District 230 seeks to establish an atmosphere in each classroom which actively fosters academic integrity. Teachers recognize that academic integrity is important to the learning environment. Students should also recognize that academic integrity is an integral part of the learning process. Definitions of academic dishonesty are included but not limited to: cheating, intentionally plagiarizing, wrongfully giving or receiving help during an academic examination, wrongfully obtaining test copies or scores, representing someone else’s academic work as one’s own, altering grades/assignments, or student use of any unauthorized material in an attempt to present it as their own. This offense also includes anyone who assists another in cheating. Students will be afforded their Due Process Rights to determine violation of academic integrity. A charge of academic dishonesty will result in parent notification, counselor notification, a “zero” for the assignment, a possible referral to the Deans’ office, and exclusion from school-related honor societies and scholarships including but not limited to National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, and Department Academic Achievement Awards or any other applicable school clubs or organizations.

On rare occasions, a student is granted permission to audit a course and receive an audit indicator of “AU”. District 230 employs a stringent process for recommendation and approval of audit status. Once the audit is approved by the administrator in charge of scheduling, the department/division chairperson, and the teacher of the course, it cannot be changed. The student will not receive a traditional grade (A, B, C, D, F) or credit. The audit indicator will not apply toward graduation requirements, weighted/unweighted grade point average (GPA), or class rank.

A current student requesting to audit a course: (other than late admittance or transfer):

• Begins and ends the semester without having transferred in or out of D230.
• Applies to the administrator in charge of scheduling, the department/division chairperson, and the teacher of the course for audit status prior to the 15th day of a semester.
• Meets all course behavioral and academic standards and expectations including but not limited to quizzes, tests, final exams, projects, and homework.

I. The following awards and honors will be recognized on an annual basis using the established criteria and timelines.

Distinguished Achievement
Top 1 Percentile (*)
Top 5 Percentile (*)
Top 10 Percentile (*)
Department Academic Achievement Award (**)
State Assessment Scholars (***)
D230 Foundation Scholarship
National Merit Scholars and/or Finalists
Outstanding Senior Honors (Top 10) (****)

(*)Distinguished Achievement

• Based upon the completion of 7 semesters

(**)Department Academic Achievement Awards

• Determined by academic department – 1 student per department
• Process: Teachers nominate students based on criteria
• Criteria:
  
  • Cumulative GPA in courses for that department
  • ACT score in department area (if applicable)
  • Number of content courses taken in subject area
  • Number of Honors/AP courses taken in subject area
• Division Chair checks criteria requirements
• Division Chair determines top 5 nominees based on criteria and shares with Department
• Department determines recipient.

(***)State Assessment Scholars

• To be determined.

(****)Outstanding Senior Honor

• (Service Points + Activity Points) x GPA

II. Community and Booster group senior scholarships and awards will be presented at a spring evening activity to provide time for community representatives, students, and families to appropriately recognize student accomplishments.

III. Underclass recognition will be scheduled on an annual basis in early fall. Recognition will be based on 1, 2, or 3 complete years of attendance; students will be recognized for their freshman year accomplishments in the fall of their sophomore year; sophomore accomplishments in the fall of their junior year; junior accomplishments in the fall of their senior year.

Accomplishments to be recognized at each school include:

• Top 20% based on GPA
• Perfect attendance
• Service learning hours based on:
• 25+ hours – 9th grade
• 50+ hours – 10th grade
• 75+ hours – 11th grade
• School Service

Schools may add additional recognition for the fall activities to recognize building-specific activities. (9/2007)

District 230 determines GPA based on a 4.3 scale for Academic courses, and a 5.3 scale for grades of “C-” or higher for Honors and Advanced Placement courses.

A student’s achievement will be evaluated and awarded a letter grade based on the learning objectives of the course in which he/she is enrolled. A student’s Grade Point Average (GPA) is based on semester grades. A student’s cumulative GPA will be reported on all report cards for each semester that a student is enrolled in a CHSD 230 school. Each student’s class standing will be based on the cumulative GPA and will be reported by 5-point percentile bands. Percentile ranking will be calculated beginning with the second semester report card. Parents or students may request a numeric class rank from their building registrar. Semester grades, GPA, and percentile rank will be reported on official transcripts beginning with the second semester of freshman year.

1. All students, except students in their final semester before graduation who are performing “A” quality work in a course, shall participate in a final assessment in each course at the conclusion of each semester. The purpose of the final assessment is to assess the student’s mastery of course objectives.
2. The final assessment shall consist of one or more of the following formats:
   1. Formal written assessment which gives appropriate evidence of course mastery.
   2. Take home assessment which gives appropriate evidence of course mastery.
   3. Performance Based Assessment (written, constructed, or performed) which gives appropriate evidence of course mastery.
   4. Oral assessment which gives appropriate evidence of course mastery.
   5. Other forms of assessment which give more appropriate evidence of course mastery as approved by the department/division chair.
3. Final assessments shall be administered on the designated days at the end of each semester. Exceptions must be approved by the department/division chair. Exceptions for administration of any final assessments, including End of Semester Common Summative Assessments, outside of the Final Exam Schedule must be pre-approved by the department/division chair.
4. The grade received on an End of Semester Common Summative Assessment (for courses that have completed the curriculum cycle) or final assessment shall be entered appropriately into the student management system.
5. End of Semester Common Summative Assessments (for courses that have completed the curriculum cycle) or final assessments are a required assessment in all courses. Exams are scheduled the last three days of each semester to demonstrate student’s mastery of course material. We encourage families to avoid scheduling trips during these three days, but understand that circumstances arise in families that may make it necessary for a child to be absent one or more of these scheduled exam days. For final exams that are not project-based which may be turned in ahead of time, Consolidated High School District 230 does provide for an early semester exam option at parent cost. The cost for EACH exam taken ahead of time is equal to the pay rate for early semester tests outlined in the Teachers’ Association agreement to cover staff salaries for time needed to prepare and administer the exam.

Students should alert their counselors and teachers as soon as possible to allow time to plan for the early administration of exams. Students with final projects due should consult individual teachers for due dates. Students who fail to appear for the semester exams, except in cases of illness or emergency, will be required to pay the same fee for each late exam.

DATED: January 1, 2001 REVISED: May 2004; November 2005; September 2007; November 2007; May 2012

Evaluating and Reporting Student Achievement
The Teacher:

• Informs students about the grading system at the beginning of each school year or term, whichever is applicable.
• Explains that grades: (1) assess progress toward education goals and assist in the improvement of that progress, (2) will be given by the teacher, using his or her professional judgment, in an impartial and consistent manner, and (3) will reflect level of mastery of district-approved curriculum.
• Assesses student achievement as demonstrated through such performance indicators as the following (these are not listed in order of importance):
  • Formative and Summative assessments of district-approved curriculum.
  • Engagement in classroom discussions.
  • Demonstrated understanding of concepts.
  • Application of skills and knowledge in real-world context.
  • Organization, presentation, and content of written and oral reports.
  • Originality and reasoning ability when working through problems.
  • Proficiency in class presentations and projects.
  • Performance on tests, quizzes, and assessments.
• Assigns grades for academic improvement and achievement using the approved grading scale.
  A grade of “incomplete” should be assigned when a student experiences an excused extended absence at the end of the term or during final examinations; an incomplete grade, if not satisfied within 28 calendar days, will be changed into an “F” grade, except in extraordinary circumstances, and/or previously approved.
• Provides up-to-date grade postings at least every 2 weeks in the online system to reflect accurate student progress.
• Communicate-either by phone or by email- regularly with parents or guardians of students earning a D or an F. These communications provide an opportunity to discuss what has been, and what will be done and to share ideas about how parents can provide support in the efforts to improve a student’s academic progress.

Every teacher shall maintain an evaluation record based on the approved grading scale for each student in the teacher’s assigned course.

1. The grading scale for all courses is as follows:
   10-Point Scale
   99 – 100 = A+
   92 – 98 = A
   90 – 91 = A-
   88 – 89 = B+
   82 – 87 = B
   80 – 81 = B-
   78 – 79 = C+
   72 – 77 = C
   70 – 71 = C-
   68 – 69 = D+
   62 – 67 = D
   60 – 61 = D-
   0 – 59 = F
   
   
2. Grades of “C-” or higher will be weighted in Honors and AP classes to recognize rigor.
3. Grades will be computed on an 18-week basis each semester to demonstrate cumulative progress. Grades will be available to parents and students online.
4. Starting in 2018-2019, District developed End of the Semester Common Summative Assessments will be weighted at 20% of the overall final grade for the common courses.
5. For other courses that have not completed the curriculum review, semester exam grades may be weighted up to 20% of the overall semester grade; this calculation will be the same for common courses.
6. Percents greater than or equal to .5 will be rounded up to determine grades.

Teachers and parents are encouraged to confer at any time regarding the student’s progress. Contact times can be arranged by contacting the teacher(s) during school hours.

Parents/guardians can assist students in school in the following ways:

1. Attend parent-teacher conferences.
2. Provide a study-conducive atmosphere and supervise their child’s completion of course work.
3. Review the child’s grades and report card online and provide appropriate feedback to their child.
4. Whenever a question or concern arises, contact the appropriate teacher or other school staff member.
5. In order to object to a grade or decision, first confer with the appropriate teacher and, if still not satisfied, contact the Department Chairperson.

A Pass/Grade option is available to 11th and 12th-grade students (*) in District 230 for a maximum of one course not required for graduation per semester and one during summer sessions beginning the summer prior to 11th grade. (*Driver’s Education may be taken Pass/Grade by students not yet at 11th-grade status.)

The following guidelines will apply for all students:

1. A student must declare his/her intention to use the Pass/Grade option by the end of the first nine weeks for any year-long course and before the end of the first or nine weeks for any semester course. Once a decision has been made to take a class Pass/Grade, no change in status will be allowed. For students considering to play collegiate athletics, please note that the NCAA Clearinghouse has specific language that may impact students who elect to take courses pass/grade. Please refer to the NCAA Clearinghouse website or your school’s NCAA Clearinghouse Guidance Counselor prior to taking a course with a pass/fail grade.
2. Students electing to take a course Pass/Grade will be expected to complete all assignments and will be graded like all other students in the class.
   1. Students earning a “C” or higher using the approved classroom grading scale will be assigned a grade of “P” (pass). A grade of “P” will not be counted toward the overall GPA.
   2. Students earning a grade of “C–“ or lower using the approved classroom grading scale will be assigned the actual grade earned and the grade will be figured into the overall GPA.
3. Students with an approved prerequisite waiver into a class of higher or lower levels of rigor may not use the Pass/Grade option for that course.

A student may repeat a course previously taken as an audit or for credit. If the credit option is used:

1. The higher of the two grades will be used to compute GPA and rank.
2. Both of the two grades will remain on the transcript. No credits or qualifying points will be issued for the lower grade.
3. “Withdrawal from Class” guidelines will apply, however, there will be no GPA penalty for an “F” withdrawal grade or “F” semester grade if the student takes the class a second time.
4. Students and parents should complete the appropriate form from the guidance department in order to participate in this option.

Parents and students should log on via the school website to check student status in courses on a regular basis. Staff will post grades in the online gradebook at least once every 10 school days OR will post a message stating when the next update will be available.

Semester grades, attendance, and credits are included on all transcripts. GPA will be reported on official transcripts for all students. Percentile rank will be reported on official transcripts beginning the second semester of freshmen year.

District 230 assigns weighting for the purpose of calculating GPA for Honors level and Advanced Placement courses. Only approved courses denoted as “Honors” or “Advanced Placement” in their titles will receive the additional weighting. Courses taken at a Community College that is an extension of CHSD 230 Honors sequence will receive additional weight for grades of C- or higher.

1. The method of weighting will consist of adding one additional grade point to grades received in the Honors/Advanced Placement courses.
2. In order to receive additional weighting, students must achieve a grade of “C-” or higher.

The point system applied to grades in the calculation is as follows:
GRADE HONORS/AP ACADEMIC
A+        5.3             4.3
A          5.0             4.0
A-         4.7             3.7
B+        4.3             3.3
B          4.0             3.0
B-         3.7             2.7
C+        3.3             2.3
C           3.0            2.0
C-          2.7            1.7
D+        1.3             1.3
D           1.0            1.0
D-          0.7            0.7
F            0               0

A Superior achievement
B Above average achievement
C Average achievement
D Below average achievement
F Failing grade for which no credit is given.
P Passing – Does not count toward GPA calculation
AU Audit – No credit given