Grading Procedures
The Cheatham County School District has updated its grading procedures for the 2024-2025 school year.
The grading procedures will form a foundation for consistent grading practices. Grades will accurately communicate what students have learned, and each student will be an active participant in learning and assessment processes.
• Everything graded is to be attached to a standard.
• Zeros will be entered for all missing recorded grades and may not be adjusted without completion of the work. Grade books must reflect actual grades earned by students. No grades, individual averages or term averages, will be adjusted to reflect anything other than the grade actually earned.
• Retake opportunities will be given for up to 2 weeks after a grading period has ended, excluding the fourth quarter.
• Retakes will not be given for mid-term and final exams.
• There will be a maximum of 2 retakes per assignment, and the teacher may require additional work prior to retake.
• The higher grade will replace the lower grade made on the prior assessment.
• The retake may be an alternate model for the original assessment.
• Each teacher will enter a minimum of 1 grade per week.
• Assessments that cover multiple standards may be multiple grades, one for each standard. One test may have 5 or more individual grades.
• The grade book shall be set up with a 90/10 split: 90% assessment (the 90% can be split: for example, as 60% assessments and 30% quiz); students will be able to retake anything in the 90% category; and classwork and group work can only count up to 10% of final grade.
• Teachers will refrain from assigning extra credit, giving behavior grades, giving grades for donations, or deducting points for late work that are not factored into the overall grade.
• EL and SPED teachers will work closely to determine critical standards for focus and determine an adjusted mastery scale when needed.
• All IEP, 504, and ILP accommodations must be followed explicitly by all teachers.
• Grade books are legally binding documents.
High School Changes for Semester 2
** Tested teachers should begin following these procedures for Semester 2. Other teachers are at the discretion of the building principal.
Assessment Categories (90% of total grade)
OPTION 1 - Single Category Structure:
Assessment Category (90%):
Minimum Requirements per 9-week period:
• At least 1 major test
• At least 4 total assessment grades (can include tests, projects, and quizzes)
• No maximum limit on number of quizzes
• Study guides may not be counted as test grades
Assessment Points:
• Major tests and projects must be worth more points than quizzes
• Different types of assessments within a category can have different point values, but be consistent with each type (Example: Your daily math quizzes can be 20 points while your end-of- week quizzes are 40 points – just work to maintain these values throughout the term as closely as possible
• Grades should be entered within 5 school days for tests and projects and 3 school days for quizzes
• At least one assessment grade must be recorded every 2 weeks
• Projects must have defined checkpoints (at teacher discretion) with consistent interim grades
OPTION 2 - Split Category Structure:
Major Assessments (60%):
• Minimum of one major test or project per 9-week period
• Study guides may not be counted as test grades
• Tests/projects entered within 5 school days of completion
• Projects must have defined checkpoints (at teacher discretion) with consistent interim grades
Quizzes/Minor Assessments (30%):
• Minimum of three minor assessments per 9-week period
• Must be spread across the 9-week period (approximately one every 3 weeks)
• Grades entered within 3 school days of completion
• No maximum limit on number of quizzes
Requirements for Both Options:
• Minimum of 4 total grades from assessment category per 9-week period
• At least one assessment grade must be recorded every 2 weeks
For the remainder of the 2024-25 school year: So long as the 90% category is made up only of tests, quizzes, and projects (with rigid and standard connected parameters), the 90% category may be split at teacher discretion. Next year we will look to utilize either Option 1 or 2 from above in all classes