Grading Philosophy and Honor Roll Criteria

Grading Philosophy

At Tremper we use a 90/10 grading system.  

• 90% of students’ grades are based on summative assessments that may include performance projects, essays, tests, etc. which show each student’s mastery of curriculum.  

• 10% of students’ grades are based on formative (practice) work and assessments that provide students with opportunities to gain the acquired skills and gauge their mastery of curriculum prior to a summative assessment. 

 

Current research into best practices indicates that formative assignments and assessments should be “low stakes.” This means we don’t “punish” kids for academic practice. This process helps students to know where they are in their learning going into a summative assessment.  It makes their demonstration of mastery the bulk of the grade.  

• A 90/10 Grading system allows students to make mistakes as part of the learning process and builds students’ skills, persistence, and resilience.
• A consistent structure and application in grading is equitable. 
• It provides equal opportunities for success.
• It clearly and equitably communicates evidence of learning.
• Having consistent grading practices provides clarity for parents and students about how they will be graded at Tremper.

KUSD High School Honor Roll Criteria 

Currently, boundary, choice and charter high schools issue a final grade upon completion of courses. Most courses are considered complete at the end of the semester. However, some schools also may have quarter-long courses that issue final grades upon completion. This can cause confusion for families transitioning from middle to high school as to when and how the honor roll is determined.

NEW: Beginning with the 2023-24 school year, the high school honor roll will only be reported at the end of each semester. To qualify, students must earn a laude-qualifying GPA from their primary enrollment school. Please see the full explanation of the KUSD Laude System for more information.