Dearborn High School has moved to standards-based grading. This is a grading system that is gaining acceptance throughout Michigan and the United States.
Standards-based grading is a major shift in thinking about how your child earns a grade in school. Gone are the days of the A-E grading scale. DHS wants parents and students to know what their child has learned and/or still needs help on. Previously, if a student received a B, parents and students did not know what actual skills their child was lacking and needed to improve on. Standards-based grading eliminates this confusion.
What is standards-based grading?
Students are graded on a number scale from 4-3-2-1-0. Standards are a list of things that students are supposed to learn in each class. In U.S. History, we will be focusing on 4 standards. All of the scores in our gradebook will be under one of these four categories.
Skill 1: Historical Argumentation (HA)
Skill 2: Source Evaluation (SE)
Skill 3: Historical and Geographical Literacy (HGL)
Skill 4: Social Emotional Learning-Self-Management (SEL)
Why is standards-based grading better than the old A-E grading scale?
- No penalty for learning. Students will be working on these standards throughout the semester. They may score low at first, however, as their skill level grows their scores will improve.
- Teacher feedback and support. Teachers will be using a rubric system. Students will have their work graded using different rubrics the students will be given in advance. A rubric is a way to evaluate the performance of the student and their work.
Scoring Guide: Standards-Based Grading
Students will be recieving this grading rubric in class. Their copy has the explanation for how to reach each level.
Master: 4
Student independently demonstrates a deep understanding of the knowledge and skills, and is able to apply it to new and unfamiliar situations.
Proficient: 3
Student consisently understands, and independently and accurately applies the knowledge and skills in familiar situations.
Partially Proficient: 2
With teacher support, student demonstrates an emerging level of understanding and ability to apply the knowledge and skills.
Beginning: 1
With teacher support, student attempts to demonstrate a basic understanding and ability to apply the knowledge and skills.
Missing: 0
Not enough evidence to determine level of proficiency. Evidence is either missing or incomplete.
A student will move from each number once they have demonstrated that they understand the standard and they can demonstrate it independently. (K)
THE FINAL SEMESTER GRADE:
To earn an A, students need a final score of 4 for three of our four standards and a score of 3 for the remaining standard.
To earn a B, students need a final score of 3 for 3 of our four standards and a score of 2 for the remaining standard.
To earn a C, students need a final score of 2 on all four standards.
To earn a D, students need a final score of 2 for three of the standards and a score of 1 for the remaining standard.
Failure to earn an A through a D, will mean the student failed the class. Students will have to repeat the class in order to receive credit for graduation.