ACADEMIC POLICIES ACADEMIC POLICIES GRADING POLICY & GRADE REPORTS Grades and/or reports of students for fifth through eighth grades are issued at the end of each semester. Interim reports are sent at any other time when there is a significant change in level of achievement or effort. GFA uses the following scale:
A+ 97-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69 F 0-59
A 93-96 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66
A- 90-92 B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62
Honor and High Honor Rolls are published each semester for students in grades 7 and 8; a student on the Honor Roll shall have a B+ average. High Honors requires a minimum Aaverage. Each department determines the relative value of homework, quizzes, tests, papers, projects, and class discussion in calculating averages. Grading criteria for each course is explained to students at the beginning of the year and published in Course Policy Sheets which are distributed by teachers during the first week of school. Questions about the derivation of an average or about a teacher’s comments on reports should be directed to the classroom teacher involved. Any student whose final average in a continuing subject (math and world language) is below C- will be expected to do summer work before being allowed to take the next course in that subject. Any student who fails the second semester in a continuing subject may be required to do summer work in that subject as well. A student who fails a required course for the year may be asked to make it up in the summer or to repeat the course the following year. A student failing more than one course or having low grades with minimal effort may be asked not to return to GFA the following year. Fifth grade students do not receive grades during the first semester, but will have written comments from their teachers. At the end of the year, fifth graders will receive grades and comments in English, Global Studies and Math. Effort Point Guidelines 5: Excellent—Evidence exists of work beyond the required assignments, and class participation shows evidence of exceptional effort. 4: V ery Good—Homework is always done carefully and promptly, and class participation is consistently good. 3: Satisfactory—Homework is turned in regularly, and the student is usually prepared for class. 2: Needs Improvement—Unexcused or frequent lapses in class preparation or turning assignments in on time. 1: Unsatisfactory—Chronic failure to turn in assignments on time or failure to be prepared for class. ACADEMIC PROBATION 1. If warranted, a student will be placed on academic probation for receiving two or more semester averages in core academic classes below a C-. 2. If a student meets the above criteria for one semester, at the midpoint of the following semester, the Grade Dean will check the student’s academic averages and effort grades, and if there continues to be concern around one or both, the Head of Middle School will contact the student’s parents.
6 www.gfacademy.org
MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM GUIDE