Davidson County School
K-12 Grading Procedures
Our Grading Beliefs:
Davidson County Schools believes the most effective grading practices provide accurate, specific,
and timely feedback designed to improve student performance.
History:
District-wide grading practices were identified as a need for improvement in 2014 for three
reasons:
1. The need to better align grading and reporting practices with state curriculum, district
instructional initiatives, and assessment philosophies.
2. The need for consistent grading practices within and among grade levels and schools.
3. The need to improve student performance and success.
Elementary, middle school, and high school grading committees were established to generate a
unified vision of grading practices. These committees recommended guidelines for grading and
reporting practices to more accurately reflect student achievement in grades K-12.
Purposes for Grading Students’ Work:
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To provide students and parents with feedback about student learning
To plan and adjust instruction according to student progress
To contribute in administrative decisions for promotion
To empower and motivate student growth, while avoiding using grades as rewards or punishment
Elementary
Communication
•
Communicate grading
practices with all stakeholders
in the following ways:
o Website (link from district,
school, and teacher
webpages)
o Brochure
o Back to School Night
o Flyer in report cards
o Superintendent letter
o Parent emails
o Printed in student agendas
o Online presentation and
videos
o Parent portal link
Middle
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Bottom Cut Score
Homework
Guidelines
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Clearly communicate to all
teachers and parents
Homework will be graded for
participation only
If graded, homework will be
averaged as one minor grade a
quarter
•
Override final report card
grade at the end of each
quarter to a bottom cut score
of 60%
•
•
•
Communicate grading
practices with all
stakeholders in the following
ways:
o Website (link from district,
school, and teacher
webpages)
o Brochure
o Back to School Night
o Flyer in report cards
o Superintendent letter
o Parent emails
o Printed in student agendas
o Online presentation and
videos
o Parent portal link
Syllabus shall be posted on
teacher’s website as well as a
hard copy provided to the
parent
High
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Homework will be graded for
participation only
If graded, homework will fall
into the classwork/homework
category
•
Override the final report card
grade at the end of each
quarter to a bottom cut score
of 60%
Comments added to address
the grade adjustment
•
•
•
Communicate grading
practices with all
stakeholders in the following
ways:
o Website (link from district,
school, and teacher
webpages)
o Brochure
o Flyer in report cards
o Superintendent letter
o Parent emails
o Printed in student agendas
o Online presentation and
videos
o Parent portal link
Syllabus shall be posted on
teacher’s website as well as a
hard copy provided to the
parent
Homework should be an
extension of the classroom
If graded, homework will fall
into the minor grade category
Override report card grade at
the end of 1st and 3rd quarter
to a bottom cut score of 60%
Comments added to address
the grade adjustment
Course Grade Composition
Power
School
Below Grade Level Statement
•
Create a consistent, districtwide statement to be used on
report cards for students
performing below grade level
Post the statement on
PowerSchool
Examples of statements:
o Student is working below
grade level
o Grades reflect below grade
level performance
o Grade reflects below grade,
modified assignments
o Grade reflects lack of
classwork completion
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Grades shall be entered into
PowerSchool on a weekly
basis
•
Grades shall be entered into
PowerSchool on a weekly
basis
•
Grades shall be entered into
PowerSchool on a weekly
basis
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Grade weights of 70% for
major grades and 30% for
minor grades in ELA and
Math
•
Grades shall be comprised of
the following percentages:
o 40% Major Works, 35%
Minor Works, 25% Class/
Homework
o Grade 8 Math 1 will follow
the high school percentages
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Grades shall be comprised
with one of the following
percentages:
o 60% Major Works,
30% Minor Works,
10% Class/Homework
o 60% Major Works,
40% Minor Works
•
•
•
•
Create a consistent, districtwide statement to be used on
report cards for students
performing below grade level
Post the statement on
PowerSchool
Examples of statements:
o Grades reflect below grade
level performance
o Grade reflects below grade,
modified assignments
o Grade reflects lack of
classwork completion
o Grade reflects poor test
scores
•
•

Create a consistent, districtwide statement to be used on
report cards for students
performing below grade level
Post the statement on
PowerSchool
Examples of statements:
o Grades reflect below grade
level performance
o Grade reflects below grade,
modified assignments
o Grade reflects lack of
classwork completion
o Grade reflects poor test
scores
Minimum Number of Assignments
•
There shall be a minimum
number of grades in the
following categories each
grading period for ELA and
Math:
o Major Works - 5
o Minor Works - 5
• Major Works consist of the
following:
o Performance tasks with a
rubric assessment
o Written Compositions such
as completed/published
products, and essays
o Assessments/Tests that may
measure more than one
standard
o Classroom Presentations
o Research Projects
• Minor Works consist of the
following:
o Quizzes
o Lesson Daily Practice
/Classwork
o Reviews or Warm-Ups
o Classroom Discussion
/Participation
o Self-Assessments
• There shall be a minimum of
5 grades in Science and
Social Studies per subject per
quarter.
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There shall be a minimum
number of grades in the
following categories each
grading period:
o Major Works - 3
o Minor Works - 4
o Class/Homework- 5
Major Works consist of the
following: tests, projects,
presentations, papers,
performances, and other
teacher defined assignments
Minor Works consist of the
following: quizzes, group and
teacher-led activities,
notebooks, and cooperative
activities, etc.
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There shall be a minimum
number of grades in the
following categories each
grading period:
o Major Works - 4
o Minor Works - 10
Major Works consist of the
following: tests, projects,
labs, presentations, research
papers, etc.
Minor Works consist of the
following: quizzes,
classwork, homework,
journals, notebooks, etc.