Grading and Reporting – Venture Academy

Grading & Reporting

Lower School Grading – Kindergarten through 6th Grade

Student progress is reported by means of combined checklists, rubrics, and written comments for all academic subject areas.

Academic Specific

4 – Exceptional: Exceeding the educational outcome
3 – Proficient: Meeting the educational outcome
2 – Progressing: Progressing toward the educational outcome
1 – Beginning: Not meeting the educational outcome
(*) – Not assessed at this time

Behavior Specific

O – Outstanding: Consistently exceeds expectations
S – Satisfactory: Meets grade-level expectations
N – Needs Improvement: Below grade-level expectations

5th Grade

This will be a transition year for students from lower school grading to upper school grading. Student progress will continue to be represented in the gradebook using the 1-4 and O-N scales above. At the start of the second semester, teachers will assign an A-F letter grade to tests and major assignments. Teachers will give feedback to help students and families understand the given A-F letter grade in preparation for upper school grading.

Parents/guardians and students can access student progress each quarter through Veracross, Venture’s learning management system. Teachers prepare formal evaluations, including letter grades, at the end of each quarter. Teachers also write narrative comments reflecting student growth and challenges.

Core Academic Subject Areas

Bible
Math
Science
History
Literacy
Writing
Handwriting
Spelling

At Venture Academy, teachers will be expected to put two entries into the grade book for each student in each core subject area every week. Teachers will use their professional discretion to choose what entries to include, but the assessment/feedback entered must directly connect to student learning objectives. Rubrics, checklists, and written feedback will be used when assessing students, looking at the progress along the way just as much as the final product. At Venture, we are committed to creating high-quality, student-centered assessments that accurately showcase student learning and achievement.

Each core academic subject area will use a combination of grades from quizzes, tests, homework, projects, and participation to arrive at the final grade for each quarter.

Specialists in Lower School – Kindergarten through 6th Grade

Specialist grades for K-6 will use the following:

O – Outstanding: Consistently exceeds expectations
S – Satisfactory: Meets grade-level expectations
N – Needs Improvement: Below grade-level expectations

Specialist teachers will be expected to put one entry into the grade book for each student every week.

Teachers will use their professional discretion to choose what entries to include, but the assessment/feedback/participation must be directly connected to student learning objectives. Rubrics, checklists, and written feedback will be used when assessing students, looking at the progress along the way just as much as the final product. At Venture, we are committed to creating high-quality, student-centered assessments that accurately showcase student learning and achievement.

Specialists will use a combination of grades from projects and participation to arrive at the final grade for each quarter.

Social/Emotional Learning

The student…

Exhibits positive behavior
Participates appropriately in group activities
Works without disrupting others
Follows classroom rules and routines
Adjusts to transitions and changes
Responds to conflict effectively
Takes care of materials and belongings

Approaches to Learning

The student…

Pivots with perseverance in challenging situations
Stays on task and ignores distractions
Seeks help when needed
Listens attentively
Uses time constructively
Responds appropriately to instruction
Works independently when needed
Takes learning risks/demonstrates initiative

Portrait of a Venture Student – Core Competencies

The Portrait of a Venture Student is a tool that identifies the skills, character, competencies, and mindsets that will readily prepare students for an uncertain future. What we measure matters, but so does the how and why behind those measures. The Portrait of a Graduate is transformational because it aligns school operations and learning around a collective vision for student success. With this vision, the Venture Academy community is taking a strong stance on what it means for your students to be college, career, and life-ready at key developmental junctures in their journey.

The Portrait of a Venture Student will be used systemically at Venture Academy from Kindergarten through 12th grade. Across subject areas, teachers will be committed to fostering student growth that supports the whole child and goes beyond test scores. The Portrait of a Venture Student outlines future-oriented skills and competencies necessary for children to thrive in tomorrow’s complex, rapidly changing world and be equipped to do impactful Kingdom work. Students will receive discipleship and coaching from the teachers that will guide them in cultivating these skills authentically. At Venture Academy, we are committed to helping your student be equipped to do their best in school and beyond.

Here are the eight competencies and the corresponding progressive rubric that teachers will use with students in day-to-day life in the classroom and will be shared and discussed with parents at conferences:

Standardized MAP Growth Testing

All elementary students will participate in MAP Growth Testing. MAP Growth Testing is an innovative assessment that measures achievement and growth for students K-12. The following core subject areas are assessed:

Math
Reading
Language Usage
Science

MAP Growth Testing provides the school leadership and teachers with accurate and actionable evidence to help guide and inform instructional strategies for all students (below grade level, at grade level, and above grade level).

At Venture Academy, elementary students in grades K-6 will be assessed three times yearly: fall, winter, and spring. After every testing session, the scores will be shared with parents and discussed at parent/teacher conferences. The MAP results will provide teachers, parents, and students with opportunities to partner to create personalized goals for each student.

Upper School Grading – 6th through 12th Grade

The A – F grade system is used for core academic courses and elective courses:

A – Outstanding achievement; excellent performance
B – Achievement beyond the requirements of the class; commendable performance
C – Satisfactory achievement in meeting the requirements of the course; adequate performance
D – Unsatisfactory achievement; has not met all requirements of the class
F – Failed the course; credit may not be given

Student grades assess academic performance and the ability to manage time effectively, collaborate with others, complete homework accurately and responsibly, and participate in daily classroom activities. Grades measure student learning, ability, and effort and do not necessarily reflect potential. Students who do not receive a passing grade on an assessment may retake or do additional work, as determined by the teacher, to receive up to a C-.

Upper School Grading

A (94.0% and above)
A– (90.0% – 93.9%)
B+ (87.0% – 89.9%)
B (83.0% – 86.9%)
B- (80.0% – 82.9%)
C+ (77.0% – 79.9%)
C (73.0% – 76.9%)
C- (70.0% – 72.9%)
D+ (67.0% – 69.9%)
D (63.0% – 66.9%)
D- (60.0% – 62.9%)
F (0.0% – 59.9%)