A Message from Interim Superintendent Larry A. Bowers
Changes in Calculation of Semester Grades in High School Courses Beginning Next School Year
Dear Middle and High School Parents/Guardians and Students:
Last fall, the Board of Education eliminated two-hour semester final exams and replaced them with quarterly marking period assessments in certain high school courses, beginning next school year. The change to Board of Education Policy IKA, Grading and Reporting, came in response to strong interest from parents, students, and educators about reducing the testing burden on our students and increasing valuable instructional time in the classroom. As we transition from semester exams to quarterly marking period assessments, we will ensure that the assessments are rigorous, aligned to new standards, and provide meaningful feedback to students to improve their learning. You can find more information on the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) assessment strategy and the detailed timeline for implementation on the MCPS website at www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org by searching “assessment strategy.”
As a result of the changes to semester exams and implementation of new quarterly assessments, there also will be changes to the way a semester grade is calculated in high school courses. MCPS staff gathered extensive feedback from school and community stakeholders, including colleges and universities, and examined the grading practices of various school districts in deciding how grades will be calculated going forward. MCPS will continue to use a letter grade system and calculate the semester grade as follows, effective in the 2016–2017 school year:
Marking Period Assessments
- In certain courses, standardized marking period assessments will be given once each quarter and weighted 10 percent of each marking period grade. This will be calculated into the letter grade for the marking period. This only applies to courses that previously had a countywide final exam in English, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages, and technology.
- In these courses, a separate grading category will be visible online, for students and parents to view results of marking period assessments during the semester.
- Based on interest and feedback from stakeholders, the assessments will be allowed to go home with students after the assessment is given, which was not permitted with the current final exams.
Semester Grade Calculation
- The separate final exam grade on the student report card will be removed going forward.
- Similar to current semester grade calculations for courses in which there is no final exam, the semester grade will be calculated using the letter grades from each marking period.
- For all high school courses, the semester grade will be calculated by averaging the letter grade for each marking period, using a “quality point” assignment
(A = 4, B =3, C = 2, D = 1, E = 0).
- The new semester grade calculation for high school courses uses the same quality point calculation that is currently being used in middle school courses and in summer school.
- The MCPS grading calculation table will remain nearly the same, except in a few situations where the average replaces the practice of assigning grades based on a downward trend. An updated grading table follows.
REVISED GRADING TABLE
Letters indicate MP1 MP2 = Semester Grade
| AA = A |
BA = A |
CA = B |
DA = B |
EA = C |
| AB = A* |
BB = B |
CB = B |
DB = C |
EB = C |
| AC = B |
BC = B* |
CC = C |
DC = C |
EC = D |
| AD = B* |
BD = C |
CD = C* |
DD = D |
ED = D |
| AE = C |
BE = C* |
CE = D |
DE = E |
EE = E |
MP1—Grade for first marking period of the semester; MP2—Grade for second marking period of the semester.
All calculations in the table above are the same as the current high school grading table, except where marked with *
This new grading calculation aligns with standards-based approaches to assessment and college expectations and provides a grading structure that is fair, consistent, and understandable for students and parents. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school for specific information about implementation of MCPS grading and reporting policies.
Sincerely,
Larry A. Bowers
Interim Superintendent of Schools
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