Academy at Middle Fork

Student Academic Performance / Promotion and Retention

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Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork
Student Academic Performance / Promotion and Retention

I. Introduction

The Appalachian State University Academy at Middle Fork acknowledges the importance of a challenging, balanced curriculum. The Academy at Middle Fork is committed to providing a quality education with opportunities for all students - kindergarten through grade 5 - to develop intellectually, socially, physically and emotionally. A variety of teaching strategies and resources are used to maximize learning and address individual student needs. Students are provided a safe, nurturing environment built on respect and the celebration of cultural and individual differences that will allow them to advance towards mastery of the designated curriculum. The grading policy outlined here will be used to denote the level of mastery reached by each student.

II. Policy Scope

This policy shall apply to all students of the Academy at Middle Fork. For purposes of this policy, every reference to "parent" shall include a parent, guardian, or other custodian having control of a student attending the Academy at Middle Fork.

III. General Reporting K-5

  1. Report Cards.
    1. A report card will be sent to the parents of each student in grades K-5 at the end of each nine-week reporting period. Completing the report card by the deadline set by the Principal shall be the responsibility of the classroom teacher. In situations where more than one individual shares the responsibility for teaching a student, the evaluation will be determined jointly by those teachers involved.
    2. Teachers should regularly monitor and record student progress in order that grades on a report card will be an accurate reflection of student performance.

  2. Communications Plans.
    1. The Academy at Middle Fork shall develop, with staff input and approval, a plan for communicating with parents.
    2. The communication plan shall include providing student progress reports online via the internet or other electronic means. In grades Kindergarten through second grade, one (1) progress report shall be provided to parents at the mid-point of each grading period. In grades three through twelve, student progress will be updated in PowerParent. Parents can check on-line or progress reports can be made available by the Academy at Middle Fork. The progress reports should provide information about each student's academic progress.
    3. Teachers shall have one (1) week to assess and post student grades, unless otherwise communicated to parents.
    4. A formal parent-teacher conference period may be scheduled in the school calendar. Parents or teachers are encouraged to schedule other conferences as needed, especially when student performance changes markedly.

  3. Grading Scale. Students in Grades 3-5 shall be graded on the following 100 point scale:
    A 90 - 100
    B 80 - 89
    C 70 - 79
    D 60 - 69
    F 59 – and below

IV. Specific Reporting Procedure K-5

  1. Teachers will evaluate students using the grade-level appropriate report card and its prescribed format.

  2. Plus or minus will not be used.

  3. Academic Evaluation Code
    1. Grades K-2, for Reading, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and Math:
      Grade / Description
      4 / Exceeds grade level expectations; shows deep understanding.
      3 / Meets grade level expectations; shows consistent understanding.
      2 / Making progress toward meeting grade level expectations; shows inconsistent understanding.
      1 / Does not meet grade level expectations; having considerable difficulty.
    2. Grades 3-5 for Reading, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies and, Math
      Grade / Description
      A / Superior Performance 
      B / Good Performance
      C / Satisfactory Performance
      D / Poor Performance
      F / Failing

  4. Performance on written/oral work as well as information gained from teacher observations and conferences with students will be used to determine individual student progress. The grade should reflect the teacher's overall assessment of each student's progress in each academic area listed on the report card. Numerical averages or grading scales are not to be the sole determining factor in computing the quarter grades of an elementary school student.

  5. Elementary School EOG tests will be used to improve a student's final grade in the fourth quarter for the subject tested, but will not be used to reduce a student's grade.

  6. Record Keeping
    1. One copy of the report card should be provided to the student's parent. Parents shall be instructed to keep the report card, sign the envelope, and return the envelope to the teacher.
    2. One copy of the report card should be placed in the yearly brown jacket and one in the student's cumulative folder as indicated on the report card. Should a student transfer to another school, a photocopy of the report card is placed in the brown envelope that remains at the Academy at Middle Fork. The brown jacket serves as a permanent record of the student's attendance unless an electronic database is created in place of the brown envelope.

V. Promotion and Retention

  1. The Principal shall have authority to promote and retain students. The Principal shall make such decisions based on the factors set forth in N.C.G.S. § 115C-288(a) and the policies of the State Board of Education.

  2. The decision of the Principal with respect to the promotion and retention of pupils is subject to by review the Dean or the Dean's designee. The Dean's designee, in the sole discretion of the Dean, may be another individual or the Appeals Committee of the Academy at Middle Fork's Advisory Board. The decision of the Dean or the Dean's designee shall be final.

Criteria and Standards for Promotion and Retention

Consistent with State and local accountability standards, the following factors should be considered for promotion or retention:

  1. The student's chronological age and physical, social, and emotional maturity should be considered in determining his or her grade placement.

  2. Students generally should not be retained more than once during each of the following grade spans: K-3 and 4-5.

  3. When a student is not making the desired academic progress, a concentrated effort shall be made by the classroom teacher to communicate with the student's parents by a conference and/or telephone call no later than the end of the third grading period and preferably by the end of the first semester.

  4. A student who is not making the desired academic progress may be required to attend an intervention or remedial program.

  5. If a decision is made to retain a student or to require a student to attend an intervention or remedial program, the parents must be notified and offered an opportunity to have a conference with the Principal and/or classroom teacher.

  6. In the event that a parent requests a student be retained, the Principal shall review the above criteria with parents.

  7. Light's Retention Scale may be used in grades K-5 to help determine, in accordance with the criteria established in this Policy, whether the student should be promoted or retained.

  8. If a student with disabilities is being considered for retention, the decision shall be made by the Principal in consultation with the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) Team in accordance with state policies. If the student is making satisfactory progress toward the achievement of the education goals in the IEP, the student should be promoted. If the student is retained, the student's IEP team may include changes in the student's IEP as appropriate to the student's needs.

  9. All interventions/remediation and other opportunities, benefits and resources made available to students without disabilities shall be made available to students with disabilities. All services offered are in addition to the special education services provided to the student.

VI. Students of Limited English Proficiency

Limited English Proficient (LEP) students shall meet the same standards as all students. However, in accordance with federal law, English language proficiency cannot be the factor to determine a student has not met performance standards at each gateway.

VII. Authority

N.C.G.S. 116-239.8(b)
N.C.G.S. 116-239.8(b)(3)
UNC Policy Manual, The Code, Section 502

VIII. Original Effective Date

July 30, 2018

IX. Revision Dates