Skip to main content

Lowndes County Public Schools

Engage, Empower, Elevate

Students' Grades

Students' Grades

  • Reports concerning student progress shall be made to the parents or guardians of students in the School District at least four (4) times during the scholastic school year in grades K-12.  Parents or guardians of children in grades 1 through 12 who are earning failing grades shall receive a progress/deficiency notice or progress report at the midpoint of each applicable grading period.

  • Students shall be provided with opportunities to enhance and expand their understanding of skills and concepts through appropriate homework assignments. Such assignments should logically relate to classroom activities. Homework may be assigned to students on an individual and/or group basis at the teacher's discretion.

  • Students will be expected to assume the following responsibilities when homework is assigned:

    1. Complete the assignment in the specified time period.
    2. Return the assignment on time.
    3. Do the best work possible when completing assignments.

  • Teachers will be expected to assume the following responsibilities when homework is assigned

    1. Assign homework on a regular, but reasonable basis, keeping in mind the nature of the assignment and demands that may be placed on students by other teachers.
    2. Assign homework that is related to in-class instructional activities
    3. Grade or review the homework and return it to students on a timely basis.
    4. Utilize homework as an important part of student evaluation.
    5. Expect all students to complete assignments
    6. Refrain from assigning homework as punishment for disciplinary infractions.

  • Report cards are for the purpose of transmitting an evaluation of student progress to the student and his/her parents or guardians.  Report cards shall be issued at least four (4) times during the scholastic year to all students enrolled in Lowndes County Public Schools, grades K-12. Letter grades shall be mandatory in kindergarten classes in the schools of the School District based on the following scale:

    O = Outstanding
    S = Satisfactory
    H = Help Needed

    Numerical grades are mandatory in grades one through three.  Letter grades are also used to enhance the understanding of students and parents in supportive skills.  The following scale will be utilized:

    A = 90-100                            S = Satisfactory
    B = 80-89                              I = Improving
    C = 70-79                              NI = Needs Improvement
    D = 60-69                              U = Unsastisfactory
    F = Below 60                        FA = Failure Due to Absence

  • Numerical grades are mandatory in grades one through three. Letter grades are also used to enhance the understanding of students and parents in supportive skills. The following scale will be utilized
    A = 90-100
    B = 80-89
    C = 70-79
    D = 60-69
    F = Below 60

    Numerical grades are mandatory for all academic subjects in grades four through twelve in the school of the District based upon the following scale:

    A = 90-100
    B = 80-89
    C = 70-79
    D = 60-69
    F = Below 60
    FA = Failure Due to Absence

    The letter grades "S" (Satisfactory) and "U" (Unsatisfactory) will be used to indicate grades in conduct for students enrolled in grades kindergarten through twelve. Students and parents or guardians are responsible for safeguarding report cards while they are in their possession.  If a report card is lost or damaged beyond use, a replacement report card will be completed and reissued at the parent’s request.

  • Final examinations will be given in all high school classes at the close of each term and will be administered in accordance with a schedule recommended by the principal.  Any plan for exempting students from the summary or final examination procedures will be approved by the superintendent.  The final grade will be determined by the grading procedures adopted by the school system.

Graduation Requirements

The Lowndes County Public School System prohibits elementary and/or middle school graduations.

Requirements for graduation from the school system will conform to those requirements of the Alabama State Department of Education.  The Alabama Course of Study shall be followed in determining the minimum required content in each discipline.  Students must meet the minimum credit hour requirement of the local school system. To qualify for participation in senior class activities, the student shall be eligible for graduation at the end of the regular school term.

Students who transfer to the school system from another school system must meet the Alabama graduation requirements to receive a diploma from the State of  Alabama.  Lowndes County Schools are accredited by Cognia.  Transfer credits from other schools will be accepted from other regionally accredited associations without further validation.  Students transferring from another state for their senior year who cannot meet Alabama graduation requirements because of time constraints may earn a diploma from the school previously attended if so permitted by the school.

ACCESS

ACCESS Distance Learning (Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, and Students Statewide), an education initiative of the Alabama Department of Education, provides opportunities and options for Alabama high school students to engage in Advanced Placement (AP), elective, and other courses to which they may not otherwise have access. Any student entering the ninth grade during the 2009-2010 school or later must have at least one distance Learning Course on his/her transcript to receive a diploma.

CREDIT RECOVERY

In accordance with the guidelines of the Alabama Department of Education, the Lowndes County Public School System will offer students who have received a failing grade average of 40 through 59 in courses that are required for graduation an opportunity to recover the lost credit through a standards-based approach that will target specific knowledge and skill deficits instead of requiring the student to repeat the entire course.  Such students must meet the eligibility requirements to apply.  Both the parent/guardian and the student must sign a contract regarding the terms of this program.

Promotion and Retention Policy

The Board instructs the Superintendent to develop and maintain instructional objectives and performance standards for each grade level within the School District.  Parents/Guardians and students shall be made aware of the objectives and standards at the beginning of each school year via the use of written communication and the InformationNOW (INOW)  Periodically during the year, parents and students shall be provided written and oral evaluation reports during teacher-parent conferences indicating the student's progress.

Promotion of a student from one grade to the next shall be based soley on that individual student's achievement of the minimum skills necessary to qualfity for promotion and on regular school attendance.

DUAL ENROLLMENT/DUAL CREDIT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Institutions within the Alabama College System are authorized to establish dual enrollment/dual credit programs with local boards of education in the college service area.  Courses offered by postsecondary institutions shall be of postsecondary level, and enrolled students must pay normal tuition as required by the postsecondary institution, or as stipulated if a contract for services between the two levels.  The tuition may be paid by a Board sponsored program.  A student is eligible for dual enrollment/dual credit if the student meets the following criteria:

  1. The student must meet the entrance requirements established by institutions of postsecondary education.
  2. The student must have a 3.0 average in completed high school courses.
  3. The student must have written approval from the appropriate principal and the local superintendent of education.
  4. The student must be in grade 10, 11, 12,  or have an exception granted by the participating postsecondary institution upon the recommendation of the student's principal and superintendent and in accordance with Alabama Administrative Code 290-8-9-17 regarding gifted and talented students.  ( See the Student Handbook for additional information)

Diplomas and Certificates Issued

ALL students shall earn the required credits for the Alabama High School Diploma.  The local school board of education may establish requirements for the receipt of diplomas and endorsements, but any endorsement shall include the requirements of the Alabama High School Diploma.

Eligibility for participation in graduation exercises

In order to participate in graduation exercises, all students must complete and fulfill all requirements for graduation in accordance with the selected diploma type.