Grading Addendum

These campus grading guidelines are specific to Spring Oaks Middle School.  This addendum can be found on the campus web page.  You may contact your child’s grade level principal if you have any questions about the SBISD or Spring Oaks grading policies.  The SBISD secondary grading expectations can be found at: https://www.springbranchisd.com/studentsfamilies/course-catalog/grading-expectations.

ReTesting 

All students will have the opportunity to improve their grade through retesting.  Students may retest regardless of their original grade.  Students must request a retest from their teacher within one week of receiving original test results. Before retesting, a student needs to attend at least one small group intervention or one tutorial with their teacher.  The highest grade between the original test and the retest will stay in the grade book.

Homework

Homework is given at the discretion of teachers.  Homework assignments can include but are not limited to extension and intervention activities, reading or additional practice.

Assessments

Notification of major tests are given at least three days in advance and review sheets or notes provided in advance.  The SBISD grading expectations require at least two major grades per grading period. Assessments should be avoided at the end of a grading period.

Tutorial Hours

Spring Oaks holds tutorials Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4:00-4:55 PM. Teachers will host at least 1 morning and 1 afternoon tutorial each week and will post their tutorial days and times outside of their classroom.

Gradebook

Teachers are required to have at least 10 grades per 9 week cycle with at least 1 graded assignment per calendar week.

Missing Assignments

Students will have opportunities to turn in missing assignments. It is the responsibility of the student to communicate with the teacher and make arrangements to complete missing assignments. SOMS has chosen to accept missing assignments through the end of the current grading cycle.

Grading Categories

Spring Oaks Middle School, in alignment with the SBISD grading expectations, requires that all middle school courses use the grading categories of Major, Minor and Application.  Category weights will be standardized.  These grading categories and weights must be approved by SOMS administration. No assignment will count for more than 25% of the student’s grade.

Standards for Individual Assignments

The assignment of points on individual assignments is based on content objectives.  Grades for assignments must be based on academic performance on TEKS based skills and concepts.

Extra Credit

Students may earn extra credit through extra assignments related to the curriculum. Extra credit is offered at the teacher’s discretion as part of intervention and extension activities.  Extra credit is not required.  Each content team will standardize their extra credit policy and include the policy on their course syllabus.

Contacting Parents

All Spring Oaks staff are expected to maintain and document frequent communication with parents. In accordance with SBISD policy, teachers are required to contact parents immediately if a student's academic grade is failing,  in danger of failing or drops two or more letter grades after a progress report.  A parent contact is also required if a student will be issued an N or U in conduct.  Any U in conduct must be pre-approved by the grade level administrator and include a behavioral support plan for the classroom with input from parents, student, teacher and grade level administrator.

Excessive Absences

SOMS adheres to the SBISD Attendance Policy and Practices in accordance with the Texas Education Agency.  The SOMS attendance office and grade level principal will review attendance regularly throughout the year for all students.