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How are summary grades calculated in report cards?

In TeacherEase, there are two types of grading periods: regular and summary. Regular grading periods include quarters, trimesters, terms, and exam grading periods. Teachers can enter assignments in regular grading periods. Every class should have at least one regular grading period. Summary grading periods include Sem #1, Sem #2, and Final. These grades are usually shown on transcripts and submitted for state reporting. Teachers cannot enter assignments into summary grading periods, but they can calculate a grade based on the assignments entered in the regular grading periods.

There are calculation modes used to calculate traditional summary grades in the report card:

If your report card uses standards-based grades, there are additional factors on the grading scale that affect how your report card grades are calculated, which can be found here. Below, you can find how report card grades are calculated in each of the aforementioned modes. If you are unsure of which report card grade calculation mode your school is using, please consult one of your school administrators.

Grades are calculated from previous report card grades

In this mode, summary report card grades are calculated as a weighted average of the previous regular grading period report card grades (e.g. two quarter grades are averaged into a semester grade). Although admins can set a default weight to each grading period, teachers can change the weight for individual classes using the classic page.

To calculate report card grades for a summary grading period:

  1. Go To Instructor Main > Report Cards (beta)
  2. (Optional) Select which Grading Periods you wish to import grades for
    • By default, the page will select all active grading periods
  3. (traditional grades only) Hover over the class you want to calculate grades for and select the Enter Grades () icon
    • Mass Calculate Grades
    • Select which grading periods to import onto the report card
    • Set the Overwrite Mode
    • Set if you want to Calculate for inactive students
    • Calculate
    • Save & Close
  4. (standards-based-grades only)  Hover over the class you want to calculate grades for and select the Enter Grades () icon. If multiple grading periods are active, select the icon to access a drop down to select the relevant grading period
    • Select Calculate Average at the bottom of the page
    • Set the weights you’d like used in the calculation of the overall summary grade
    • Calculate
    • Save

To calculate report card grades for a summary grading period using the classic page:

  1. Go to Instructor Main > Report Cards (classic)
  2. Select Classes or Subjects next to the appropriate grading period
  3. Enter Grades
  4. Select Calculate Average at the bottom of the page
  5. Set the weights you’d like used in the calculation of the overall summary grade
  6. Calculate
  7. Save

Grades are calculated in gradebook

Like “grades are calculated from previous report card grades” mode, this mode calculates the summary grade by weighting each regular grading period. However, there are some key differences:

  • Summary grades are displayed live in the gradebook for the teacher to view as the year progresses.
  • The admin controls the weight of each grading period for the entire school (at Admin Main > Grading Periods). Teachers cannot adjust the weights for individual classes.
  • Summary grades are imported into the report card instead of calculated.

To calculate summary grading period grades from the gradebook grades:

  1. Go To Instructor Main > Report Cards (beta)
  2. (Optional) Select which Grading Periods you wish to import grades for
    • By default, the page will select all active grading periods
  3. (traditional grades only) Hover over the class you want to calculate grades for and select the Enter Grades () icon
    • Mass Calculate Grades
    • Select which grading periods to import onto the report card
    • Set the Overwrite Mode
    • Set if you want to Calculate for inactive students
    • Calculate
    • Save & Close
  4. (standards-based-grades)  Hover over the class you want to calculate grades for and select the Enter Grades () icon. If multiple grading periods are active, select the icon to access a drop down to select the relevant grading period
    • Yes, Import Grades from Gradebook
    • Import Traditional Scores
    • Save

Note that when importing summary grading period grades, the individual grading period grades will also be imported.

Grades are calculated as a running total across grading periods

In this mode, grading periods do not have specific weights. Instead, summary grades are calculated by looking at all assignments across consecutive grading periods as if they were part of a single grading period (a running total). The summary grade can be viewed live in the gradebook, then imported into the report card.

Grades do reset after each summary grading period. In a school with four quarters and semester summary grades, Sem #1 would be the running total of Q1 and Q2. Sem #2 would be the running total of Q3 and Q4. However, if the school has four quarters and a final summary grade, then all four quarters are calculated together as a running total.

To import summary grading period grades from the gradebook grades, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Instructor Main > Report Cards (beta)
  2. Hover over the class you want to calculate grades for and select the Enter Grades () icon. If multiple grading periods are active, select the icon to access a drop down to select the relevant grading period
  3. Yes, Import Grades from Gradebook
  4. Import Traditional Scores
  5. Save