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Sylvania Schools Grading Vision
Sylvania grading practices and grade point average calculations will promote the importance of life long learning by creating an environment that values a challenging curriculum and supports the individual interests of each student.

New Grading Scale implemented
in the 2009-10 School Year
 The transition to the new student information system allowed us to also re-examine our current grading practices and grade point average (GPA) calculation methods. Sylvania’s current grading system originated in the 1960’s and the honors scale was added in the 1980’s. 

A grading committee was formed with parent, college admissions, teacher, guidance counselor, building and central office administrator representation. The committee purposes included reviewing our current practices, researching the grading practices of other schools in our area, analyzing the options, and recommending a new grading system for our district. 

The new grading scale aligns the high school grading scale with the junior high scale. The addition of pluses and minuses provides differentiation within the GPA similar to what was achieved through our old system. 

Grade
Range
A+
98-100
A
93-97
A-
90-92
B+
87-89
B
83-86
B-
80-82
C+
77-79
C
73-76
C-
70-72
D+
67-69
D
60-66
F
59 & lower

With the implementation of the new transcript for all students in grades 9-12 during the 2009-10 school year, Sylvania Schools will also use a new grading scale and new procedures for calculating Grade Point Average (GPA.)

Rationale for New Grading Scale

  • Encourage students to do their best within the grade range.
  • Encourage students to challenge themselves academically.
  • Provide differentiation within each grade range and among academic levels.
  • Emphasize the learning process.
  • Be consistent and fair to all students.

New System for Calculating GPA
The grade card contains the following information each semester:

  1. A letter grade for the first and second nine-week periods.
  2. A letter grade for the exam.

The semester grade is determined by converting the 1st marking period grade as shown in the chart below and multiplying it by two.  The 2nd marking period grade is also converted and multiplied by two.  Finally, the exam grade is converted and added to the sum of both marking periods and divided by five.  In other words, each reporting period is 40% of the semester average while the exam equals 20%.  The final percentage determines the letter grade that is listed on the transcript.

1st Quarter Grade
2nd Quarter Grade
1st Semester Exam
A+
A-
A-

A+ A- A- = (99 x 2) + (91 x 2) + 91 = 471/5 = 94.2 = A

Grading Scale & Conversion Chart

Grade
Grade Range
Conversion Percentage
Conversion Equivalent
Honors Conversion Equivalent
Advanced Placement Conversion Equivalent
A+
98-100
99
4.0
4.5
5.0
A
93-97
95
4.0
4.5
5.0
A-
90-92
91
3.7
4.2
4.7
B+
87-89
88
3.3
3.8
4.3
B
83-86
85
3.0
3.5
4.0
B-
80-82
81
2.7
3.2
3.7
C+
77-79
78
2.3
2.8
3.3
C
73-76
75
2.0
2.5
3.0
C-
70-72
71
1.7
2.2
2.7
D+
67-69
68
1.3
1.3
1.3
D/P
60-66
63
1.0
1.0
1.0
F
59 & lower
59
0
0
0
  • For honors classes, a student earning the grade of A+ through C- will receive an additional .5 on the semester average GPA.
  • For Advanced Placement (AP) classes, a student earning the grade of A+ through C- will receive an additional 1.0 on the semester average GPA.
  • A student earning any combination of two F’s in one semester automatically fails the course.
  • A student may receive a grade of “P” if in the teacher’s judgment the effort is commensurate with a passing grade. 
  • “I” is an incomplete.  An “I” must be removed within ten school days or it becomes an “F” unless the administration grants an extension.
  • “W” is a withdrawal from the course.

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated by multiplying the semester average GPA points by the semester credit value for each class.  The total GPA points per semester are divided by the total credit values to equal the semester cumulative GPA.                                                         

Example: 

Class
1st Qtr Grade
1st Qtr Conv %
2nd Qtr Grade
2nd Qtr Conv %
Exam Grade
Exam Conv %
Sem Avg Conv %
Sem Avg Grade
Sem Avg GPA Pts
Credit Value
GPA Pts/ Sem
English
A+
99
B
85
A-
91
91.8
A-
3.7
.5
1.85
AP Math
B-
81
A
95
A+
99
90.2
A-
4.7
.5
2.35
Science
C
75
C
75
C
75
75
C
2.0
.5
1.0
History
D
63
C-
71
C+
78
69.2
D+
1.3
.5
0.65
PE
A+
99
A+
99
A+
99
99
A+
4.0
.25
1.0
Health
B
85
F
59
F
59
69.5
F
0.0
.5
0.0
Honors Choir
A+
99
A-
91
A-
91
94.2
A
4.5
.5
2.25
Total
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.25
9.1
Sem Cum GPA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.8

9.1 / 3.25 = 2.8 cumulative GPA for the semester

Table of Contents
Rationale for New GPA Calculation

  • Evaluate academic proficiency of each student consistently and fairly.

  • Align Sylvania with local districts.

  • Recognize high achieving students without singling out and creating competition.

  • Maintain user friendly system for understanding and efficiency at all levels:  parents, students, teachers, post-secondary.

Rationale for Differentiation between Honors and Advanced Placement Classes
In Sylvania there is a difference in the academic rigor of honors courses versus Advanced Placement courses.  Honors courses teach the same curriculum as the regular courses, but at an accelerated pace with enriched course material.  Advanced Placement courses have a prescribed curriculum that is taught at the college level. The Advanced Placement material is considered to be more challenging and academically rigorous.

GPA, Student Rank, and Student Transcript
At the end of the 2008-09 school year, student transcript information for grades 9-11 will be transferred from the old system to the new system.  The student cumulative GPA will transfer exactly rounded to the third place after the decimal point.  Class rank will also transfer based on the “old GPA calculation.”  In rare cases, this may result in students sharing a ranking position.  Starting in the 2009-10 school year, all student GPA’s will be calculated using the new grading scale and GPA calculating system. The 09-10 semester GPA based on the new grading practices will be added to the existing “old GPA” that was calculated using the previous grading practices.

Please note:  Starting in 09-10, the transcript will list a letter grade (+/-) for each semester average rather than its numerical equivalent.             

Student Recognition:
The Sylvania Schools will be investigating new options to recognize student achievement that will align with the new vision of the grading practices. One option that will be explored is a cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude system.

Class of 2010 – What you need to know!
Students graduating in 2010 will have six semesters of GPA calculated by the old system and two semesters calculated on the new system.  The old GPA rounded to three places after the decimal will be the starting point of the new GPA calculations.  Your school’s profile will be updated to reflect these changes.

Starting in the 2009-10 school year, the transcript will look different.  One of the obvious differences will be that semester grades will be displayed as letter grades with pluses and minuses (where applicable) rather than in numeric scores. See transcript sample [PDF].

All graduation requirements will stay the same as outlined in the Program of Studies and shown below.

Subject
Credits Needed for Graduation
English
4
Social Studies
3
Science
3
Math
4
Health/Physical Education
1
Business/Technology/Fine Arts/World Language
1
Electives
6
Technology
NA
Total Credits
22

Class of 2011 – What you need to know!
Students graduating in 2011 will have four semesters of GPA calculated by the old system and four semesters calculated on the new system.  The old GPA rounded to three places after the decimal will be the starting point of the new GPA calculations.  Your school’s profile will be updated to reflect these changes.

Starting in the 2009-10 school year, the transcript will look different.  One of the obvious differences will be that semester grades will be displayed as letter grades with pluses and minuses (where applicable) rather than in numeric scores. See transcript sample [PDF].

All graduation requirements will stay the same as outlined in the Program of Studies and shown below.

Subject
Credits Needed for Graduation
English
4
Social Studies
3
Science
3
Math
4
Health/Physical Education
1
Business/Technology/Fine Arts/World Language
1
Electives
6.5
Computer-based Technology
.5
Total Credits
23

Class of 2012 – What you need to know!
Students graduating in 2012 will have two semesters of GPA calculated by the old system and six semesters calculated on the new system.  The old GPA rounded to three places after the decimal will be the starting point of the new GPA calculations.  Your school’s profile will be updated to reflect these changes.

Starting in the 2009-10 school year, the transcript will look different.  One of the obvious differences will be that semester grades will be displayed as letter grades with pluses and minuses (where applicable) rather than in numeric scores. See transcript sample [PDF].

All graduation requirements will stay the same as outlined in the Program of Studies and shown below.

Subject
Credits Needed for Graduation
English
4
Social Studies
3
Science
4
Math
4
Health/Physical Education
1
Business/Technology/Fine Arts/World Language
1
Electives
6.5
Computer-based Technology
.5
Total Credits
24

Class of 2013 – What you need to know!
Students graduating in 2013 will begin their high school transcript using the new system. 

All graduation requirements will stay the same as outlined in the Program of Studies and shown below.

Subject
Credits Needed for Graduation
English
4
Social Studies
3
Science
4
Math
4
Health/Physical Education
1
Business/Technology/Fine Arts/World Language
1
Electives
6.5
Computer Based Technology
.5
Total Credits
24

We welcome your feedback at: sy.sis.questions@nwoca.org

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