what you need to know about SEMESTER EXAMS AND GRADING
Transcript of what you need to know about SEMESTER EXAMS AND GRADING
SEMESTER EXAMSAND GRADING
what you need to know about
FORE MORE INFORMATION:Maria Phillips, Director | Curriculum Policy
817.814.2468 | [email protected]
All Fort Worth ISD high school and middle school students taking high school classes will take a semester exam or complete a culminating activity in each class. Semester exams/culminating activities will be given at the end of each semester in December and May. Students who fail the semester exam cannot retake the exam.
A culminating activity can include a project, essay, performance, report, speech, etc.
*Middle school students taking world languages and all other middle school subjects may still be required to take a semester exam or complete a culminating activity. However, the grade the student receives on the semester exam or culminating activity will be used to calculate the 3rd six-week grade or 6th six-week grade, as appropriate.
The grade the student receives on the semester exam or the culminating activity will be used to calculate the final semester grade as follows:
FALL SEMESTER 1st Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade 2nd Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade 3rd Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade Fall Semester Exam 14.5% of Semester Grade
SPRING SEMESTER 4th Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade 5th Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade 6th Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade Spring Semester Exam 14.5% of Semester Grade
SEMESTER EXAM EXEMPTIONSWith parent permission, a senior student may choose to not take the semester exam during the spring semester if the student:• Is a graduating senior• Has an average of 85 or higher in the class for the spring semester (4th, 5th,
and 6th six-week grades)• Does not have more than 1 unexcused absence during the spring semester in the
course the student is requesting the exam exemption
• Has not been suspended or assigned to an alternative program during the entire school year; and
• Submits a form, signed by the parent, requesting the exemptionA student can choose to take the semester exam, even if the student qualifies for the exemption. Excused absences or absences for school-or District-sanctioned events, such as games, tournaments, competitions, or field trips will not be counted against a student.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSQ: How will students know what option a teacher will choose and when will they be notified?A: Teachers will communicate with students in advance of finals so that they can prepare.
Q: When will students find out their semester grade? A: Students will learn their grade with the 3rd and 6th six-week report cards.
Q: How does grading work if students choose not to take the exam or culminating activity? A: For senior students who are exempt from the final exam, their second semester grade will be the average of the 4th, 5th and 6th six-week grades.
GRADE WEIGHT POINTS
1st Six Weeks 92 28.5% 26.2
2nd Six Weeks 85 28.5% 24.2
3rd Six Weeks 80 28.5% 22.8
Semester Exam or Culminating Activity
78 14.5% 11.3
FIRST SEMESTER GRADE 84.6 = 85
Fall Semester Example