April 30, 2025
Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, Wentzville School District elementary schools will implement Standards-Based Grading to improve and streamline grading procedures across the district.
Through WSD Standards-Based Grading, a student’s academic learning will be the focus of what is recorded and communicated on student report cards.
“We want to communicate what students know and are able to do based on Missouri Learning Standards,” said Dr. Jill Klahn Smith, director of assessment. “Elementary years are key to building foundational skills and concepts students will need to be successful in future schooling and beyond. We believe it is imperative to clearly communicate students’ progress as it relates to these foundational skills and concepts.”
This transparent communication, from kindergarten through fifth grade, will provide valuable information as students transition into their secondary years.
Before beginning sixth grade, students and families can be better informed as to instructional strengths and needs, giving a clear picture of the whole student.
What do these changes mean for students?
Scores and report cards will communicate what students know academically based on the Missouri Learning Standards.
Overall letter grades for subject areas will be phased out over the next three years at the elementary level, beginning with third grade. Students will have report card indicators that summarize groups of standards with which they are scored on.
What is Standards-Based Grading?
In kindergarten through fifth grade, teachers will use a scale ranging from 1 to 4 to communicate students’ academic performance on the standards, with 3 being the target.
4 - Wow! The student is like a detective! They can figure out even the tricky stuff we didn't learn directly and use it in new ways. (Independently demonstrate in-depth inferences and application of the standard that was not explicitly taught.)
3 - Awesome! The student totally gets it and can show what they know all by themselves. (Independently demonstrate understanding of the standard. This is the expectation.)
2 - Great job! The student understands the important basics and can show they know the foundational ideas all on their own. (Independently demonstrate understanding of foundational skills and understandings of the standard.)
1 - We're working together, and the student is starting to get it! They can show some or even most of what the standard is about with a little help. (Demonstrate partial to full understanding of the standard with help.)
In fourth and fifth grade for 2025-2026 SY and fifth grade for 2026-2027 SY, the average score from the standards reporting will be translated into a letter grade for the subject as indicated below:
3.0-4.0 = A
2.5-2.9 = B
2.0-2.4 = C
1.0-1.9 = D
Factors such as behavior, work ethic, and homework completion will continue to be reported separately on the report card, but will not be used to help determine academic grades.
Still have Questions?
Join our team for a Grading Q&A Open House from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at Berrey-Place Center, 1 Campus Drive, Wentzville, Mo. RSVP.
More information about WSD’s grading practices can be found on the Assessment Department webpage.
Download the entire Learning Made Visible Flyer (PDF).
