Standards based grading

Hello Families,

Report cards will be released soon, and we wanted to share some helpful information ahead of time.

Our school uses a grading and reporting platform called Aspire. One important thing to know is that Aspire automatically displays averaged scores, and unfortunately, this is not something we are able to change. While you may see an overall average, this does not fully reflect how we evaluate student learning.

Instead of focusing on the average, we encourage you to click on each individual grade entry. Each entry represents a specific skill or standard, and viewing them individually will give you a much clearer picture of how your student is progressing on particular concepts over time. If you ever have questions or concerns about what you see, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re happy to help.

We’d also like to take a moment to explain standards-based grading, which is the approach we use to assess student learning and is aligned with Utah State Standards.

What is standards-based grading?
Standards-based grading focuses on how well students understand and can apply essential grade-level skills. Rather than assigning traditional letter grades, this approach measures a student’s level of mastery on specific standards and shows progress as learning develops.

The proficiency levels you’ll see indicate how your child is progressing toward meeting each standard.

How does standards-based grading help families?
Standards-based grading provides clear, detailed information about what your child knows and what they are still working on. This transparency allows families to better understand learning goals and support growth at home.

Our ultimate goal is for every student to reach proficiency by the end of the year. We believe standards-based grading helps students take ownership of their learning and helps families stay informed and involved along the way.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s education. Please reach out if you have any questions—we’re always happy to connect.

Warmly,
The third grade team