Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Grading and Reporting Student Progress

Teachers use evaluative devices and techniques as may be needed to report individual achievement in relation to school goals, accepted norms, and pupil potential. Student grades, unsatisfactory work notices, parent reports on State assessment and/or the standardized testing, parent conferences, and adult student conferences serve as the primary means of communicating student progress and achievement of the standards for promotion.

A student’s academic grade reflects the teacher’s most objective assessment of the student’s academic achievement. Students have the right to receive a conduct and an effort grade consistent with their overall behavior and effort.

When students with disabilities are “included” in general education classes, it may be necessary to delineate an explanation of the grading criteria and an explanation about necessary curriculum modifications on the IEP as well as using the report card comment #48 - Curriculum has been modified.

Specific guidelines for grading student performance and for reporting student progress are provided below:

A.         Grading Student Performance

By School Board directive, academic grades are to reflect the student's academic progress. The determination of the specific grade a student receives must be based on the teacher's best judgment after careful consideration of all aspects of each student's performance during a grading period, including such factors as class attendance, homework, and participation.

In authorized semester courses, the student's final grade shall be determined as follows: 40 percent value for each of two nine-week grading periods and 20 percent value for the final examination, with a provision for teacher override.

In authorized annual courses, the student's final grade shall be determined as follows: 20 percent value for each of four nine-week grading periods, 10 percent value for the midterm exam, and 10 percent for the final exam, with a provision for teacher override. In order to pass an annual course in grades 6-12, a student will earn a minimum of 10 grade points, of which a minimum of five must be earned in the second semester. Teacher override (either up or down) can still be used.

In both authorized semester courses and authorized annual courses, the criteria for grading certain exceptional students may be modified by the Individual Educational Plan (IEP) team.

The following are the academic grades used: 

 Students who earn more than the required number of credits are not penalized in their rank in class.

 Conduct grades are used to communicate clearly to both students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) the teacher’s evaluation of a student’s behavior and citizenship development. These grades are independent of academic and effort grades.

 Effort grades are assigned by teachers based on the student’s potential, study habits, and attitude. Three numerical grades are used to reflect their effort:

 B.         GRADE POINT AVERAGE – RANK IN CLASS

 Guidelines for interpreting students’ grades with respect to rank in class and grade point average are provided in School Board Rule 6Gx-13-S5B-1.061. Grade point averages (GPA) are calculated for any of the reasons listed below:

·         High school graduation

·         Rank in class

·         Eligibility to participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities

·         Awards and recognition programs

·         Placement on the honor roll and/or membership in honor societies

·         College admissions and scholarship competitions

The grade point average used for determining the final rank in class for seniors includes grades from all courses in which credits have been earned for high school graduation and the first semester of the students' senior year. The calculation process produces an unweighted GPA to which bonus values are added. This GPA is used for the ranking process.

**Rank in class is only calculated during the senior year.**

C.         GRADE AND BONUS POINT VALUES

The grade and bonus point values shown in the chart below are used in determining unweighted (without bonus points) and weighted (with bonus points) GPA's.

 NOTE: Dual enrollment courses are awarded either honors or the equivalent of advanced placement bonus points as required by State Board Rule. The specific weighting is determined by a committee of subject area administrators and is intended to reflect the scope and intensity of the specific course.