Grading Guidelines

Grading Practices as an IB School:

• Grades are based on comparisons with predetermined standards of criteria.
• Grades are based on the performance strand.  One grade/entry is given per IB Strand.
• Standards are criterion-based.  Criteria targets are made available to students in advance (Rubrics).  Grading is based on level of mastery.
• Measures achievement only OR separates achievement from effort/behavior.  No penalties or extra credit given.
• Emphasize the most recent evidence of learning when grading.  We do not use averages to determine the semester/progress grades for Work Habits or Content Knowledge.    

Mesa Grading Guidelines

Content Knowledge Scores

• Formative, Interim, and Summative Assessments
• Based on Subject Criteria and Strands
• Frequency: Subject groups must address all strands (criteria) at least twice each year.
• Types:  Quizzes, Recitals, Tests, Papers, Projects, Portfolios, Performances, and Homework (when using it to determine understanding/mastery)                                                                                                                                                                        
• Minimum: Every three weeks, a new CK item is put in the grade book.
• Software Settings: Assignments must be set to "MARKS" (not Points) and use the calculation scales ending in "%" (e.g., IB MYP MS CK %) to ensure the correct grading scale is applied.

Work Habit Scores

• School-Wide WH Rubric
• Used to assess and give feedback on Learning Behaviors
• Learning Behaviors include: Turning in/Completing homework on time, Engagement, Prepared for class, Production during class, and On-task behavior
• Minimum: Every two weeks, a new WH item (look above for examples) is put in the grade book.
• You could use the same assignment for WH and CK, but give grades for specific items as explained above.  
• iReady MyPath is Work Habits only

Late or Missing Work:

• Missing work will be accepted until the end of the unit (without penalty in Content Knowledge, but it may impact Work Habits).  
  • Teachers will use an “ M”  to signify that they are still accepting late work. The 0 is a clear signal to students that they can no longer turn it in.
  • "T" (Turned In): When a student submits a missing assignment, teachers should change the "M" to a "T" to prevent the missing grade from unfairly penalizing the student's average while it awaits grading. This also assists in tracking athletic eligibility.
    • Teachers have until Friday at 3:00 to change “M” to “T” so that accurate eligibility reports can be pulled on Monday.
  • If the missing work is a summative (occurs at the conclusion of an academic unit) or an interim assessment (in the middle of the unit), the student will work with the teacher to get this completed. With summatives at the end of the semester/school year, missing will automatically be zeros.