Grade Explanation

There have been many questions about how Social Studies is graded and what the grades actually mean. This document will help explain and serve as a reference for how grading happens in 6th and 7th grade Social Studies.

What do the numbers mean?

Following is a screenshot of the explanation found in the student planner. In it it explains exactly what the numbers mean. (There are no As, Bs, Cs, etc.).

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An even simpler way of looking at the numbers is a “3” is the goal since the student has mastered everything that was taught. Between a 2.5 and a 3 generically means that the student has mastered the majority of the grade level content. Below a 2.5 to a 2 means that the student is not totally engaged in his/her learning, and has not mastered much of the content. A 2 is the lowest a student can go and still be considered passing. Anything below a 2 means that the student has not completed assignments, or he/she has gaps in learning.

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What are these categories in StudentVUE/ParentVUE?

When you look at the student’s grade in social studies in StudentVUE, there are eight assignment types that show up.

Here is what each of the assignment types means.

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DLP

Deeper Learning Proficiencies, or DLPs, are categories of skills that successful 21st century thinkers use to be successful in the world today. All curricula assess these skills so students and parents understand how the student is doing in these areas.

Citizenship

Collaboration

Creativity and Innovation

Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

Communication

Systems Thinking

Also included in the DLP category are the following four Measurement Topics that are part of the District’s curriculum. (Please see “Measurement Topics” at the end of this document.

MT 9 Patterns of Change Over Time

MT 10 Current Events/Issues and the Modern World

MT 11 Critical and Creative Thinking

MT 12 Research Skills for History

Economics

In the Economics category are the following four Measurement Topics that are part of the District’s curriculum. (Please see “Measurement Topics” at the end of this document.

MT 4 Economic Philosophies and Systems

MT 5 Economic Decision-Making and Personal Finance

Geography

In the Geography category are the following four Measurement Topics that are part of the District’s curriculum. (Please see “Measurement Topics” at the end of this document.

MT 2 Spatial Thinking and Use of Charts, Maps and Graphs

MT 3 Reciprocal Impact of Geography on People and Events

Government Systems & Politics

In the Government Systems & Politics category are the following four Measurement Topics that are part of the District’s curriculum. (Please see “Measurement Topics” at the end of this document.

MT 6 Rights, Responsibilities and Participation in the Political Process

MT 7 Government Symbols, Structures, Laws and Documents

History & Culture

In the History & Culture category are the following four Measurement Topics that are part of the District’s curriculum. (Please see “Measurement Topics” at the end of this document.

MT 1 Cultural Diversity and Interactions

MT 8 Individuals, Groups and Events that Shaped History

P&SR

“P&SR” stands for “Personal and Social Responsibility”. Catalina Foothills School District has identified these four major categories as very important traits that good students consistently use in order to be successful. P&SR grades do not affect the overall social studies grade, but this is reported out to students and parents as a way to give feedback to them about how well a student is fulfilling their basic responsibilities as a student. Social Studies’ assignments are routinely entered as a P&SR grade only (to allow everyone to know if it was turned in or not) and then when the assignment is graded, the other items the assignment is graded on show up in the grade book.

Class Participation

Work Completion/Effort

Behavior/Conduct

Self-Regulation

Reading

These are the three major areas in the AZ College and Career Readiness Standards that relate to reading. All curricula focus on reading and writing regardless of the content that the class is teaching.

Key Ideas and Details

Craft and Structure

Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Writing

These are the three major areas in the AZ College and Career Readiness Standards that relate to writing. All curricula focus on reading and writing regardless of the content that the class is teaching.

Text Types and Purposes

Production and Distribution of Writing

Research to Build and Present Knowledge

Measurement Topics

These are the twelve areas of social studies content that will be assessed. The twelve Measurement Topics are the same, K through 12th, but the details of each topic each year varies based on the curriculum taught at that grade level. For example, MT5 Economic Decision-Making and Personal Finance in 6th grade focuses more on basic resource distribution systems throughout history, and much less on modern-day American citizen’s personal finance choices.