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Grading Policy

Academic Achievement Grading Scale Reminder - Board Policy & Infinite Campus

As previously shared with SCUSD families, site leaders and teachers, per Administrative Regulation 5121 Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement, SCUSD’s Grading Scale for Academic Achievement reflects: 

  • A (90-100%) Outstanding Achievement 4.0 grade points
  • B (80-89%) Above Average Achievement 3.0 grade points
  • C (70-79%) Average Achievement 2.0 grade points
  • D (60-69%) Below Average Achievement 1.0 grade points
  • F (50-59%) Little or No Achievement 0
  • I Incomplete 0

Rationale & Implementation 

In August of 2020, in response to concerns about equity, access  and social justice (not COVID), the “F” grading scale was changed from 0-59% to 50-59%. Several advocacy groups, including the Black Parallel School Board, recommended this modification, and research on grading practices support this change. This scale equalizes the span of each letter grade to 10%, including F, and enables students to recover their grade if they demonstrate a sustained level of improved performance. 

Effective August 2020, the lowest score a student can receive on any assignment is 50%, so for an assignment worth 60 points, the lowest a student can receive is 30 points. This applies to all assignments and every item entered into the gradebook, including homework, quizzes, tests, group projects, essays, finals, etc.

Consistent with Administrative Regulation 5121, the Infinite Campus Grading Scale was adjusted to reflect our district Grading Policy above, effective Monday, October 4, 2021. While Infinite Campus allows for teachers to determine the total value and scores for individual assignments, teachers should not award scores below 50% and are expected to adhere to the board-adopted grading scale above. Further, with this adjustment, overall term averages below 50% will not be calculated, leaving the term grade blank until corrections to assignments have been made.