given for assignments and quizzes in Canvas. Canvas should not display an average.
• School-level professional learning communities shall help determine an appropriate number of additional assignments for each discipline.
• The teacher shall adhere to the IEP, the 504, and any Tier Plan.
High
• Assignments shall carry different weights based on the importance of the activity, time spent on the activity, and the degree of involvement.
• The nine weeks grade shall be determined by counting: tests (major projects, major papers, etc.): 60 percent, quizzes: 20 percent and, daily/class grades and homework: 20 percent.
• All students shall take a final exam in all courses. The exam grade shall count for 20% of the final course grade. The final exam is a cumulative exam created by the State, District, or teacher and shall include all standards in the course curriculum.
• Each nine-week grade shall be made up of a minimum of three (3) major test grades (may include major projects, essays, research papers, and performances) which shall count 60 percent of the grade.
• Each nine-week grade shall be made up of a minimum of six (6) quizzes (only covering part of a unit of study or a specific step in a project or performance) which shall count 20 percent of the grade.
• Each nine-week grade shall be made up of a minimum of nine (9) daily/class and/or homework grades (may include warm-ups or bell work) which shall count as 20 percent of the grade.
Exceptions to this shall be made for all non-core classes except foreign language.
• AP/Honors courses shall not be graded differently. Content and expectations shall be more rigorous.
• Fine Arts, PE, and ROTC shall include grades for performance.
• Academic grades shall not be reduced for misconduct or punishment.
• Per BOE Policy #4310, students will be subject to consequences outlined in Rule 25 of the Student Code of Conduct for cheating, plagiarism, etc.
• Teachers shall enter grades in PowerTeacher weekly.
• School-level Professional Learning Communities shall help determine an appropriate number of additional assignments for each discipline.
• The teacher shall adhere to the IEP, the 504, and any Tier Plan.