It is the philosophy of the Watertown School District that students will respond more positively to the opportunity for success than to the threat of failure.  The district, therefore, will seek to make achievement both recognizable and possible for its students, and will emphasize achievement in its processes of evaluating student performance.

Students in kindergarten through grade four will receive a standards-based report card using a 3-2-1 scale.  This notation will indicate how each student is performing in relation to specific learning standards.

3 = Proficient

2 = Approaching Proficiency

1 = Below Proficient

Blank = Not assessed at this time

In grades 5-12, the grading notation shall be based on letter grades of A, B, C, D, F, and I (incomplete) based on the percentage scale noted below.

           Percentile Scale: Advanced Placement

Standard Bonus added to GPA per grade period

   100    -  92     -    A                               A = .021  

     91    -  84     -    B                               B = .011

     83    -  76     -    C                               C = .006

     75    -  68     -   D                                   

     67    -    0     -    F                                   

For the purpose of determining grade point averages for individual and cumulative classes the four-point grade system is utilized:  A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0. The cumulative grade point average for a quarter, semester, year, or total high school career is determined by adding the total grade points earned for each quarter and dividing by the total number grades given.

The Board recognizes that any grading system, however effective, is subjective in nature, but will urge all faculty members to conduct student evaluations as objectively as possible.