Renton elementary schools use six common grading principles and district-defined grading criteria to reduce the subjectivity of individual teacher grades. Standards-based grading tends to be less subjective than the traditional A-F grading system where the components of academic achievement are less well defined. In Renton K-8 schools, teachers do not grade in isolation; instead, they collaborate with their PLC members to create scoring rubrics that provide specific criteria and communicate student progress in a way that is more detailed and less subjective than the traditional point-based system of an A-F grading system.

Two categories for elementary music grading appear as "Effort" and "Demonstrates knowledge & skills".

In Effort students will receive:

• + Student consistently and independently meets expectations

• = Student frequently meets expectations and requires moderate assistance

• – Student rarely meets expectations and requires considerable assistance

In Demonstrates knowledge and skills students will receive:

• 4 = Exceeds Standards‐Consistently meets requirements for exceptional work and demonstrates a deep level of knowledge and skill for this point in the year.

• 3 = Meets Standards‐Consistently meets requirements for proficient work and demonstrates grade level knowledge and skill for this point in the year.

• 2 = Below Standards‐Meets some requirements for proficient work and demonstrates some grade level knowledge and skill for this point in the year.

• 1 = Well Below Standards‐Meets few requirements for proficient work and demonstrates little grade level knowledge and skill for this point in the year.

• IE = Insufficient Evidence

• NA = Not assessed during this reporting period.

Grading rubrics and mastery of standards is a continual process of assessment and improvement. Students will continue to develop skills through the music curriculum throughout the school year. As students progress, their understanding and mastery of standards will grow. Assessments are not final and students always have opportunity to show their increased understanding of a standard.