SEMESTER EXAMSAND GRADING

what you need to know about

FORE MORE INFORMATION:Maria Phillips, Director | Curriculum Policy

817.814.2468 | maria.phillips@fwisd.org

All Fort Worth ISD high school and middle school students taking high school classes will take a semester exam or complete a culminating activity in each class. Semester exams/culminating activities will be given at the end of each semester in December and May. Students who fail the semester exam cannot retake the exam.

A culminating activity can include a project, essay, performance, report, speech, etc.

*Middle school students taking world languages and all other middle school subjects may still be required to take a semester exam or complete a culminating activity. However, the grade the student receives on the semester exam or culminating activity will be used to calculate the 3rd six-week grade or 6th six-week grade, as appropriate.

The grade the student receives on the semester exam or the culminating activity will be used to calculate the final semester grade as follows:

FALL SEMESTER 1st Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade 2nd Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade 3rd Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade Fall Semester Exam 14.5% of Semester Grade

SPRING SEMESTER 4th Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade 5th Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade 6th Six-Week Grade 28.5% of Semester Grade Spring Semester Exam 14.5% of Semester Grade

SEMESTER EXAM EXEMPTIONSWith parent permission, a senior student may choose to not take the semester exam during the spring semester if the student:• Is a graduating senior• Has an average of 85 or higher in the class for the spring semester (4th, 5th,

and 6th six-week grades)• Does not have more than 1 unexcused absence during the spring semester in the

course the student is requesting the exam exemption

• Has not been suspended or assigned to an alternative program during the entire school year; and

• Submits a form, signed by the parent, requesting the exemptionA student can choose to take the semester exam, even if the student qualifies for the exemption. Excused absences or absences for school-or District-sanctioned events, such as games, tournaments, competitions, or field trips will not be counted against a student.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSQ: How will students know what option a teacher will choose and when will they be notified?A: Teachers will communicate with students in advance of finals so that they can prepare.

Q: When will students find out their semester grade? A: Students will learn their grade with the 3rd and 6th six-week report cards.

Q: How does grading work if students choose not to take the exam or culminating activity? A: For senior students who are exempt from the final exam, their second semester grade will be the average of the 4th, 5th and 6th six-week grades.

GRADE WEIGHT POINTS

1st Six Weeks 92 28.5% 26.2

2nd Six Weeks 85 28.5% 24.2

3rd Six Weeks 80 28.5% 22.8

Semester Exam or Culminating Activity

78 14.5% 11.3

FIRST SEMESTER GRADE 84.6 = 85

Fall Semester Example