• Grades are based on student achievement, knowledge, and skill proficiency demonstrated on course standards. ● The grading policy for each subject will be clearly communicated with parents and students. ● The assessments and assignments that make up a student’s grade will be clearly communicated in the SIS electronic grade book. ● Assignments will be graded and grades will be posted within 7 school days after the due date with the understanding that major projects/papers may require additional time to ensure quality feedback (per FCPS policy). ● Parents and students are encouraged to access the SIS grade book on a regular basis. ● Student progress will be communicated regularly through electronic progress reports. ● All grades entered into the gradebook will relate directly to the standards listed in the Program of Studies or other designated curriculum and should reflect a student’s mastery of content or skills. ● Student’s attendance, effort, attitude or other behaviors will be communicated to parents through report comments or other means that do not include grades. ● Students will not be given extra credit or grades for activities such as bringing in classroom materials, providing parent/guardian signatures, participating in fundraising/charitable events, or participating in non-curricular activities.

All Lake Braddock teachers will record your grades in the gradebook using Letter Grades.

• Assignments that are recorded in the gradebook will fall into one of three categories - 
  • Mastery: 70% of the overall grade
  • Check Your Understanding: 20% of the overall grade
  • Practice: 10% of the overall grade
• There are several Lake Braddock Collaborative Teams that are enrolled in the Learning Models Community of Practice who may deviate from the reporting categories and percentages listed above. If your student is enrolled in one of these courses, you should have already received communication from the school. 
• Collaborative teams will set grading design so that no one assignment/assessment counts more than 30% of the final grade. 
• In accordance with FCPS policy, homework for practice or preparation for instruction will not count for more than 10% of the grade.
• Class participation may be included in a student’s grade if it is based on the quality of a student response and not the quantity of responses. If a team will include class participation in a student’s grade, guidelines for assessing must be included in the course syllabus.
• All teachers will use a rolling gradebook (RG).

• Mastery: This is your final demonstration of knowledge on a skill. You can have a second chance on any mastery assessment that was less than an A. Before your second chance, you will need to prepare based on your teacher’s requirements. Second chances may not be given for mastery assignments where you get feedback for improvement from the teacher before the final turn-in date (like essays and projects).  Some examples are --
  • Tests
  • Essays
  • Summative Assessments
  • Authentic Assessments
  • Culminating Activity
  • Final Projects
• Check Your Understanding : Assignments that are used throughout a unit to check in with your understanding before the mastery assignment. Some examples are --
  • Quizzes
  • Socratic Method
  • Labs
  • Journals
• Practice: Assignments that ask you to practice a learned concept or skill. Some examples are --
  • Classwork
  • Binder Checks
  • Practice Problems
  • Homework

• Think of end-of-quarter report cards as quarterly interims or snapshots of your learning so far. Final grades are the only ones that count towards the GPA. 
• Instead of averaging each of the 4 quarter grades, rolling gradebooks are set up so that the final course grade is determined by averaging all of the assignments and assessments throughout the year.

• For major assessments as defined in the course syllabus, any student who earns less than an A, will have at least one new opportunity to demonstrate proficiency. Students will have multiple opportunities throughout a two week period to complete their second chance. The highest grade will be recorded in SIS.
  • The exception to this are assessments such as Final Exams, PALs exams, music performance assessments, Driver’s Education State Assessment, Concerts/music performances, Science Fair Projects, major projects or writing assignments where drafts is submitted for feedback prior to the final submission (i.e. essays, projects). 
• Second chance assessments may be in an alternate format.
• Students will need to demonstrate that they have done the necessary preparation to be offered the opportunity on a second chance assessment. Preparation and readiness will be defined by the collaborative team.

• Students should experience frequent and ongoing assessment and feedback throughout the quarter.
• Students should receive continual feedback on the quality of work as it relates to the course objectives.
• Teachers are required to record a maximum of 16 graded assignments per quarter. Courses that use Standards Based Grading will naturally have numerous grades for each assignment. If teachers use more than 16 graded assignments per quarter, it must be consistent across their collaborative team.
• By the end of the year, no single grade can be worth more than 30% of the overall grade. 
• Quizzes, tests, examinations, essays, homework, or papers are evaluated and/or graded, returned, and reviewed promptly with the student. Teachers are expected to grade each assignment and post grade to the electronic gradebook within seven school days after the due date with the understanding that major projects/papers may require additional time to ensure quality feedback.
• 50% is the lowest grade on a 100-point scale that will be entered into SIS.

Late Work: 

• Mastery Assignments: There is no late work penalty for mastery assignments turned in within the two-week grace period. After the two-week grace period the grade will be entered as a 50% (F). 
• Non-mastery Assignments: Your teacher may or may not accept late non-mastery assignments for full credit. Look at your teacher’s syllabus for more information. 

To ensure consistent expectations at Lake Braddock, all courses will use the following comment codes to communication information about assignments:

• Required Assignment Missing (RAM): This assignment is missing and is 50% (F) and needs to be submitted within the two-week grace period. 
• Retake Required (RR): This is a failing grade. You need to see your teacher for a second chance. 
• Minimum Grade (MG):  You scored below a 63% (F) so your grade has been increased to 63%. 
• No Longer Accepted (NLA): The deadline has passed and this assignment will now permanently be assigned as a 50% (F). 

● All students that pass an AP or Dual Enrollment course, will have an additional 1.0 quality point added to the final grade for the purpose of calculating their GPA. ● All students that pass an Honors course, will have an additional 0.5 quality point added to the final grade for the purpose of calculating their GPA.  

Collaborative Teams will determine if a graded final exam or culminating activity will be given during the designated final exam period. Final exam or culminating activities can comprise no more than 20% of the student’s final grade for the year. 

Lake Braddock respects the need for families to have time together over the holidays and extended breaks. It is our hope that everyone gets a well-deserved break from the rigors and demands of school. Thank you, Teachers, for following these guidelines:

• Students should not be assigned to complete work over school breaks.
• Schedule no major assessments immediately upon return from break (at least first 2 class meetings).
• For classes having long term assignments, refrain from scheduling due dates immediately after the holiday (at least first two class meetings).