1) A student’s final grade for a course will be calculated by determining the numerical average of the following 5 categories:
- 1st Quarter
- 2nd Quarter
- 3rd Quarter
- 4th Quarter
- Final Exam
2) A student’s final grade for a course MUST be calculated as the mean (average) of the numerical value that is earned for each of the 5 categories. The following scale will be in place:
- 97 – 100 = A+
- 93 – 96 = A
- 90 – 92 = A-
- 87 – 89 = B+
- 83 – 86 = B
- 80 – 82 = B-
- 77 – 79 = C+
- 73 – 76 = C
- 70 – 72 = C-
- 65 – 69 = D
- 64 or Lower = F
3) A student is not entitled to any “rounding rights” for reaching a respective threshold. Rather, this is left to the teacher’s discretion. For example, an 89.5 can be interpreted by the classroom teacher as a “B+”. The classroom teacher may also choose to round this up to an “A-“. In these particular situations, the classroom teacher’s professional ability to assess student learning is considered to be the key factor in determining a student’s final grade.
4) The criteria for determining a student’s grade for each respective quarter can be solely at the teacher’s professional discretion. For example, classroom teachers may utilize rubrics, point value systems, assign value to particular assignments, etc.
5) The lowest possible value that can reported as a quarter-grade shall be a “55.” This shall apply for all 4 quarters (full year course) or 2 quarters (semester course). However, for the final exam, there is no restriction as to the value that is reported. Any numerical value ranging from a 0 – 100 can be reported as a final exam grade. The grade program will convert the numerical value that is reported by the teacher to reflect a letter grade on the student report card. Teachers shall retain the professional discretion to override the grade program and raise a student’s grade if he/she feels this is warranted.
6) It is required that the criteria for determining the quarter grade be clearly explained on the course handout that is distributed to the students at the beginning of the year/semester.
7) In the event that there are any significant, mandatory course requirements (i.e. project, completion of the final exam, research paper, etc.), the classroom teacher MUST indicate on the course handout that completion of such requirements is necessary in order to receive course credit. If a student fails to complete a mandatory course requirement, he/she may be denied course credit and receive a grade of an “F” on the report card. When a final exam is given in a course, sitting for that final is required for course completion in order to receive course credit.
8) A student must receive a grade for 3 out of 5 these possible categories in order to receive a final grade for a course. The final grade will be determined by calculating the numerical average of the categories.
9) A student who is enrolled in an Honors, Advanced Placement, or Math A (advanced) course may drop down to the corresponding Regular level course at any time. However, in the case of a full year course, once the student has completed two quarters in which grades have been assigned, the numerical value for those respective grades will follow the student to the Regents level for the purposes of determining a final grade in the course. If a student drops prior to earning two quarters worth of letter grades, then the value of the letter grades do NOT follow the student to the Regents course for the purposes of determining a final grade. For a Semester course, because of the compressed nature of the course material, students have only a 24 hour period of time after receiving the respective grade for the first quarter to change levels without the value of the letter grade following them to the next course. After the 24 hour period, the grade from the first course will follow the student for the purposes of calculating the final grade in the new course. If a student moves up a level (i.e. from Regents to Honors), the grades earned in the lower level shall never be calculated into the final grade for the higher level course.
10) A student may drop a full year course after a ten week period. There is a specific time frame, cited in the program of studies, in which there will be no indication on the report card or transcript that the student was ever enrolled in the course. If a course is dropped after the specific time period, a notation of “W” will appear on both the report card and the transcript. If a grade of an “F” is earned for the course, this will remain on the transcript. Deadlines for semester courses are also posted by the Counseling Department.
11) Absences from a previous course are recorded for the purposes of the attendance policy. The teacher for the first course should forward the number of absences to the teacher in the new course.
12) If a student enters a new course at the end of the 3rd quarter, the grade is then calculated based on the 4th quarter (tripled in numeric value) and the final assessment, divided by 4. If a grade is earned in 3 out of 4 quarters, then a final grade can be calculated for the course.
13) In cases of semester courses, the final grades will be calculated by doubling the value of the grades for each quarter, and include the grade for the final exam. Therefore, the final grade will be calculated as the average (mean) of the following 5 values: 1st Quarter (value doubled), 2nd Quarter (value doubled), and final exam.
14.) In a semester course, a student must receive a grade for one quarter and the final exam in order to receive credit for the course. In this case, the student’s final grade for the course will be the average of the quarter grade (doubled) and the final exam. This meets the criteria of having 3 out of the 5 possible categories.