Quarterly Recount

Late in the first marking period, it was brought to the student body’s attention that the quarterlies will be 20% of our final grade. Originally, the four marking periods were 25% of our final grade. However, now the four marking periods are 20% of our grade along with the quarterlies.

Quarterly grades are separated from marking period grades on report cards. Previously, quarterlies were a small 5% taken out of our marking period grade. Many students oppose the new grading policy. They say that quarterlies will affect final grades too much and that they were not made aware of this shift prior to the testing. A majority of students say they’d rather have a midterm and final exam rather than having quarterlies be 20% of our grade.

Many students and teachers agree that quarterlies should be more connected to the curriculum. Typically, these tests are literacy-based, which people feel makes it difficult to perform well when the subject area generally is not. Students cannot prepare for the tests, which they feel is what makes it unfair to count the quarterlies so much.