Grading System

Citizenship--is a measurement of observed performance and growth toward the qualities of a cooperative Christian. Such factors as care and respect for personal and school property, courteous language, the ability to participate in and/or lead class activities and projects, and general cooperation are important. While recognizing that our students are adolescents, we seek to encourage growth toward mature behavior. The mark for Citizenship on the report card is an indication of how often or how seldom the student shows mature, cooperative behavior and/or the sincere effort to move in this direction. This mark applies to the student’s conduct in the classroom only. A summary report of conduct violation slips will be sent periodically to parents of students who have violated Garrigan’s code of conduct regulations.

Symbols of the five levels of Citizenship are as follows:

1--indicates consistently acceptable behavior; displays good self-discipline for age.

2--indicates generally acceptable behavior; effort made toward exercising self-discipline.

3--indicates a pattern of inconsistent behavior, sometimes good, sometimes poor; in need of greater self-discipline.

4--indicates generally unacceptable behavior; little display of self-discipline.

5--indicates consistently unacceptable behavior; definite lack of self-discipline.

Effort--is a measurement of the student’s attempt to achieve, to work up to his/her ability as observed in the classroom. It is also an indication of the student’s present and future success, his/her attitude toward work, and the ability to plan his/her work and to follow through with that plan.

Symbols of five levels of the effort as follows:

1--indicates a consistent and determined effort to work up to their ability, to achieve.

2--indicates a generally consistent effort to work up to ability, to achieve.

3--indicates an inconsistent effort pattern, sometimes trying to achieve, sometimes not.

4--indicates little effort to work up to their ability, to achieve.

5--indicates a pattern of not attempting to achieve.

Subject Matter Knowledge and Skill--is a measurement of academic achievement as evidenced through tests, quizzes, reports, notebooks, projects, discussions, class participation, and teacher evaluation. Citizenship and Effort indirectly affect the measurement and help to explain every level of achievement.

Symbols of the five levels of the achievement and the type of work characteristic of each level are as follows:

A--indicates that student consistently shows excellent mastery of the subject matter; does all the required work for the course, all of very high quality; shows ingenuity or initiative in applying knowledge to new situations or problems; gives evidence of excellent responsibility in meeting his/her obligations and in analyzing strengths and correcting the weaknesses in his/her work.

B--indicates that a student shows very good mastery of the subject matter; does required work which is of very good quality; is successful in applying knowledge to new situations or problems; is responsible in meeting his/her obligations and analyzing strengths and correcting weaknesses in his/her work.

C--indicates that a student has a good mastery of essential subject matter; does minimum work accepted for credit, most of which is acceptable in quality; with some guidance and suggestions is successful in applying knowledge to new situations or problems; is usually responsible in meeting obligations for his/her work.

D--indicates that a student has insufficient mastery of essential subject matter; does less than the required work, much of which is poor in quality; indicates low achievement; is usually unable to apply knowledge to new situations or problems; shows little responsibility in meeting obligations for his/her work.

F--indicates that a student has not succeeded in meeting even the minimum requirements in a course; shows no indication to accept the responsibility for his/her work.

I--indicates that a student has not completed required work during this reporting period. It is not a grade for the subject. If no attempt to complete the work has been made by the student within two weeks of receiving an incomplete, an F will be given for the missing work and a grade computed accordingly.

Computing and Marking Grades on the Report Card

1. Citizenship and Effort will not be averaged in with Subject Matter Knowledge and Skill.

2. Plus or minus may be used with the Subject Matter Knowledge and Skill grade.

3. Teachers are expected to give comments that will help explain, balance, or suggest improvement in the grades given.