Middle School

Evaluation and feedback of progress is an ongoing process at Ottawa Middle School. Official grades are earned by the student and reported on a nine-week basis.  Ottawa Middle School utilizes standards-based grading practices to assess students and assign grades.  There are two key principles you will see reflected in the gradebook:

1.)  Assignments in the gradebook will be listed by the assignment title,  followed by the standard and skill being assessed in the description.  It is also possible that some assignments/quizzes/tests/projects etc. may be assessing multiple standards. If that is the case, a student will receive a grade for each standard on said assignment.

2.)   A formative assessment is designed to provide quick feedback to both the student and teacher about a student’s current level of ability on a specific standard and is 40% of a student's grade. Examples of formative assessments might be an in-class activity, discussion, quiz, homework, etc. A summative assessment is typically given either at the end of the unit or in the middle of a unit to assess overall content knowledge and is 60% of a student's grade. Examples of summative assessments might be a test, project, essay etc.

3.) All assignments will be entered into the gradebook as being out of 100 points, which keeps grading of assignments and points earned consistent.

Grades are recorded with letters ranging from "A" to "F". Credit is not earned for "F" work. Pluses and minuses will be included, but not counted in calculating the grade point average (GPA). Therefore, "A"=4.0, "B"=3.0, “C"=2.0, “D"= 1.0, and "F"=O.O.

The following percentages are used for the purpose of creating our grading scale:

90%- 100%=A

80%- 89% =B

70%- 79% =C

60%- 69% =D

0% - 59% =F

An "I" on a report card indicates that the grade for that course is incomplete and that work should be made up prior to the issuance of a grade. If the incomplete is not taken care of within 5 school days of the completion of the nine weeks, an "F" is recorded.  A "P" indicates that the student has been awarded credit for the course. A "P" does not affect the grade point average (GPA).  A report card will be completed the week after the conclusion of each grading period during the school year. Families can opt to receive paper copies of a grade card if they do not have access to online grades.  We encourage parents to be aware of the school calendar and to look for, and expect the appropriate report. Parents are also asked to please notify the registrar if report cards are not accessible, and to contact a teacher on their student's schedule, or the counseling office, if more frequent updates are desired.