Grading
Select each tab below for information.
Point System
The Finest way of tracking progress towards graduation is the Point.
Points are “pieces” of credits as 150 points is equal to 1 high school credit. Students count down points on their way to graduation. A true freshman with no high school credit needs 3450 points to graduate.
A point is earned when a student attends a class and performs the work assigned. Unfortunately, a student may not receive points in a class they attend if they are off task or do not complete the work assigned. Not gaining a point is the same as adding an hour to their high school career; a point is either earned now or still needed later. This system allows student ownership of their effort and progress.
Students have the opportunity to also earn points by completing independent assignments, credit recovery, going above and beyond on an assignment, etc.
Ways we describe a point with students. A point is.....
- equal to an hour of work.
- one hour closer to graduation.
- 1/150th of a credit.
- acknowledgement of work completed.
- a signature on the card.
This chart is used to determine a student's grade level, based on the amount of points they have earned.
The Card
Upon arrival at school each day, students pick up their Card from their Family room and take it with them to each of their classes.
Teachers use the card to provide students with immediate, daily feedback about their work in the class. The card has a line for each class period. The top line is used for attendance. A teacher will initial the top line to indicate the student was present in class. REMINDER: Attendance DOES NOT equal points.
The bottom line is used to provide feedback on completion of work and effort. A signature on the bottom line by a teacher indicates the student has earned their point in the class. A teacher may make a marking other than their signature to indicate to students there is additional work needed before the point can be earned (see the Points tab for more information).
The card Is used for ongoing feedback throughout the session and for awarding total points in Infinite Campus at the end of the session.
It is recommended that cards are returned to the Family room at the end of day and not taken home, where the chance of loss or damage is increased.
The color of the card changes each session. A "Purple" card is awarded to students who have received 100% points possible in all classes for three sessions. Purple card holders receive special privileges such as the ability to register for classes first, special lunches, Purple Cords at graduation, etc.
Arrows
There are two classifications of Arrows: Non-Disciplinary and Disciplinary.
Non Disciplinary Arrows
Since Finest does not assign homework as part of daily schoolwork, some points for projects and assignments cannot be awarded until the completion or a teacher has an opportunity to grade them. These arrows are placeholders used until completion. It is assumed the student will complete the work and receive the full credit.
- Project (P): If your teacher assigns an ongoing project that takes more than one day to complete, they will sometimes not give you a daily point because your work is in progress. As long as you make a class period of progress that day, you will get a P on your card.
- Quiz (Q): A Q is given when you completed and turned in the work, but the teacher needs time to review the quality of your work and give you feedback. Once they do that, they will either give you the point for meeting the Success Criteria or let you know what needs to be adjusted in order for you to get the point
- Revision Needed(RN1/ RN2):Revision Needed 1 or 2 means that feedback has been given on an assignment you submitted and you are on your way to getting your point. Use the class rubric to make revisions and resubmit to get the next level of feedback. Once you have met the success criteria you will get your point.
- Counseling (C): If you are with a counselor during class time, your counselor will write a C where your point would go. If you receive a C, simply speak with your classroom teacher about how to make up that point.
Disciplinary Arrows
A discipline arrow is given to a student if for some reason they did not fulfill the expectations of the teacher for that specific class period. Examples would include poor behavior, profanity, sleeping, wandering, not completing work, or not actively listening or participating.
- Wandering (W): If you are gone from class more than 5 minutes or don’t take the pass to leave class you receive a W. You also may get a W if you repeatedly leave class.
- Cell Phone (CP): Cell phones should be placed in the Phone Home box during instructional/class time. If a student’s phone is seen or heard during class, they will receive a CP and have to surrender their phone to the office for the remainder of the day. See the Cell Phone Policy for consequences for repeated cell phone violations.
- Talking (T): talking excessively in class instead of working on the assignment.
- Language (Lang): Swearing or other offensive language that is sexual in nature or is disrespectful of another person’s identity will result in an LANG.
- Late (L#): Late/how many minutes: When the music ends you should be in your class or you receive an L arrow. You will follow up with your teacher to determine how to get the L removed.
- No Work (NW): If you do very little of the assigned work in class, your teacher will give you an NW. Always look at the learning target and success criteria to understand what is expected of you for the class period.
- Off Taks (OT): Off Task: If you are not working at all or are working on something other than your assignment for the class you are in you would get an OT.
- Sleeping (S): If your head is down during class, a teacher will redirect you to sit up. If you continue with your head down, you will receive an S.
- X: X for the rest of the day:
- If your behavior becomes disruptive to the class, your teacher will remind you of the expectations. If the disruption continues you will receive an X for the day
- If your behavior is defiant or dangerous, you will be escorted from class and receive an X for the day
- When you receive an X, you must wait in the front office to meet with an administrator and will not be returning to classes that day and may also not earn those points back.
- X Arrow (X->): X the class: Persistent off task behavior in class may result in an X→. This means that you will go on to the remainder of your classes, but that point CANNOT be earned back.
IF YOU GET AN ARROW: You have up to one week of school to make up that point and then it “sticks” (the point cannot be earned back).
IF YOU ARE ABSENT: You can earn back up to 3 points in each class (if you were absent) during a session. After that, any additional work you choose to make up is given back to you in points at the bottom of your card (but do not count toward your 90%).
Transfer Credit
When students transfer to Finest from another high school we review their transcripts for Transferable Credit.
Students receive credit in our system using the attached chart. 3450 total points are required to graduate from our system and students receive 150 points for each credit transferred. Students receive no credit for a grade of "F," withdrawal, or no grade/credit.
Transfer credits are placed in appropriate categories using the Finest system when applicable. If a course does not meet any of our required categories, we will assign Elective Credit.
