Grading and Promotion Policy

Board of Education Policy:

On June 9, 2025, the Asheville City Board of Education approved a revision to Board Policy 3400: Evaluation of Student Progress. The updated policy includes five core grading principles that must be followed in ACS:

Accuracy: Grading calculations are mathematically sound, easy to understand, and correctly describe a student’s level of academic performance.
Reflection of proficiency on academic standards: Grades reflect proficiency of standards as measured by varied assessments and a body of evidence. Homework, behaviors, and essential skills can be recorded in the gradebook to monitor progress and provide feedback, but should not be used in calculating a student’s grade.
Supports a culture of revision: Grading practices should motivate students to achieve academic success, support a growth mindset, and give students an opportunity for redemption. By fostering a culture of revision, grades inspire a growth mindset where achievement is not fixed, but rather a process of learning through reflection and revision.
Provide students with timely and actionable feedback: Grades are transparent and understandable so that every student knows their progress towards mastering all standards. Timely and actionable feedback is provided on all learning tasks to support the learning process.
Distinguishes and connects the means for learning (habits of scholarship) from the ends (academic success): While measuring and reporting progress on academic standards is essential, equally important are the skills and practices that support student learning, also known as habits of scholarship. High quality grading practices separate the mastery of standards with the skills and habits that support high levels of learning such as perseverance, collaboration, goal setting, attendance.

K-8 Promotion Benchmarks

Links to ACS School Board Policies and Procedure for Student Promotion & Accountability:

Elementary Promotion Benchmarks

Kindergarten

Students must demonstrate proficiency of the Kindergarten grade-level NC State standards to meet promotion benchmarks. Readiness for the 1st grade will be determined by the child’s classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school’s Student Support Team (SST).

1st Grade

Students must demonstrate proficiency of 1st grade NC State standards to meet the promotion benchmarks. Readiness for the 2nd grade will be determined by the child’s classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school’s Student Support Team (SST).

2nd Grade

Students must demonstrate proficiency of the 2nd grade grade-level NC State standards to meet the promotion benchmarks. Readiness for the 3rd grade will be determined by the child’s classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school’s Student Support Team (SST).

3rd Grade

Students must demonstrate proficiency of the 3rd grade grade-level NC State standards to meet the promotion benchmarks. Additionally, North Carolina General Statute §115C-83.7 (a) states that the North Carolina State Board of Education (SBE) “shall require that a student be retained in the third grade if the student fails to demonstrate reading proficiency appropriate for a third grade student, as demonstrated on a State-approved standardized test of reading comprehension administered to third grade students” (i.e., end-of-grade [EOG] test).

Students who do not score proficient or higher on the reading section of the NC English Language Arts EOG will be invited to attend summer school for additional instruction in reading.

Based on Read to Achieve legislation, 3rd grade retained students receive targeted instruction, including at least 90 minutes of daily evidence-based reading instruction, and may be placed in specialized classes.

4th Grade

Students must demonstrate proficiency of the 4th grade NC State standards by earning a passing grade of 60 or higher in three out of four subject areas for the year to meet promotion benchmarks. Students must pass math and English Language Arts for the year. Students must earn a passing grade of 60 or higher each semester to pass for the year.

Students who do not meet the promotion benchmarks by the end of the regular school year are strongly encouraged to attend summer school to receive additional instruction.

A student support team will determine promotion for any student who did not meet the promotion benchmarks. An individualized learning plan will be developed for all students promoted through the SST process.

5th Grade

Students must demonstrate proficiency on the 5th grade NC State standards by earning a passing grade of 60 or higher in three out of four subject areas to meet promotion benchmarks. Students must pass math and English Language Arts for the year. Students must earn a passing grade of 60 or higher each semester to pass for the year. In addition to passing three out of four subjects, 5th grade students must also score proficient or higher (a level 3 or higher) on the NC English Language Arts End of Grade (EOG) and NC Math End of Grade (EOG) Assessment.

Students who do not meet the promotion benchmarks by the end of the regular school year are strongly encouraged to attend summer school to receive additional instruction.

Students who are not proficient on the NC English Language Arts EOG or the NC Math EOG, but earned a 70 or higher both semesters in ELA and or math will automatically have a local school review with the student support team to determine promotion.

A student support team, including a middle school representative, will determine promotion for any student who did not meet the promotion benchmarks at the conclusion of summer school.

Note: Promotion for a Multilingual Learner (ML) is guided by the student’s Multilingual Learner Proficiency Plan, and promotion for Exceptional students is determined by their IEP.

Middle School Promotion Benchmarks and Guidelines

6th Grade

Students must demonstrate proficiency on the 6th grade NC State standards by passing five out of six classes with a grade of 60 or higher each semester to meet promotion benchmarks. Language Arts and Mathematics must be two of the five subjects passed.

Students who do not meet the promotion benchmarks by the end of the regular school year are strongly encouraged to attend summer school to receive additional instruction.

7th Grade

Students must demonstrate proficiency on the 7th grade NC State standards by passing five out of six classes with a grade of 60 or higher each semester to meet the promotion benchmarks. Language Arts and Mathematics must be two of the five subjects passed.

Students who do not meet the promotion benchmarks by the end of the regular school year are strongly encouraged to attend summer school to receive additional instruction.

8th Grade

Students must demonstrate proficiency on the 8th grade NC State standards by passing five out of six classes with a grade of 60 or higher each semester to meet the promotion benchmarks. Language Arts and Mathematics must be two of the five subjects passed. Students must also score proficient (level 3 or higher) on the NC English Language Arts End of Grade (EOG) Assessment, the NC Math End of Grade (EOG) Assessment.

The ACS Career Development Plan must also be completed prior to promotion to 9th grade.

Students who are not proficient on the NC English Language Arts EOG and or the NC Math EOG, but earned a 70 or higher both semesters in ELA and or math will automatically have a local school review with the student support team to determine promotion.

Students who do not meet the promotion benchmarks by the end of the regular school year are strongly encouraged to attend summer school to receive additional instruction.

A student support team, including a representative from the high school, will determine promotion for any student who did not meet the promotion benchmarks at the conclusion of summer school.

Note: Promotion for a Multilingual Learner (ML) is guided by the student’s Multilingual Learner Proficiency Plan, and promotion for Exceptional students is determined by their IEP.