Clay County Schools establish end of year grading plans

CLAY COUNTY, N.C. – Clay County School System (CCS) implemented specialized policies in accordance with NCSBE for students’ end of year grading.

State leaders wanted the grading to positively impact students whose homes suddenly became their classrooms. As a result, students couldn’t receive a failing grade and assignments turned in after March 13 are held at a minimum. Only students who were previously failing before the schools closed and they made zero effort to bring up their grades.

How students will be assessed differs according to grade level. Kindergarten through Fifth will not receive a grade, but feedback on individual progress.

Middle schoolers (6-8) will receive passing or withdrawn course marks and can make up credits at a later date.

Ninth through Eleventh students will have an option on how they their grades are recording. Option One: they can receive their numeric grade as of March 13 or currently if that grade is higher.

Option Two: They can take a passing or withdrawn grade. Withdrawn scores won’t receive credit, but students have a make-up opportunity.

CCS counselors are creating recommendations for high school students and parents to review before they make a final decision.

For high school seniors, CCS pulled the grades from March 13 if those scores were essential for graduation. If they were failing, they could raise grades through online learning.  Non-essential courses could receive a withdrawn mark. College courses fell under the college’s jurisdiction.

At this time, prom and graduation will hopefully be rescheduled for July depending on the state’s reopening plans.

“All of our students are given 13 years to master the standards to that are required to earn a diploma in the state of North Carolina,” said Superintendent Dale Cole. “A grade is nothing more than our attempt to measure progress.”

Cole went on to say that he believed the state made a decision between “equity and accountability.”  Grades are often used to compare student progress, but the school can’t control a student’s resources outside of their education.

“If we were going to going to grade kids based on work they were doing at home, and we don’t control the environment in which they’re working,” explained Cole. “There’s a lot of inequity. It would not be fair to give grades to students when they don’t have equal access resources or possibly an environment in which they can succeed.”