Letter Grades
CRLS issues letter grades based on the following scale:

Course Requirements
Grading:

• Teachers are expected to provide all their classes with an explanation of their grading policy and their expectations for students. Course contracts for each teacher are posted 
on the CRLS web site.
• Explanations and expectations are given out in writing during the first few weeks of each course. Students should make sure that they obtain their copy and keep it in their
 notebook. Students should also be sure they understand what is expected of them in each of their classes.
• Parents will receive copies of class grading policies at the first Parent-Teacher Night.

Early Examinations: Students are discouraged from asking to take midterm and final exams early. All requests for such early testing must be made to the Dean of Curriculum.

Report Cards/Interim Reports
Report cards/Interim Reports are issued to students and parents four times each year.

• Report cards are usually distributed 10 days after the close of grades.
• Interim Reports are usually distributed midway through each term
• Report cards/Interim Reports are very important and should be reviewed carefully. Parents and students may schedule an appointment with any teacher to discuss class performance and progress.
• Report cards are used to determine athletic eligibility.

School Grading Procedures
Grade Corrections:Once a teacher has issued a grade, it becomes an official part of theschool record. If a teacher has made an error in calculating a grade(i.e. added wrong, forgot to include a project or grade, etc.) then thefollowing procedure is to be followed:

1) The student or parent/guardian of said student must make allgrade-correction requests to the teacher within three weeks from thedate report cards are issued. Grade correction requests submitted afterthis date will be reviewed.

2) If the teacher determines that an error was made in calculatingthe grade, he/she will complete a CRLS Grade Correction form indicatingthe correction and reason(s) for the change. All Grade Correction formsmust be submitted to his/her Dean of Curriculum for review and approval.Under no conditions can a teacher change a grade because the studentmade up work after the marking period closed.

Incomplete Grade: If a student has missed extensivework due to absenteeism resulting from a family emergency or prolongedillness, the teacher may allow the student to make up missed work and/ortests after the marking period has closed by giving the student anIncomplete (“I”) and by filling out an Incomplete Grade Contract formwhich is submitted with the teacher’s grade list to the Dean ofCurriculum. A copy of the Incomplete Contract is to be given to thestudent by the teacher. All Incomplete Grades (“I”) must be changed to agrade the following marking period.

Honor Roll

• First Honors: No grade below an A- (all grades are A or better with no grade below an A-)
• Second Honors: No grade below a B- (all grades are B or better with no grade below a B-)
• Honors: A student must have an overall average of B- or better. No student may be on the Honor Roll if s/he fails a subject, or receives an NR or an Incomplete. All Incompletes must be converted to a final grade before a student is eligible for the Honor Roll

National Honor Society Membership
Juniors with a cumulative GPA of 87 or higher will automatically receive an application after the second marking period. Learn more >>

Course Change Procedure
Add/Dropweek is an opportunity for students to meet and discuss their schedulewith their counselors. Add/Drop occurs during the first five days ofschool each semester. Students may withdraw from courses during thisweek without penalty. Once Add/Drop week has passed, only changes to amore appropriate level in a course will be approved. At the close of themarking period, students who require a course change that is within thesame discipline (Honors Math to College Preparatory Math for example)will carry their marking period grade to the new course and the gradewill be averaged with the marking period grade earned in the new courseto produce a final grade. For semester long courses, credit will beawarded for the new course. When a student changes to a semester-longcourse that is not within the same discipline, (Spanish to Art forexample) the student will keep the marking period grade earned in thefirst class and be issued a final grade of WP-Withdrawn Passing orWF-Withdrawn Failing. Credit will be issued for the new course and willbe pro-rated based on placement time. Once the Add/Drop week has passed,only those requests for course changes that satisfy the guidelineslisted below will be approved:

• To change to a more appropriate level in a course
• To correct an error
• To balance a students academic courses over 2 semesters
• Medical necessity
• To drop or add a course as a result of summer school or a scheduling gap
• To add a required course
• As a result of a Special Education or English Language Learner Team decision

Course Withdrawals

• Students who withdraw from a class within two weeks prior to the close of grades will receive a grade for that course.
• Students who withdraw prior to the two weeks of closing of grades will receive WP or WF as a grade for that marking period.

NOTICE REGARDING STUDENTS WHO LEAVE SCHOOL
TheCambridge Public Schools is committed to having students complete theirelementary and secondary education. In the event that a student who issixteen years of age or older seeks to leave school without a highschool diploma, certificate of attainment or certificate of completion,the Cambridge Public Schools adheres to the requirements of M.G.L.c. 76,§18 and follows the procedures set forth below:

1. The principal or designee issues a letter to the parent/guardianof the student notifying the parent/guardian that the student either (a)has expressed an intention of withdrawing from school without anintention of returning, or (b) has had fifteen (15) consecutive absencesfrom school and indicating the student’s last date of attendance atschool.

In order for the school to determine whether the student iswithdrawing from school without intending to return, the schoolschedules a meeting with the student and his/her parent/guardian for thepurpose of discussing the reasons why the student wants to leave schooland to explore alternative educational and other placements for thestudent prior to him/her formally withdrawing from school. Theparent/guardian may request that the date and time of this meeting bechanged provided that the extension of time shall be no longer thanfourteen (14) days from the date of issuance of the letter by theprincipal or designee.

2. After the meeting has been held with the parent/guardian and thestudent, the principal or designee issues a letter to theparent/guardian of the student summarizing what was discussed and anydecision that was reached at the meeting, including but not limited to,whether the student is returning to school, pursuing an alternativeeducational placement, pursuing other support services or permanentlyleaving school.

3. In accordance with the provisions of M.G.L.c. 76, §18, anydetermination that that a student would be permanently leaving schoolshall not be construed as a permanent exclusion of the student if he/shewishes to resume his/her education.