Graduation Requirements & Grading

*Advanced Placement and Honors Courses are weighted an additional five points for grade average calculations on the transcript.

It is assumed that all Montgomery Academy students will have a high degree of motivation and that their approach to all aspects of their work will demonstrate a positive effort and attitude toward learning. Students are expected to turn in assigned work on time. Where applicable, such work will be organized, accurate, clearly expressed, and/or indicative of both analytical skills and the ability to apply the course work and its components to a larger and sometimes multidisciplinary context. Clarity and consistency of process, logic of analysis, and originality of thought are often more important than the "correct" answer.

It is further expected that Montgomery Academy students will contribute regularly to class exercises and discussion in an active, coherent, and proficient manner. Students are expected to work constructively, both independently and in groups, to be respectful of the contributions of their peers, and to assist their classmates in understanding the ideas and principles being presented.

In the Upper School, grades are measured on a 0 - 100 scale, with 65 as a passing mark. A final mark of 70 or higher is required to advance to the next level in designated "sequential" courses. Each academic department has developed explicit grading standards; these are distributed to students at the beginning of the year and are also posted prominently in classrooms. While the wording of these standards will differ from department to department, the fundamental expectations are the same. In general, grades in the Upper School can be characterized as follows:

• Grades in the 90s indicate performance that is of exceptionally strong quality and shows a thorough understanding of the factual, theoretical, and conceptual aspects of the course.
• Grades in the 80s indicate performance that is of good quality and show a solid understanding of the factual, theoretical, and conceptual aspects of the course.
• Grades in the 70s indicate performance that is of adequate quality-at times lacking in accuracy and/or conceptual understanding.
• Grades in the 65 - 69 range indicate performance that shows a marginal understanding of the main aspects of the course and raise concerns about the student's future success in that academic discipline at The Montgomery Academy.
• Grades below 65 indicate work that fails to meet the minimal standards. A final failing grade in the course work will result in loss of credit for the year and will require summer remediation or course repetition.