Grading @ NHA

Academic Grades

At NHA, students work towards mastery of a variety of academic disciplines. We define mastery of a discipline as the ability to use skills and habits of mind to produce the kind of work essential to that discipline. Students have both practice assessments and major assignments known as Core Assignments to embody that work.

Student performance on these Practice and Core Assessments becomes the basis of their academic grade in each course.

Core Assessments measure student mastery of six Habits of mind — critical thinking skills aligned with Common Core and 21st-century Standards. Core Assessments count for 80% of a student’s academic grade, and practice assessments count for 20% of a student’s academic grade.

Students earn grades of A through C- on each standard in each practice and core assessment. Students must earn a C- or higher on each standard by the end of the course in order to demonstrate mastery and earn credit. If a student earns below a C- on any standard, that assessment is Not Ready (NR). The student must revise or re-do that Core Assessment (or an alternative) to demonstrate mastery of all required standards. When a student does demonstrate mastery, the grade on the Core Assessment will show their current level of mastery.

Responsibility Grades

Because responsible work habits are essential to academic success, students receive a separate grade for being responsible in each course in addition to their academic grades.

This grade is based on their work in three key areas: completing homework, participating in class activities, and meeting assessment deadlines.

Students who are responsible earn more time and support to demonstrate mastery on Core Assessments. A student who has not been responsible (NR in Responsibility) has not earned the opportunity for more time to work on Core Assessments.