Please review this update on 4th Quarter grading practices approved by the Howard County Board of Education  on April 16, 2020.

HCPSS has provided an update on 4th Quarter grading practices whiche were approved by the Howard County Board of Education  on April 16, 2020.

During Quarter 4, there will be two potential grades - pass (P) or incomplete (I).  If a student participates by completing 50% or more of the posted assignments, the student will receive a pass (P). Completion will be defined as evidence of work on all components/sections of an assignment.

A pass will be calculated as an A for the Quarter 4 grade. Students who do not satisfy the completion requirements will receive an incomplete. If the missing work is completed by September 15, 2020, the grade will convert to a pass (P). Otherwise the grade automatically will become an N/A and will not be calculated into final grades and GPA. (These students will have GPA and final grade calculated based on Quarters 1-3 and the mid-term exam.)

At this time, a final exam will not be administered to students if HCPSS school buildings do not reopen, which will result in students continuing with distance learning.  The final grade calculation will be reconfigured and final course grades will be calculated without a final exam grade.

Note: For all students, Quarter 4 will be used for fall athletic eligibility. If a student has more than one incomplete (I) by August 12, 2020, the student will be ineligible. 

 Additional information was provided on May 22, 2020:

• Final Grades
• Because final exams were cancelled this year, high school final course grades for the 2019-2020 school year will be calculated using a 9-point, rather than 10-point system, based on grades earned during the quarter grading periods and the midterm exam. The grade ranges used to assign final letter grades have been modified, to avoid unintentionally penalizing students who might have earned a higher grade through strong performance on a final exam. More information about final grades for all grade levels is provided on the HCPSS website.