When Highland Middle School begins classes this year, students will be graded on a new scale. The school is moving away from the traditional percentage-based grading, opting instead for standards-based grading, which uses a 0-4 scale. Principal Angela Hazelett said it also adjusts how they assess students. If a student doesn’t assess well, or doesn’t demonstrate their learning to the desired level of mastery, they’re looking at how they can help the student relearn so they can understand it. Hazelett added the middle school teachers have been working for the past year to make sure they do standards-based grading correctly.

Next Friday, August 19th, Highland will have a meeting for all middle school students following 6th grade orientation. Hazelett says it’s to let parents know how things will look different, that includes showing how report cards are going to look, as well as explaining what reassessment is and how it will help. Sixth grade orientation will start at 5:30 p.m. at the middle school gym, and will include a hot dog supper. The standards-based grading meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gym.