Grading

ACADEMIC POLICIES AND GUIDELINES

Academic Cheating / Plagiarism

An incident of cheating will result in a student-teacher conference.  The Administration will be notified of all incidents.  Parents/Guardians will also be notified.  NO credit will be awarded for any work completed through cheating or plagiarism.  Additionally, disciplinary measures shall be taken as a consequence.  To plagiarize is defined by Webster as “to steal and pass off as one’s own work the work of another.”  Evidence/proof of plagiarism will earn a student a “0” for the assignment as well as a conversation with parent/guardian.

Middle School Grading System

The school year consists of three marking trimesters.

Grading Scales:

Excellent                    (90-100)

High Quality               (80-89)

Satisfactory                    (70-79)

Needs Improvement          (65-69)

Failure                           (0-64)

Honor Roll

An Honor Roll will be published after each trimester to publicly recognize those students who have achieved high scholastic success.  “High Honors” is the award given to those students who have received all 90’s in their subjects.  “Honors” is awarded to those students who have achieved a combination of all 90’s and 80’s.

Elementary School Grading System

The school year consists of three marking trimesters and works on a competency grading scale.

Grading scales:

3 – Proficient

2 – Approaching proficiency

1 – Below proficiency

Proficiency is measured against the end of grade standards.

Homework

The purpose of homework is to aid in the mastery of skills.  Homework that reflects practice/review and/or teaches students to research and to be independent learners is of great value.  

** The district recommends that all students at all grade levels engage in daily leisure reading above and beyond homework expectations.  All students in grades 4-8 will be provided with daily planners in which students are to record nightly and long-term assignments.

Homework Time Guidelines

The Guidelines are for regular, routinely assigned homework to serve as a common denominator among the SAU. District Guidelines for total homework for a typical student in the following grades:

K-1 As indicated by teacher    

Grade 2-3           10-20 minutes per night          Intermittently

Grade 4-5          30 minutes per night                      3-4 times/week

Grade 6              50 minutes per night              4-5 times/week

Grade 7              60 minutes per night              4-5 times/week

Grade 8              70 minutes per night              4-5 times/week

Time spent on nightly homework will not exceed time guidelines. 

Progress Reports, and Trimester Report Cards

Progress Reports will be given to all WES students. Grades for students in grades 3-8 can be accessed via the Powerschool parent portal.

Progress Reports Issued      Marking Period Closes           Report Cards Issued

During October During November During December

During January During March During March

During May During June During June

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parents wishing to meet with their child’s teacher should call the school to arrange an appointment.  In addition, there will be two scheduled opportunities to meet with teachers during Parent / Teacher conferences in the Fall and Spring of each year, typically during November and March.

Standardized Testing Programs

Grade 3-8 students will participate in the state assessment as outlined by the New Hampshire Department of Education. Grades 3-8 will be administered the Smarter Balanced in April and/or May

Students in grades 4 & 8 will participate in the NH-SAS Science assessment in May.

Grades 1-8 students will participate in the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) Testing, computer based assessments in September, January and May.  These tests cover Reading/Language Arts and Math.

Summer School

Students in grades K-8 who miss more than 20 days of school may be required to attend summer school, at the discretion of the principal, to fulfill the educational objective of the 180-day school year.

The Wentworth School Board believes that academic accountability is vital to student success.  Therefore, the school will offer a 4-week summer remediation program for those students whose grades reflect the need.

**Attendance, along with successful completion of the program is mandatory in order to advance to the next grade level.