Grading
Individual teachers develop assessments for their own classrooms.

Effective September 2008 and thereafter, numeric grading will replace alpha grades on report cards.

If a student is taking a Regents Examination, it will be calculated as 20% of a student's overall final average for that course.

Grading Scale and Points
Grades for ALL subjects which meet for the quarter are used in the calculation. (The only exception is Physical Education) Add them up and divide by the number of grades.

95 - 1004.5
90 - 944.0
85 - 893.5
80 - 843.0
75 - 792.5
70 - 742.0
65 - 691.0
0 - 640
Incomplete0

Honor Roll
All students can make High Honors and Honor Roll. GPA of 4.0-4.5 is necessary for High Honors and a GPA of 3.5-4.0 for Honor Roll. An "F" in any subject excludes students from Honor Roll. A grade of "I" (Incomplete) will hold up Honor Roll until it is converted to a grade. Courses that meet every day carry 2X the weight of a course that meets every other day. Questions should be referred to your Guidance Counselor.

Honor Society
The National Junior Honor Society at Selden Middle School recognizes student who excel academically and socially.

The NJHS meets once a month. 8th grade students are eligible for induction into the SMS chapter of the National Junior Honor Society if they meet the following scholastic criteria:

Members must complete 16 hours of community service at two separate locations/services.

B+ or better average for the first 3 quarters
In addition, candidates must demonstrate evidence of leadership, service, character and citizenship. Students may not apply for membership. Membership is granted only to those students selected by the faculty council based on its review of specific evidence of leadership, service, character and citizenship. If your child qualifies your child will receive a packet from your team leader at the end of the third quarter.

Participation 
Grade is at least 15% of each quarter's grades. Criteria for participation will be defined by individual teachers/teams.

Assessments and Finals
A variety of assessments will be used to reflect expected progress during marking periods 1,2 and 3. The type of assessment (quizzes, projects, research, presentations, portfolios, examinations) will vary with each teacher. Instead of a quarterly exam, teachers will assess students using a variety of measurements (5) that may include essays, tests, quizzes and others. With exception of accelerated courses, classes will end with a final exam. This examination constitutes 20% of the final course average. Each marking period constitutes 20% as well.

PARENTS: Help Your Student Raise Their Grades By Improving Their Study Skills

1. Have a set time and place for doing homework each day. For example, set aside 4 to 5 pm each day at the same location. Pick a time when your student is alert and you can monitor them.
2. Study where there is a desk or table with good light and quiet. No TV and phone calls during the homework hour(s.)
3. If no homework has been assigned, study for upcoming tests or read during the homework hour(s).
4. Break the homework hour(s) into 15-minute chunks, if your student has trouble sitting still for an hour. Use a timer to allow 5-minute breaks.
5. Reward your student each day for completing the homework hour e.g., with TV or phone privileges. TV, computer time, phone time are privileges…establish what your students needs to do to earn those privileges.
6. Check your student’s agenda book. Are they writing down their homework assignments? If your student isn’t writing down their homework assignments in their agenda book, require them to approach their teacher for a signature. Reward them nightly for doing so and remove privileges nightly if they do not do it.
7. Turn the agenda book so that any loose papers fall out. If papers fall out, your student is not using the agenda book properly. All current assignments should be in their binders or folders and filed properly. Old homework and tests should be filed at home for studying for tests.
8. If your student says they’ve done their homework already, ask them to show you the homework they did that is indicated in the agenda book.
9. Teach your student to break studying for tests and working on projects into manageable pieces spread out over several days. This becomes their homework. Many students leave these tasks for the night before they are due then it is too overwhelming to do and they give up.
10. Many students with low grades need help with managing their homework time. They think of homework as only what the teacher assigns. They need to learn that homework includes studying for tests several days before the test and working on projects for several days/weeks before the project is due.