Germantown Municipal School District follows the Tennessee Uniform Grading System for grades 6-12. Below is a detailed explanation of the grading policies and procedures.
Reporting Grades
Grades on Report Cards and Transcripts:
Grades are reported using the following numerical scale:
- A: 90–100
- B: 80–89
- C: 70–79
- D: 60–69
- F: Below 60
Conduct Grades (Grades 6-8):
Conduct is reported as E (Excellent), S (Satisfactory), N (Needs Improvement), or U (Unsatisfactory) with each subject grade.
Corrections:
Erroneous grades must be corrected, and a new report issued to the student.
Grading Procedures
Grades:
- A minimum of 10 grades per nine weeks is required, with at least one grade per week recommended.
- Term grades are determined by averaging daily work, oral and written assignments, and tests.
Homework:
Homework assignments may count for a maximum of 10% of the grading period.
Semester Grades (Grades 6-8):
Semester exams are not given except for high school-level courses.
High School Courses:
Semester grades are determined by:
Semester Exam Exemptions
High School-Level Courses:
- Students scoring 90 or higher for two terms in a course may be exempt from the semester exam.
- Exemptions do not apply to End of Course (EOC) or AP exams, which follow specific policies.
- Students with more than five excused absences or any unexcused absences are disqualified from exemptions.
Academic Integrity
- Academic grades reflect mastery of skills and standards.
- Points may not be awarded or deducted for non-academic factors (e.g., purchasing specific supplies).
Weighted Grading Scale (High School Courses)
GPA calculations differ based on the level of coursework:
Grade |
Standard Courses |
Honors Courses |
AP/Dual Enrollment |
Local/State Dual Credit |
A (90-100) |
4.0 |
4.5 |
5.0 |
5.0 |
B (80-89) |
3.0 |
3.5 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
C (70-79) |
2.0 |
2.5 |
3.0 |
3.0 |
D (60-69) |
1.0 |
1.5 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
F (<60) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
One additional quality point is added for early postsecondary courses.
Additional Notes
-
HOPE Scholarship & Lottery Requirements:
High school counselors provide annual updates to students on scholarship requirements, including GPA, test scores, and coursework.
-
Laude System:
GMSD uses a Laude System to recognize academically high-performing students instead of ranking students numerically.
-
Credit for Online Courses:
Credits earned from online courses outside GMSD require approval to count toward GPA.