Student grades are reported on a nine-week basis and by semesters. Semesters are made up of two nine-week periods plus a final exam. Parents may receive notice from the school midway through the grading periods when students are having grade problems. The semester grade is determined by a weighted average of the two nine-week grades and the final exam grade as described below. The official transcript is based on the final semester grade for the course.
For the classes of 2012 and 2013, District 155 separates all courses into two categories: General (G) and Honors (H). For these graduating classes, the Honors category includes all Advanced Placement courses. The final grade point average is a cumulative average based upon eight semesters of high school work. To determine GPA for the classes of 2012 and 2013, use the following scale:
Letter
Grade |
General |
Honors
(& AP) |
| A+ |
4.33 |
4.83 |
| A |
4.00 |
4.50 |
| A- |
3.67 |
4.17 |
| B+ |
3.33 |
3.83 |
| B |
3.00 |
3.50 |
| B- |
2.67 |
3.17 |
| C+ |
2.33 |
2.83 |
| C |
2.00 |
2.50 |
| C- |
1.67 |
2.17 |
| D+ |
1.33 |
1.83 |
| D |
1.00 |
1.50 |
| D- |
0.67 |
1.17 |
| F |
0.00 |
0.00 |
The graduating class of 2014 and any graduating class thereafter will be subject to a grade point average system that is separated into three categories: General (G), Honors (H), and Advanced Placement (AP). The final grade point average is a cumulative average based upon eight semesters of high school work. To determine GPA for the class of 2014 and beyond, use the following scale:
Letter
Grade |
General |
Honors |
Advanced
Placement |
| A+ |
4.33 |
4.83 |
5.33 |
| A |
4.00 |
4.50 |
5.00 |
| A- |
3.67 |
4.17 |
4.67 |
| B+ |
3.33 |
3.83 |
4.33 |
| B |
3.00 |
3.50 |
4.00 |
| B- |
2.67 |
3.17 |
3.67 |
| C+ |
2.33 |
2.83 |
3.33 |
| C |
2.00 |
2.50 |
3.00 |
| C- |
1.67 |
2.17 |
2.67 |
| D+ |
1.33 |
1.83 |
2.33 |
| D |
1.00 |
1.50 |
2.00 |
| D- |
0.67 |
1.17 |
1.67 |
| F |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
Common Grading Scale
In an effort to ensure consistency in grading practices, the following common grading scale is used throughout all courses effective with the 2011-2012 school year.
| Letter Grade |
High |
Low |
| A+ |
100 |
97.50 |
| A |
97.49 |
92.50 |
| A- |
92.49 |
90.00 |
| B+ |
89.99 |
87.50 |
| B |
87.49 |
82.50 |
| B- |
82.49 |
80.00 |
| C+ |
79.99 |
77.50 |
| C |
77.49 |
72.50 |
| C- |
72.49 |
70.00 |
| D+ |
69.99 |
67.50 |
| D |
67.49 |
62.50 |
| D- |
62.49 |
60.00 |
| F |
59.99 |
00.00 |
Semester Grade Calculations
Semester grades are calculated based on the letter grade for each quarter and the final exam grade. These are weighted 40%, 40%, 20% for each quarter and the final exam. Grading information is explained in explicit detail in board of education policy 4311 and in the student handbook. The below information is provided to help clarify the grading procedure.
Each quarter is an independent grade. The percentage or raw score for the first nine weeks is not averaged with the percentage or raw score for the second nine weeks to determine the semester average. The raw quarter scores are converted to letter grades, and the letter grades are calculated in the 40%-40%-20% manner as described above. In order to pass any course, a student must pass two of the three grades, and the student must take the semester exam. A student may be eligible for exemption from final exams during his or her eighth semester of high school.
This procedure is in place to give the student who fails the first quarter with a very low percentage a chance to pass the semester. That is, if the final grade were based on the percentage or raw score, and the student earned an extremely low percentage first quarter, it could be mathematically impossible for the student to raise the average sufficiently to achieve a passing grade. A student in this situation may have limited motivation because earning credit would not be possible.
Grade Point AverageThe entire class is ranked based on grade point average of final marks in all credit subjects with the exception of physical education, Behind the Wheel, and freshman seminar. These courses earn credit only. Students taking band or chorus less than full-time must take the class pass/fail.
Honor RollThe schools recognize students for high academic achievement every quarter and semester. Specific grade point averages for those time periods must be reached in order to gain this recognition. There are two levels of honor roll that a student may achieve. They are:
| Honor Roll Level |
Necessary
GPA |
| Honors |
3.16 to 3.74 |
| High Honors |
3.75 and above |
College Recommendation A grade of "C" is the minimum achievement expected for college preparation.