Science Department Grading Guidelines

Grading Policy:

Comprehension (20%): activities include basic knowledge work done primarily on a daily basis in class or as homework including homework quizzes. There will be a minimum of 5 comprehensive assignments taken per term depending on the length of the grading term and content being studied.

Application (40%): activities measure the student’s ability to use the information they have gained from course discussions, lectures, and other activities. Application grades include all laboratory activities; laboratory quizzes, application quizzes, and projects. There will be a minimum of 2 application assignments taken per term depending on the length of the grading term and content being studied

Evaluation (40%): activities involve students demonstrating their cumulative knowledge of a unit or subject, and require the highest level of integrated thinking skills. Evaluation grades include unit exams, oral quizzes, laboratory exams, and evaluation projects. There will be a minimum of 2 evaluation assignments per term depending on the length of the grading term and content being studied.

Late Work:
Weighted and Non-Weighted Courses:
Comprehension Assignments: No late comprehension assignments will be accepted for full credit. If the assignment is one class day late a 30% reduction in grade received will be applied for no higher than a 70. If the assignment is two class days late a 50% reduction in grade received will be applied for no higher than a 50. After three class days the grade is a zero
Application Assignments: Students are permitted to submit application activities one day late for a 25% reduction in grade received. If the assignment is two days late a 50% reduction in grade is received. After three days the grade is a zero.
No late work will be accepted after the two-day grace period. Work is considered late if not turned in at the beginning of the student’s scheduled class period or when the teacher announces the deadline for submitting work.
Project-Based Evaluation Assignments: Students are permitted to submit application activities one day late for a 25% reduction in grade received. If the assignment is two days late a 50% reduction in grade is received. After three days the grade is a zero.
No late work will be accepted after the two-day grace period. Work is considered late if not turned in at the beginning of the student’s scheduled class period or when the teacher announces the deadline for submitting work.

Make Up Work: The policy is stated in the handbook for excused and unexcused absences. For school activity absences, the student must check with the teacher prior to the absence for assignment instructions. It is the student’s responsibility to check the assignment board and schedule make-up quizzes and exams. Every attempt will be made to complete the assignment before the student’s absence from class. Students are expected to complete assignments and have them ready for review when they return to class unless discussed with the teacher. Deadlines on all projects will be upheld unless extenuating circumstances arise.

Grade Submittal:
Comprehension Grades will be entered 5-7 school days after the assignment is due.
Application and Project-based Evaluation assignments will be entered 10-12 school days after the assignment is due.
Evaluation grades will be entered 5-7 school days after the assignment is due.

Testing Procedures for Science Department

In advanced science courses extra points for tests will be provided within the format of the test either during class or before school as determined by the instructor. No other extra credit grades will be given or grades dropped. The extra problem session will be scheduled with the teacher. Any student is eligible to complete the extra problems regardless if they received a passing grade on the unit test but the maximum points earned on any unit test is 100 (additional points do not rollover to another test or assignment). Extra problem sessions will be announced in class and on the class blog.

In regular science courses a test correction activity will be provided for all students in class. All students are required to complete the test correction activity regardless of their score on the test. If a student has a failing test grade after the test correction activity, they can attend one morning tutorial session to retest for a grade up to a 70 within one week of the test. If a student is absent during the test correction activity, they will need to attend a morning tutorial session to complete the activity within one week of their return to school.