6th-8th Grading Guidelines

The purpose of the progress report is to communicate a student’s progress in each course.

If a student’s grade falls below 70 during a grading period, every effort will be made to contact the parent/guardian by phone or in writing.

All middle school students will receive a progress report at the three-week and six-week grading periods. Progress reports are sent electronically via the Skyward Parent Portal. Parents may request a paper copy through the campus registrar.
 

The report card is a communication tool for parents/guardians and students. Report cards provide information regarding academic progress as well as attendance information. Report cards will be managed according to the following guidelines:

• Report cards are issued once at the end of each nine-week grading period. 
• Report cards for grades 6-8 are available electronically to the parent/guardian. We highly recommend parents/guardians view student grades through the Skyward Parent Portal. Paper report cards are available by request from the campus registrar.  

Students are graded at all levels based on mastery of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for the specific courses and/or grade levels.

All AISD 6th - 8th grade students are graded on a 100-point scale. The grade scale is as follows:

Non-Mastery/Minor Grades are recorded to communicate student progress toward learning targets while a unit is in progress. These grades may include a variety of assignments that provide students with opportunities to engage with academic content, demonstrate understanding, and practice skills throughout the learning process. If a student fails a Non-Mastery/Minor grade, the teacher may provide an opportunity for reteach and reassessment for a maximum grade of 70.

Mastery/Major Grades are recorded as summative assessments that reflect the culmination of learning within a unit or topic. These grades demonstrate student understanding and the ability to transfer and apply content knowledge and skills in measurable ways. Each Mastery/Major grade within a grading period shall carry the same weight. If a student fails a Mastery/Major grade, the teacher must provide an opportunity for reteach and reassessment for a maximum grade of 70.

Semester Exams in middle school are taken by middle school students enrolled in high school credit-bearing classes. Semester exams count for 10% of the final grade in the class.

Extra Credit for Non-Academic Tasks
Grades shall reflect student learning and mastery of academic standards rather than compliance or non-academic tasks. 

• Grades shall not be assigned for non-academic tasks, such as returning a signed syllabus/report card, or bringing school supplies.
• Calculated averages reported on progress reports or report cards may not exceed 100%.

Our goal is for grades to reflect mastery of learning standards. At the same time, meeting deadlines is an important responsibility that prepares students for college, careers, and life beyond high school.

The consequence for late work is not a reduction in academic credit. The consequence is the student's time.

Students may earn full credit for late assignments if the work is submitted by the designated late work deadline for the current three-week grading period. However, late work is not consequence-free. Students who miss deadlines will be required to invest additional time and communicate with their teacher in order to earn credit.

Students may earn full credit for late assignments if the work is submitted by the designated final cutoff deadline for the current three-week grading period.

The final late work deadlines occur prior to the close of each 3-week, 6-week, and 9-week grading period within each quarter. Specific deadline dates will be communicated by the campus and teacher.

The designated deadline serves as the final cutoff for all assignments from that three-week grading period. Once that deadline has passed, the teacher will no longer accept any assignments from that grading period for credit. The “M” in the gradebook will permanently be a zero (unless extenuating circumstances apply).

Late work is not consequence-free. Students who miss an original assignment deadline are required to attend tutorials, communicate with their teacher, or complete additional interventions in order to earn credit.

Missing Work

When an assignment is not submitted by the original due date, a Missing (M) will be immediately entered into the gradebook. The Missing (M) designation calculates a zero and reflects the impact of the missing assignment on the student's current average.

Once all late work requirements are met and the assignment is completed and submitted, the grade will be updated.

Submission Window

Assignments submitted after the final cutoff date will not be accepted unless extenuating circumstances or absences apply. 
 

Students are expected to make up assignments and assessments missed due to absences.

Students shall be provided the same number of school days to complete makeup work as the number of days absent. For example, a student absent for 2 days will be given 2 school days to complete the missed assignments. 

Students are responsible for obtaining, completing, and submitting makeup work.

Teachers will provide makeup work to ensure students remain on track with course learning. For any class missed, teachers may assign makeup work based on the instructional objectives of the course or subject and the individual student’s needs in mastering the essential knowledge and skills and meeting course requirements. 
 

A student receiving an incomplete and/or a zero for a 9-week grade has one week to convert the incomplete grade to an earned grade. In unusual cases, where the student has missed a large quantity of work, the time may be extended. The teacher must communicate to the student and the parent/guardian the nature of the outstanding work and the time limit for completing it (as required by UIL).

We believe that deep learning and skill mastery happen best when students practice under the direct guidance of an educator. Therefore, assigned homework should be the exception, not the regular practice. AP and Dual Credit courses may have homework requirements.

If a student fails a Non-Mastery/Minor grade, the teacher may provide an opportunity for reteaching and reassessment, with a maximum grade of 70.

If a student fails a Mastery/Major grade, the teacher must provide an opportunity for reteaching and reassessment to achieve a maximum grade of 70. Reassessment must occur within one week of the date the student received the failing grade.
(See EIA Legal)

If a reassessment is needed for an assessment given at the end of the nine-week grading period and the reassessment extends into the next nine weeks, an Incomplete (I) shall be entered in the gradebook until the student has had the opportunity to complete the reassessment. The reassessment must occur no later than one week after the grading period ends, and the student must notify the teacher of the reassessment request. 
 

A student will be promoted only on the basis of academic achievement or demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter of the course or grade level, the recommendation of the student’s teacher, the score received on any criterion-referenced or state-mandated assessment, and any other necessary academic information as determined by the district. Expectations and standards for promotion shall be established for each grade level, content area, and course. [See District Policy: EIA (Legal),  EIA (Local), EIE (Legal), EIE (Local)].

In grades 1–8, promotion to the next grade level shall be based on an overall average of 70 and a grade of 70 or above in language arts, math, and either science or social studies. See Policy EIE(LOCAL) for additional details regarding promotion.