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 Grading & Reporting Practices

 
 
 
 
 
Learning & Assessment

 High quality classroom assessment uses the proper blend of differing
assessment methods to determine progress toward various achievement targets.

Adapted from J. Stiggens,
Student-Centered Classroom Assessment, Second Edition

 

Primary School


Assessing and reporting children's progress is a constant and integrated process which includes thefollowing elements:

  • High academic standards for each child
  • Portfolios (the story of children's thinking
  • Self-assessment (a key to the learning cycle)
  • Ongoing assessment
  • Learner profile (progress report)
  • Standardized testing
  • Conferences
  • Exhibitions of children's work and learning

Your child's teacher will be happy to answer any questions aboutthe assessment process or your child's progress report.

Reference Document:  WestLinn-Wilsonville School District Primary Level Progress Reporting System: Stages of Learning

 
 

 Middle School

The measure of a successful middle school is that all children will learn the core curriculum, develop strong skills, and learn to think with the rich content taught in middle school. The focus is on high quality learning and a system where students more fully participate in and take responsibility for their own assessment and learning.

The middle school instruction, assessment, and reporting system is characterized by the following key elements:

  • Reporting that separates an academic grade reflecting demonstrated content learning from grades for behaviors reflecting work habits and effort
  • Expectation that all students can learn the skills and content taught in middle school with good instruction and support of parents
  • Opportunities for all students to demonstrate learning that meets academic standards, even if it takes a little more time
  • Instruction that includes both formative and summative assessments leading to improved learning
  • Teacher and parent partnerships that help engage students in their own learning

Please contact your student's teachers and/or principal with any questions or concerns regarding your student's school performance or assessment.

  

High School

At the high school level, student assessment is based on demonstrated knowledge of course content standards through performance on homework, projects, papers, classroom participation, quizzes, exams and other measures as determined by the teacher. The specific measures used and their relative weighting varies from course to course. Every school has a responsibility to promote honesty and integrity on the part of all students. West Linn-Wilsonville high school students are expected to rely on their own efforts to achieve and to accept the consequences for their own choices as they complete their work.

Academic grades given are: A, B, C, D, and F. The transcript is the official record of the coursework that students take in high school. Grade point averages (GPAs) are computed and reported by a dual system: the traditional "un-weighted" system where grades are computed on a 4.0 scale (4 = A, 3 = B, 2 = C, 1 = D, no credit for an F); and a "weighted" system where courses with the Advanced Placement (AP) designation in which students have taken the AP Exam, will carry an "extra point" (5 = A, 4 = B, 3 = C, 1 = D, no credit for an F). This way, students will benefit from College Entrance and Scholarship Committees that make use of either system. This dual reporting system gives more information about each student, and it is, therefore, more helpful for our students. (For more information on AP, please visit the district's Advanced Placement (AP) page.)

Students earn one credit toward graduation by successfully completing each year-long course (.5 credit for each semester-long course). A student may repeat a class in which credit was received if repeating the course allows the student to advance to more accelerated courses. For example, if a student receives a “D” in Spanish II, he or she may elect to repeat Spanish II before scheduling Spanish III. Successful completion of the repeated class will earn the student elective credit. Both grades are recorded on the transcript and included in the GPA calculation. If a student retakes a class after failing it the first time, credit is given for the second time (assuming the student passes the class). Both the original “F” and the new grade are included in theGPA calculation. The original “F” is not deleted from nor replaced on the transcript. (For information on graduation requirements and diplomas please visit the district's Diplomas &Certificates page.)