4710-R

Grading Systems Regulation

The following guidelines will be observed:


  1. Grades shall reflect a student's academic progress and achievement. Students will know clearly what is expected of them and they shall be helped and evaluated along the way. Academic achievement is defined as an index of the mastery of skills, concepts and content in a particular subject.

  2. Students and their parents will be provided with information regarding classroom attendance/participation and course credit policies upon their admission to school and at the beginning of the school year.

  3. Parents are to be informed of their child’s progress on a regular basis; at least four (4) times a year at the secondary level, and three (3) times a year at the elementary level.

  4. The use of marks and symbols will be appropriately explained.

  5. Grading will not be used for disciplinary purposes, i.e., giving lower grades for unexcused absences, as opposed to giving lower grades for failure to complete assigned work or for lack of class participation. However, a student's misconduct that is directly related to his/her academic performance (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on a test, avoiding an exam to secure more time to study), will be reflected in the student's grade.

  6. Grading may be based, in part, upon student improvement, achievement, and participation in classroom discussion and activities.

  7. A grade for classroom participation may be used for a portion of the student's overall grade in each class. Classroom work missed due to absences from class and the failure to make up the work missed, will be factored into the participation grade in accordance with this policy. In consultation with Building Principals, teachers will develop procedures for the make up of work missed due to any excused absences from class and shall communicate them to the students at the beginning of each course.


HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL

Grade Calculation


  1. Quarter courses require both a marking period grade and a final grade.

  2. Semester courses final average is determined by adding together 2/5 of the grade for each quarter and 1/5 of the final exam grade.

  3. Year courses final average is obtained by adding 1/5 of the grade of each quarter and 1/5 of the final average is obtained by adding 1/5 of the grade of each quarter and 1/5 of the final or Regents exam grade.

  4. The student's final average representing the total year's work will determine the passing or failing of that subject.


Incompletes


A two-week period after the end of the marking period may be provided for make-up work. Requests for an incomplete shall be made through the subject teacher. At the end of the two-week period a grade is given and recorded, unless, for extenuating circumstances, administrative approval has been granted for a longer period. If the necessary work is not completed within the period agreed upon, a grade of F shall be recorded.


All grade calculations must conform to the Conversion Table. Requests for variation in the final average must be submitted in writing, with rationale, to the Principal's Office. Written approval must be received before a teacher may change the grade.


The 3 F rule:


Three grades of F in a year course will result in failure for the year. However, teachers have the discretion to waive this rule in specific instances provided that written justification has been submitted to and approved by the Principal.


Alpha grading is to be used for all grades except Regents examinations.


Position of Regents Examinations in Awarding Credit


The successful passing of a Regents examination does not automatically grant a student credit in that subject towards graduation at Yorktown High School. The school considers the Regents examination to be a minimum requirement of the course. It represents 1/5 of the student's final average.


Class assignments, laboratory experiments, school test results, and student contributions in class activity represent additional course requirements students are expected to meet.


Weighting of Grading


A weighting plan shall be used in computing class rank. Under this weighting system, the student's actual grade will not change on the report card or transcript. In the end of junior year, when class rank is determined, the grade in each course will be weighted according to the system indicated below:


1. All high school courses shall be assigned to one of two levels.

2. When class rank is computed, a factor of 0.5 will be added to the grade point value of all successfully completed courses in Level I.

Level I Courses:

Level II Courses - All courses not assigned to Level I.


Computation of Class Rank


For purposes of comparing students within a graduating class, a Decile System has been adopted.


Students must have been enrolled for their entire junior year in the district to be included in the Decile System.


Included on the high school profile will be the GPA Relationship for the current graduating class, indicating the highest and lowest grade point average for each decile.


For purposes of the Decile System, weighted grade point averages will be used. Grade point averages shall be computed to the thousandth decimal place and only students with identical averages to the thousandth place shall be tied for class rank purposes.


A high school profile included the GPA Relationship will be sent to every college to which a student applies. Additional information sent to colleges will include the students' official transcript stating the students’ grade point average and the decile rank.


The student with the highest grade point average shall be named valedictorian; the student with the second highest grade point average shall be named salutatorian. If there is a tie in either of these places, co-valedictorians or co-salutatorians shall be named. This will be determined at the end of the junior year.


MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL


Grade Calculation


At the Middle School level, grades 6 through 8, academic and special areas are assessed on the following grading key:

When determining grades, averages should be calculated to the hundredths place and then rounded to the nearest tenth.

For example:
4.15 = 4.2 = A+
4.14 = 4.1 = A


HONOR ROLL RECOGNITION


High Honor Roll* 3.9 – 4.3

Honor Roll 3.5 – 3.89


*Only the words Honor Roll will print on report card.


ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL


Grade Calculation


At the K-2 levels, the “Behaviors That Promote Learning,” academic and special areas are assessed on the following four-level grading key:


4 Exceeds expectations

3 Meets expectations

2 Progressing with support

1 Not at this time


At the 3-5 levels, the “Behaviors That Promote Learning” are assessed on the following four-level grading key:


4 Exceeds expectations

3 Meets expectations

2 Progressing with support

1 Not at this time


In addition, at the 3-5 levels, the academic and special areas are assessed on the following grading key:

4+ (A+/95-100)

4 (A/90-94)

3+ (B+/85-89)

3 (B/80-84)

2+ (C+/75-79)

2 (C/70-74)

1+ (D/65-69)


Cross ref:

4712, Student Progress Reports to Parents

5100, Comprehensive Attendance


Ref:

Education Law §§3202; 3205 et seq.

Matter of Nathaniel D., 32 EDR 67 (1992)

Matter of Hegarty, 31 EDR 232 (1992)

Matter of Shepard, 31 EDR 315 (1992)

Matter of Handicapped Child, 32 EDR 83 (1992)

Matter of Ackert, 30 EDR 31 (1990)

Matter of Augustine, 30 EDR 13 (1990)

Matter of Boylan, 24 EDR 421 (1985)

Matter of Burns, 29 EDR 103 (1989)

Matter of Chipman, 10 EDR 224 (1971)

Matter of Dickershaid, 26 EDR 112 (1986)

Matter of FitchettDelk, 25 EDR 178 (1985)

Matter of Gibbons, 22 EDR 134 (1982)

Matter of LaViolette, 24 EDR 37 (1984)

Matter of MacWhinnie, 20 EDR 145 (1980)

Matter of McClurkin, 28 EDR 136 (1988)

Matter of Reid, 65 Misc 2d 718 (1971)

Matter of Rivers, 27 EDR 73 (1987)

Matter of Shamon, 22 EDR 428 (1983)


Adoption date: June 22, 2002

Amended date: October 24, 2005

Amended date: September 21, 2009

Amended date: January 12, 2010 (clerical correction)

Amended date: January 25, 2011

Revisions Adopted: August 25, 2014

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