Grading Policies
Progress Reports and Report Cards
The grading system in L’Anse Creuse is a standard A/B/C/D/F scale. The school year is divided into two 20-week semesters, and each semester is divided into two 10-week marking periods. “Mid-marking” refers to the five-week mark into each marking period. Progress reports are distributed at Parent - Teacher Conferences (when applicable in October and March) or sent home to parents at this time to indicate student progress. Teachers may or may not provide letter grades at this time. At the end the first 10-week marking period of each semester, a report card is sent home (usually about one week after the end of the marking period) showing progress in individual classes, including a letter grade. A student’s grade represents all work done in connection with a class, including class participation, attendance and punctuality, homework assignments and projects, quizzes and tests, and laboratory experiences.
At the end of the second 10-week marking period of each semester (in January and June), the report card shows the marking period grade as well as the final semester grade for each course. This final semester grade represents the student’s overall performance for the course and is calculated based on the two 10-week marking period grades as well as the final exam given in each course. Note that this final grade is the only grade that will appear on a student’s permanent transcript.
Incomplete Grades
An “F” will be given to a student who, due to extenuating circumstances, has unfinished work after the end of a marking period. It is the student’s responsibility to make necessary arrangements with teachers to complete any work that is incomplete. Grade changes will be done by the teacher through the counseling office. Exceptions to this policy may be permissible only in instances of prolonged illness, and a written plan must be approved by the principal prior to the end of a 10-day period.
Failing Grades
If a student has received a failing grade as a final semester grade, this grade is recorded on the
permanent record with no credit given for the class. If the class failed is a required course (such as U.S. History), then it must be repeated. If a student fails an elective course, he or she may choose to repeat the class or substitute another course in its place.
Weighted Grading
In order to provide challenging college-preparatory programs for students who desire greater depth and an accelerated pace in certain content areas, L’Anse Creuse Public Schools offers a number of Advanced Placement courses. In recognition of the rigorous academic standard that AP courses represent, a student may add 0.5 point per course taken when calculating their overall grade point averages on the four-point scale. Obviously, because of this additional weighting, a student’s overall GPA and ranking in the graduating class will be affected by enrolling in and successfully completing AP coursework. See the section at the end of “Departmental Course Offerings” for a list of all Advanced Placement courses offered through L’Anse Creuse Public Schools. Also, each course is described within the specific appropriate
departmental listing.
Math/Science Graduation Credit Waiver
Students who are enrolled in a compatible Math/Science program at the Pankow Vocational Technical Center, and who maintain a “C” average for two years, may waive one credit of the graduation requirement in Mathematics or Science, but not both. Credit waiver courses are identified in their respective course descriptions.
Testing Out
Changes in the Michigan State School Code allow students enrolled in high school to “test out” of any class in which they are not currently enrolled. Exceptions are the state mandated Government and Physical Education courses, and courses students have already taken for a grade and credit. Students must demonstrate mastery of course content by attaining a grade of 75% or better on a comprehensive final examination. Students also may be required to demonstrate mastery through basic assessments such as portfolios, performances, papers, projects, and/or presentations. These assessments will be comparable and equivalent to those normally required of students taking the course.
While testing out allows students to accelerate through a course, no grade will be earned by testing out of a course. Credit earned will not be counted toward graduations requirements and will not be counted in the computation of the student’s grade point average. Once credit is earned by testing out, students may not receive credit for a lower course in the course sequence.
Testing out examinations typically occur during the month of August. Students who wish to test out of a course must make their intentions known by mid-May of the previous spring. Students interested in pursuing the testing out option for the upcoming school year should see a counselor to be apprised of deadlines for applications.
