Grading as a way of assessing the progress of students has several purposes:

• It is a way of communicating progress to the student and parent.
• It monitors a student's progress over a period of time.
• It can serve to motivate students to improve performance.
• It allows a teacher to measure effectiveness of instruction.

Students are evaluated in a variety of areas that include tests, homework, attendance, class participation and contribution, initiative and special projects.

In order to more clearly communicate how we evaluate students and determine term grades, North Lutheran High School uses a five-category ranking system and defines these categories or grades in the following manner:

• A--Indicates superior and outstanding performance.
• B--Performance in all areas is good.
• C--Indicates average performance.
• D--Weak, but passing performance.
• F--Student's lack of effort results in unacceptable performance.

Using these criteria, each teacher devises a system to quantify student performance in such a way that it can be defined and explained to students and parents.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO GRADING

1. Comprehensive semester exams will be given to all students except in performance classes. In these classes, the administration of a final exam is left to the discretion of the teacher. Students who do not take the semester exams will receive a failing grade for the exam. A semester exam may not count more than one-third of entire semester grade.
2. Students who copy, cheat, or plagiarize on an assignment, test or quiz will receive no credit for that assignment, test, or quiz.
3. No "F" for the marking period or semester may be given unless the home has been contacted at least 2 weeks before the end of the marking period or semester. (Please note that the school cannot be responsible for mail intercepted by students.)
4. A grade of "incomplete" will be given when students have not completed the major requirements of a course because of absence due to illness or to other reasons over which they have no control. Normally an "incomplete" must be removed within two weeks after the marking period or semester ends. In the event the uncompleted work is not turned in or tests are not taken, the teacher will assess the grade based on the student's effort demonstrated during the marking period less a failing grade for all work or tests not completed.
5. Late work not caused by absence from school will be subject to academic penalty as determined by the teacher.
6. Students who fail more than one class in a semester will be placed on academic probation.

"IN-PROGRESS" REPORTS

The school will assist the parents of students who need careful and watchful concern by collecting "In-Progress" reports. Parents may request such a report by calling the office or sending a note to the school. This progress report is to be considered helpful in curing a short-term academic problem and not to be used during an entire year. Requests are to be made at the beginning of each quarter by contacting the principal.

TRANSFER OF CREDITS

1. Ordinarily all credits in courses required for graduation should be taken at North Lutheran High School. North Lutheran High School will accept credits for required courses from schools where the courses were taken during the regular academic year. (The faculty may make an exception.)
2. No course should be taken outside North Lutheran High School and counted toward meeting the requirements for graduation until it has been approved first by the principal.
3. A student may transfer two units of summer school credit toward graduation. (regular classroom credit.)
4. Internet, correspondence school, or home school credit can be counted toward meeting graduation requirements, only with the approval of the principal.

DROPPING A COURSE

1. A student may drop a semester course within ten class days without loss of credit.
2. If a student drops a course after the first ten class days of a semester, the student receives a grade of F, and that grade will appear on the transcript.
3. A dropped course must be initiated following either one of these procedures:
   1. The parent sends a letter to the principal requesting that a course be dropped. That letter will be deposited in the student's permanent file.
   2. The principal will meet with the student and the teacher and consult with the parent. The principal will respond to the parent after a decision has been made.
   3. A fee of $25.00 will be charged for any drop unless school personnel initiate and recommend the change.

MARKING, CLASS RANK AND CREDIT

• A--4 points per semester for each .5 unit credit
• B--3 points per semester for each .5 unit credit
• C--2 points per semester for each .5 unit credit
• D--1 point per semester for each .5 unit credit
• F--0 points per semester for no credit

MARKS - FOR ALL HONORS AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES

• A--5 points
• B--4 points
• C--3 points
• D--2 points
• F--0 points

CLASS RANK AND GRADE-POINT AVERAGE

1. Marks for all subjects for which credit is given, whether passed or failed, will be used in computing grade-point averages (also called current average).
2. Marks for high school courses taken in grade 7 and 8 are not to be included when computing grade-point averages and are not to be included in the 21 units required in the 9th - 12th grades for graduation. A student may elect to receive credit for summer school courses during the summer previous to the 9th grade.
3. If a student repeats a course failed or repeats a course to improve the grade, only the mark and credit received the second time the course was taken is to be used in computing the grade-point average and total credit. The first course will be changed to "Audit" with no credit after the student completes the course a second time.
4. The grades of students who transfer into North Lutheran High School are considered on the same basis as those of students who have been enrolled in North Lutheran High School for their entire high school experience. All procedures outlined in this handbook apply also to transfer students.