Assessments and Grading

SoWashCo high schools do not provide class ranks. Information indicating a class rank using either the academic or all-subject grade point averages will not be issued internally or externally to staff, students, parents, or other academic institutions or agencies.

Due to the nature of our curriculum and the ability of our students, we believe that statistical class rank would represent an inaccurate assessment of a student's abilities and potential for collegiate success. 

Course failure defined: The student has not achieved the expected level of competence in the course outcomes, concept development or skill attainment. Further, it is the assessment of the classroom instructor that the student's continuous academic progress is best served by the student repeating the course. The "F" has a value of (0.00) in the district's grading system. It counts as an attempted credit in determining the student's GPA.

Students must meet all course credit requirements and graduation standards, as established by the State of Minnesota and the SoWashCo School Board, in order to graduate.

Students must earn:

• 12 credits in English
• 10 credits in Social Studies (including 1 cr in Political Science and 1 cr in Economics)
• 9 credits in Mathematics
• 9 credits in Science (must include one year of Biology and one year of Chemistry or Physics)
• 1 credit in General Physical Education
• 1 credit in Health (embedded throughout high school)
• 2 credits in Fine Arts
• 22 credits in electives

Total of 66 credits

Students must fulfill all of the requirements of each course before a grade will be issued. Students who have been ill/absent for an excused reason and are issued an incomplete must make up the incomplete work within 2 weeks of when grades are published (unless granted an extended time period as approved by administration). No credit will be awarded for the course until the incomplete is made up and an alpha grade is issued. The "I" has a mark value of (0). It counts as an attempted credit in determining the student's GPA.

Mid-term reports are available to view via Parent Portal before conferences each trimester. Teachers may send periodic reports or call parents if a student is receiving a failing or near failing grade in their respective courses. If a student is failing after mid-term, the teacher must notify the parents by mail or phone call.

Students may request to take an elective course for Pass/No Credit by filling out the appropriate form.

1. Only two elective class can be taken under this program per trimester, per year.
2. Once the decision has been made, the student is to:
   1. Pick up a pass/no credit form in the Counseling and Career Center, obtain parent/guardian signature, and return it to the counselor.
   2. After the counselor has reviewed and approved the request, the teacher will receive a copy of the form.
   3. All grading during the trimester will remain the same; only the final grade will differ.
3. Students returning from out-of district placements, or with special circumstances, may be granted extended pass/no credit options.

Pass/No Credit facts to know:

1. After making a decision to be graded "pass/no credit" in an elective course, a student cannot later change his/her mind.
2. A pass/no credit grade will not be part of the GPA.
3. A course taken on the pass/no credit program and successfully completed will receive the same one credit toward graduation as offered under the alpha system.
4. To receive credit, students must earn a minimum of a "D" grade. A class may not require a grade equivalent above a "D" to earn a "pass" grade. Teachers must notify students who have chosen the "P" grade what criteria will be used to determine the "D" grade, or what is expected in order to pass the class.

Pass/No Credit for Special Education Students

Pass/No Credit for Special Education Students Students whose courses/subjects are modified or adapted by an Individual Education Plan (IEP) shall earn grades consistent with normal grading practices unless the IEP provides for an alternate grading system. The alternate grading system shall provide a "P" for satisfactory progress or a "N" for no credit toward IEP goals and shall be determined by the student's special education IEP Team.

Students' grades will be posted to parents/guardians for review at the end of each trimester via Campus Parent Portal. Parents can track student grades and GPA (and attendance) throughout the school year by using Campus Parent Portal. To register for an account, contact the Department of Student Information at (651)-458-6236.

SoWashCo Schools will grant credit on a performance basis for any course, except Physical Education, in grades 7-12 if a student successfully completes an approved assessment. The assessment will represent the content included in the subject.

Testing out is an opportunity to earn credits for a course a student has not yet taken at any institution or online. Testing out implies that the student is ready and capable of taking the test when the application is submitted. Students may not attempt testing out of a course in which they have been previously enrolled.

If the student passes the assessment with the grade of B or better, credit with a grade of P (pass) will be added to the transcript.

Applications for testing out of a course may be obtained by contacting your counseling office and must be submitted by the posted deadline.

Students taking classes in Advanced Placement, Project Lead the Way, College-in-the-Schools/Concurrent Enrollment, have weighted grades using a 1.2 multiplier. The unweighted grade awarded in an UMTYMP (University of MN Talented Youth Math Program) course will be multiplied by a factor of 1.2.