Beginning this school year, Gaston County Schools has established countywide Grading Practices/Guidelines for grades 3-12 to ensure that students are given sufficient opportunities to demonstrate their comprehension of a subject or course.  

In the past, GCS like many other districts in the state, had no countywide grading guidelines or practices that outlined how much a quiz, homework or a major test would count.  Nor did the district have guidelines for the minimum number of tests that must be given in a course.  Therefore, it was left to each school or the classroom teacher to decide whether to give one or six tests and the value of a test as compared to homework, class work or a special project assignment. 

The new guidelines provide standard grading practices for GCS elementary, middle and senior high schools. The grading practices ensure that all students are given ample opportunity to show evidence of their skills or mastery of a subject or course and that a student has learned the basic skills and knowledge for a given subject.  The new guidelines also explain grading expectations for students and teachers and the grading scale or what percent constitutes an A, B, C, etc. for students in 3-12. 

The Grading Practices/Guidelines are aligned with the State Standard Course of Study, which means it will help teachers ensure that students are prepared for state tests.

Grading Expectations
Elementary, middle and senior high grades reflect student performance on the various subjects (such as English, math, etc.) at each grade level in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Student grades are based on tests, quizzes, projects, assignments, homework, performances, etc. with different percentages.  Grades for assignments are based on the importance and time spent on the activity.

The Grading Practices/Guidelines for high school apply to the subjects in the 2011-2012 High School Curriculum Guide.  A grading period for high school is six weeks.  A report card with the student’s grade is sent home every six weeks and interim progress reports are sent home midway between the six weeks.  The report card distribution dates are listed on the Gaston County Schools calendar.  

Six-week grade percentages for each subject   
The six-week grade for each subject at the high school level will be determined using the following percentages:

• 65 % – tests, major projects, major papers, performances, etc. 
• 20 % – quizzes 
• 15 % – daily/class grades and/or homework

Six-week grading requirements for each subject 
The minimum requirements for the six-week grade in each subject:

• Two major test grades that count 65 percent of the grade – these may include major projects, essays, research papers, performances, etc. 
• Four quizzes which count 20 percent of the grade.  Quizzes only cover part of a unit of study or a specific step in a project or performance. 
• Six (6) daily/class grades and/or homework which count 15 percent of the grade.  
• AP/Honors courses are graded in the same manner, but expectations are higher and the course of study is more rigorous.     
• Non-core classes: art, band, chorus, drama, physical education, and JROTC are graded differently.    

High School Grading Scale 
The high school grading scale is as follows: 

• A – 93-100
• B – 85-92 
• C – 77-84
• D – 70-76
• F – 60-69

NOTE:  No grade lower than a 60 may be recorded on the report card the first grading period (first six weeks) of the semester or the fourth grading period (fourth sixth weeks), which is the beginning of second semester.  

Please note the following expectations: 

• Misconduct or punishment should not influence how a teacher determines grades.
• Teachers will communicate on a regular basis with the student and parent.
• Teachers will work to ensure that students have ample opportunities to demonstrate their understanding of the subject. 
• Interim reports shall reflect actual grades.

Teacher responsibility to parents
Teachers will provide a copy of their grading practices to the principal, students and parents.

High School Reteach/Retest program 

• The goal of the Reteach/Retest program is to help students learn the knowledge and skills to master a subject. 

• Students may attend a Reteach/Retest session to make-up work missed due to an absence. 

• A student may retest any major test one time. 

• Any student who makes below an 85 is eligible to retest. 

• The highest grade a student may make on a retest is 85.  If the grade is lower than the original test grade, the student will receive the higher of the two grades. 

• Only major tests, those that count 65 percent of the six-week grade, may be retested.   
   

Parent Portal on Website
The district plans to put into service a Parent Portal on the GCS website.  The portal would allow parents to follow the progress of their child (only) throughout the year. The implementation of the Parent Portal depends on the State Department of Public Instruction completing the process at the state level.