Examinations are administered quarterly. The time period for examinations is one hour and thirty minutes
for Academic and Honors Courses, and two hours for AP Courses. The last week of each quarter is devoted to this task, with two examinations given each morning.
Exemptions from final examinations are permitted in all full credit courses. To be eligible for exemption from a final examination, a student must meet all the following requirements:
It is the teacher’s discretion whether he/she wants to offer exemptions; if exemptions are offered, any student who meets the academic criteria is exempt. A teacher is NOT REQUIRED to exempt students from an examination. A student who is exempt from a final examination receives a grade of A for that examination.
Report cards are mailed to parents at the conclusion of each marking period. Grades are determined and recorded by the letter classification system: A, B, C, D, F. Selected comments relative to the grades earned, together with other pertinent information, appear on the report cards.
The following designations are attached to the letter grading system:
In determining grade point averages, quality points are awarded for letter grades as follows:
Honors Courses
A………………..5.0
B………………..4.0
C………………..3.0
D………………..2.0
F………………..0.0
Academic Courses
A…………………….4.0
B…………………….3.0
C…………………….2.0
D…………………….1.0
F…………………….0.0
Quarter Grades
Quarter grades are determined by a combination of daily work and an examination. The exam given during exam week is counted for 1/3 of the quarter grade.
Semester Grades
A first semester grade is designated after the 1st and 2nd quarters. A second semester grade is designated after the 3rd and 4th quarters. The first semester grade will be calculated by the teacher using the 1st and 2nd quarter numerical averages. The semester numerical average will be converted to a letter grade on the report card. The second semester grade will be calculated by the teacher using the 3rd and 4th quarter numerical averages. The semester numerical average will be converted to a letter grade on the report card.
Final Grades
The final grade is designated after the completion of the year. The fnal grade will be calculated by the teacher using the first semester and second semester numerical averages. The fnal grade will be converted to a letter grade on the report card.
Failing Grades
Students who have earned a grade of “F” in the fourth quarter earn a grade of “F” for the second semester and for the final grade regardless of the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd quarter numerical average and regardless of the 2nd semester and of the final numerical average. Students who have earned a grade of “F” as a final grade at the end of the regular school session must continue that/those course(s) in credit recovery at Brother Martin as determined by the Principal. Normally, no more than two credits may be made up in credit recovery. Any student who does not earn the required number of credits will not be allowed to continue at Brother Martin. No student may attend a summer session at another school for any course for which credit is to appear on his Brother Martin transcript unless he first obtains written permission from the Principal.
A senior who fails required courses may still participate in school functions, including graduation exercises, but will not receive his diploma until he passes the failed course(s) in credit recovery immediately following his senior year. Failure to successfully complete all requirements of Brother Martin credit recovery and requirements for a Brother Martin diploma will result in the senior forfeiting that diploma and all honors and privileges thereunto appertaining.
The Brother Martin High School transcript serves as the official student record. All high school level courses and their respective semester and final grades are recorded on the high school transcript. Grades acquired in credit recovery are included, but these grades do not replace grades earned during the regular school year. The Assistant Principal for Academics makes all decisions regarding student transcripts.
The Blackbaud LMS is used to inform students and parents of their son’s performance in all courses. Students’ grades are periodically posted on Blackbaud for parents and students to view.
The Academic Status Report is used to inform parents of their sons performance in all courses. Academic Status Reports are distributed to parents periodically.
In determining grade point averages, quality points are awarded for letter grades as follows:
Grade point averages may be converted to letter grades by using the following chart:
3.50 and above…………………A
2.50 – 3.49………………………B
1.50 – 2.49………………………C
0.60 – 1.49 ……………………..D
0.00 – 0.59………………………F
A student’s cumulative grade point average is reported on a student’s high school transcript. The cumulative grade point average is determined by each set of semester letter grades that a student earns during his high school years. Credit recovery grades are also used in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average.
Note: Colleges, universities, and other scholarship institutions reserve the right to recalculate a student’s cumulative grade point average according to their requirements and regulations.
The calculation of the cumulative grade point average of seniors in the top 10% of their class will exclude the quality points earned for all non-honors credits above the minimum graduation requirements. However, the grades and credits for these “extra” non-honors courses will remain on the transcript.
All decisions regarding student transcripts are made by the Academic Assistant Principal.
