Grading

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROMOTION

In order to be promoted within the middle school level, students must successfully complete three of the four subjects: Language Arts, Math, Science, History. If a student receives a failing final grade in two or more core subjects in a school year, the student will be retained. If a student receives a failing final grade in a subject area in consecutive years, the student will be retained.

SPECIAL NOTE: Omit a middle school high school credit(s)

The “Standards of Accreditation for Virginia Schools” allows a one-time provision for any high school credit bearing-course taken in middle school whereby parents may request that grades be omitted from the student’s transcript and the student will not earn high school credit for the course(s). A form will be provided for parents who wish to exercise this option. If a parent wishes to have the grade omitted, the form must be submitted to the high school principal by August 1 of the year the student will be entering 9th grade.

Parent letter and form:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JtVYBdsYR6x_0S1Hv9zJ-eTceQJ7kf10mIjDTZrePYA/edit?usp=sharing

Promotion takes place at the end of the school year. Students will not be moved from one grade level to another at any other time during the school year.

GRADING SCALE

A - 90-100

B - 80-89

C - 70-79

D - 60-69

F - Anything below 60

HONOR ROLL REQUIREMENTS

“A” Honor Roll: All A’s

“B” Honor Roll: Overall B or higher average using a four-point scale without rounding, no grade lower than a C

PROGRESS REPORTS/REPORT CARDS

Parents/guardians may access grades at any time via Parent Portal.

Progress/ Interim reports: Student progress reports will be sent to parents/guardians midway during each nine weeks period. The dates are typically denoted on the division calendar. Progress reports should be taken home, signed by a parent/guardian, and returned to the appropriate teachers. However, parents/guardians may be contacted at any time during a nine weeks period if a deficiency needs attention or correction. Parents/guardians are encouraged to call teachers to check their child’s progress more frequently. Faculty and staff should encourage parents/guardians to remain up-to-date with grades, assignments, and course requirements.

MAKE-UP WORK

Students are expected to make arrangements with their teachers to collect and to complete all classwork assigned.

Students who are assigned to ISS or serving a suspension are also required to complete all classwork assigned.

Students who participate in school-sponsored or community-sponsored athletics are also required to complete all classwork assigned.

All classwork missed during an absence should be made up within five days.

Exceptions and/or special circumstances may arise. Therefore, the teacher will address those situations on an individual basis.

** If COVID still requires quarantine, students will be given work to complete and reasonable time to complete assignments.

ACADEMIC EXTRA-CREDIT

Teachers may provide students with extra-credit activities only if those activities are appropriately aligned with the Virginia Standard Course of Study, provide opportunities for academic enrichment, and enhance classroom instruction. Extra-credit activities should not be used to replace missing assignments. Extra credit is not a requirement in any course nor should it be an expectation.

CHEATING

MCPS believes that every student should be encouraged to be a responsible, trustworthy individual, capable of excelling to the best of his/her ability without cheating. A positive environment conducive to learning is provided, and students are encouraged to seek assistance from parents/guardians, teachers, and peers in an appropriate way when extra help is needed. Cheating, however, is not acceptable at any secondary school. Each cheating episode is an automatic referral to the office with the following consequences:

First Offense: Zero grade, parent/guardian notification, counseling

Second Offense: Zero grade, one day of ISS, parent/guardian notification, counseling

Third Offense: Zero grade, two days of ISS, parent/guardian notification, counseling

Fourth Offense: Zero grade, one day of OSS, parent/guardian notification, counseling

HONOR CODE AGREEMENT

Students are expected to adhere to the code listed below. A student signature sheet can be found in the Student Code of Conduct and will be keep in the student record.

FOR ASSESSMENTS: “I affirm that I will not give or receive any unauthorized help on this exam, and that all work will be my own.”

FOR GRADED ASSIGNMENTS: “I affirm that I have not given or received any unauthorized help on this assignment, and that this work is my own.”

FOR GROUP PROJECTS: “I accept responsibility for my role in ensuring the integrity of the work submitted by the group in which I participated.”

GPA AND CLASS RANK

Any policies, rules or regulations addressing grade point average that are in place when a student enters the ninth grade will follow that student throughout his/her high school program. Grade Point Averages (GPA) are calculated for all students based on student enrollment in courses and units of credit awarded for these courses. Quality-points are assigned to each course grade according to the following scale:

WEIGHTED QUALITY-POINTS

Weighted quality-points are awarded for content specific dual enrollment courses. The following dual enrollment elective courses do not receive weighted quality points:

Cosmetology IT Academy/Cybersecurity

Nurse Aide Industrial Electricity

Welding Power and Energy System Technology

HVAC Automation Robotics

Economics and Personal Finance Any other Dual Enrollment Career and Technical Education classes

Governor’s School, honor courses, and all academic dual enrollment courses that are offered though MCPS will receive weighted quality-points. Courses taken through other means will not be weighted.

The total number of quality-points is calculated by multiplying the unit of credit for each course and the quality-points assigned to the final course grade and then obtaining a total of all quality-points for all enrolled courses. The GPA is calculated by dividing the total quality- points earned by the number of credits attempted. The GPA is calculated to the nearest thousandth of a point.

Rank is determined by arranging the GPA values in descending order with the student with the highest GPA being ranked first, the student with the second highest GPA being ranked second, and so on.

The student with the highest grade point average will be designated as Valedictorian. Speeches will be given by the *Valedictorian and *Salutatorian.

*IF there is a tie for Valedictorian, then CO Valedictorians will be declared and both will speak. There will be no Salutatorian.

*IF a clear Valedictorian is declared and there is a tie for Salutatorian, then the Valedictorian and BOTH Salutatorians would speak. This is the only time more than 2 students will speak based on academic standing.

PROJECT GRADUATION

The General Assembly provides funding through Project Graduation for academics for high school students who need additional instruction for SOL tests in all content areas including assessments required to earn verified credits. Academies are conducted during the summer and during the school year and include multiple opportunities for retesting. This program is dependent upon funding from the state on an annual basis.

REMEDIATION

Remediation will be offered at the middle and high school. Remediation will be offered at the middle school for English/Language Arts and for Mathematics. At the high school level, remediation will be offered for courses that have an SOL test. These courses are Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, World History I, World History II, Virginia and United States History, and eleventh grade English. The number of remediation classes offered will depend upon enrollment and funding.

SUMMER SCHOOL

Summer School will be required for students at the middle school level who have not made adequate progress in Language Arts and Mathematics. Summer School will also be provided for high school students who have failed an SOL test, who need credit recovery for a class, or to complete coursework for graduation.

EXTENDED SCHOOL YEAR

Students with disabilities may require educational services beyond the regular school calendar. This need will be addressed per each Individual Education Program (IEP).

VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE ELIGIBILITY Students wishing to participate in Virginia High School League activities such as sports, cheerleading, or academic competition must pass a minimum of three classes per semester. Students must be present for a minimum of three blocks to be eligible to participate in that day’s events.

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM

The Mecklenburg County Alternative Education Program is an individualized program to address educational and personal needs of students experiencing academic, behavioral/emotional and/or attendance problems in the regular school setting. The Alternative Education Program will provide an individualized course of study and address the behavioral and social and emotional growth of students as they prepare to either return to their home school, pass the G.E.D., or transition into the workforce. Students are referred to the program by the principal of the school, the Superintendent, or the School Board.