Drop Lowest Score Setting

Steps to Drop Lowest Score in PowerTeacher Pro

1. Navigate to Settings: Open your PowerTeacher Pro gradebook and click on Settings.

2. Select Traditional Grade Calculations.

3. Click the edit icon (pencil) for the class where you want to drop scores.

4. Click the Drop Low Scores tab.

5. Click the + button to add a new rule.

6. Select the Category (e.g., Homework, Quizzes).

7. Enter the number of lowest scores to drop in the Drop Low Scores field.

8. Click Save to apply the changes. 

Key Considerations

• Per-Category Drop: This method allows you to drop the lowest score for specific categories rather than the entire gradebook.

• Limitations: This feature is generally available for traditional final grades, not necessarily for standards-based grading.

• Automatic Calculation: PowerSchool will automatically calculate the final grade by ignoring the lowest scores in the designated categories. 

Common Drop Lowest Score Issues

• Gradebook Overrides: If a teacher has manually overridden a final grade or an assignment grade, the automated "Drop Lowest" function will stop calculating for that student until the override is removed.

• Quarter vs. Semester Discrepancies: When setting up, it is not always clear if the lowest grade is dropped per quarter or for the entire semester, causing confusion in final calculations.

• Assignment Count Requirement: The feature works best when there are enough assignments. If a user sets it to drop two scores, but only two assignments exist, the system might behave unpredictably (sometimes dropping both or creating errors).

• Not Updating: If grades change sporadically, it might be due to a lag in the system's re-calculation of the "lowest" score.

How to Fix Common Drop Lowest Score Issues

• Remove Manual Overrides: In PowerTeacher Pro, go to the score inspector and use the "Undo" (revert, circle arrow icon) button to remove any manual changes to the grade.

• Verify Calculation Settings: Ensure the "Drop Low Scores" is correctly configured in Settings > Traditional Grade Calculations for each reporting term.

• Check Category Assignment: Ensure all assignments meant to be considered for the drop are in the correct category.

• Force Re-calculation: If grades do not update, try “Revert to Default” the final grade calculation and re-setup calculation preference and drop grade setting.

• To avoid issues, it is recommended to set up the dropped grade rule before many assignments are entered in that category.