What is Standards-Based Grading and Why Are We Using It?
At our school, we use a grading system called Standards-Based Grading (SBG), which focuses on assessing student proficiency with specific learning targets (standards) rather than averaging assignment and test scores. In this system students are assigned a 0-4 based on the level of mastery they have shown in their work ( 0 - no understanding 1 - first steps 2 - partial mastery 3 - mastery 4 - exceeding mastery). This approach ensures that grades accurately reflect student learning rather than test performance, providing clear expectations for mastery.
This grading system is fair for all students. It doesn’t lower expectations—in fact, it keeps them high! As outlined by Joe Feldman in his book Grading for Equity, SBG embodies the three key pillars to equitable grading:
- Accurate: It shows what a student truly knows.
- Bias-resistant: It allows multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate proficiency, ensuring that grades are not influenced by behavior, effort, or timeliness.
- Motivating: It encourages students to view learning as a journey, fostering a growth mindset and nurturing lifelong learners.
Learn more about Grading for Equity.
Our school is not alone in adopting this equitable grading method; other districts, such as Littleton Public Schools in Colorado, are using this system to make grading clearer, fairer, and more beneficial for students and families. While their standards based system distinguishes between content knowledge and work habits, it fully aligns with ours, ensuring that grades reflect academic achievement without being influenced by behavior factors.
This is a new way of thinking about grading but we believe wholeheartedly that this is the best way to serve our students. We understand that navigating a new system (and sometimes a new language!) can be challenging, and we’re here to support you. If you have questions about your student’s progress or grades, please reach out—we want to partner with you!
ACHS Grading Overview:
The 0-4 grading scale is broken up into 5 different levels. Exceeding (4), Mastery (3), Partially Proficient (2), FIrst Steps (1), and No understanding (0).
For a student to be at “Exceeding”, the student is demonstrating a level of understanding ABOVE mastery. The student can use their understanding of the standard to create something new. This is equal to a 4 on our grading scale, or an A.
In order to reach “Mastery” the student clearly demonstrates ALL the skills and knowledge required of the standard. This is equal to a 3 on the grading scale. Since a 3 is still demonstrating full understanding of the mastery, this too is an A.
In order to reach “Partially Proficient”, the student must demonstrate foundational evidence of the standard with some misconceptions/unfinished learning. This is equal to a 2 on our grading scale, or a C.
In order to reach “First Steps”, the student must desmonstrate beginning stages of knowledge and skill. Often it also means they can demonstrate partially proficient understanding with assistance from the teacher. This is equal to a 1 on our grading scale, or a D.
Finally, if a student is at a 0, that represents that they have attempted the assignment but have no understanding of standard. A Missing or “M” represents that the student did not attempt the assignment. Both of these result in a 0 or an F unless the student comes in to complete or fix the assignment.
Watch two of our teachers grade using standards-based grading!