Calvert Schools Considers Shaking Up Grading Practices To Increase Accountability

PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County Public Schools is looking to change its grading practices across elementary, middle and high schools to ensure accountability and fairness across all schools.

As part of the recommendations, Director of System and Instructional Performance Scott McComb and his team suggested creating a unified purpose statement for grading across the district during their presentation at the April 9 Board of Education (BOE) meeting. The draft statement reads:

“The purpose of grading in Calvert County Public Schools is to provide clear, consistent, and accurate communication about a student’s mastery of curriculum and standards. Grades reflect what students know and are able to do academically. Grading informs students, families, and educators about progress and guides instructional decisions that support growth, continuous improvement, and long-term success.”

McComb said grading procedures should focus on relearning and reassessment, homework that supports learning, academic integrity with accountability, commitment to consistency and clear communication with students and families.

One topic of interest to the Board of Education (BOE) was the 50% floor for grading at the high school level. Under this policy, students cannot get less than a 50% grade even if they don’t turn in an assignment. BOE members expressed concerns about accountability and how this policy may not be in the best interest of students as they prepare for college or the workforce.

However, McComb recommended keeping the 50% grading floor; otherwise, he said, academic recovery is “impossible.” It’s better to have students remain engaged and try to master the material with the help of teachers, rather than check out of the course knowing they’re going to fail.

McComb also recommended continuing to evaluate best practices around the state, soliciting opinions of stakeholders within the schools and initiating a study of standards-based grading as his team continues to shape the grading policy in the school district.

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