August 2024
The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) mission is to ensure that students reach their full potential through rigorous and joyful learning experiences provided in a nurturing environment. DCPS is focused on accelerating growth for students of all identities and abilities by ensuring equitable access to opportunity and removing barriers to learning. This policy conveys DCPS requirements for grading and reporting on student academic progress for secondary students (i.e., grades 6 – 12).
DCPS believes that grades support ongoing learning, provide timely feedback, and help plan personalized instruction, while making a record of growth and development over a student’s school career. As such, grades are a measure of a state of skill and knowledge of content that is taught, learned, and demonstrated based on the DCPS curriculum and are transparent and consistent among all schools, within set parameters. Grades are based on standards-based evidence of student learning demonstrated in foundational course engagement, assignments, and assessments throughout the term. Grades are not a mechanism used to sort students, perpetuate opportunity gaps, or manage students’ behavior. Grades are not based on institutional compliance or compatibility nor are they a tool for teaching accountability or consequences to students.
In revising this policy for school year 2024-25, DCPS updated requirements around submission deadlines and grading for makeup and late work, developed new standards for academic integrity, and made other minor changes.
For additional information on calculating high school grade point averages, please see dcps.dc.gov/publication/calculating-high-school-grade-point-averages.
June 2024
DCPS has developed a Summer Learning Secondary Grading and Reporting Guidance to support critical summer learning programs that provide students with important opportunities for academic growth, the recovery of many core courses, and preparation for the upcoming school year. Given the nature of summer learning programs, some typical grading and reporting procedures must be modified, and the new guidance details these changes. Unless specifically noted in this guidance, all other requirements of the current Secondary Grading and Reporting Policy apply to summer learning courses.
