598 N. Kent St.
Winchester
VA
22601
540-667-4253
Grading info for 7-12 families
For Families & Students
Understanding Grades
at WPS
Grades at Winchester Public Schools are designed to show what your student knows and can do — not to punish behavior or reward compliance.
What grades mean
Grades show learning, not behavior.
Every grade in WPS is meant to communicate one thing: what your student has learned. Here is what that means in practice.
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Grades reflect- Mastery of standards
- Academic understanding
- Demonstrated learning
- Progress toward proficiency
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Grades do NOT reflect- Classroom behavior
- Compliance or attitude
- Extra credit tasks
- Effort alone
How grading works
Not all assignments count the same — and that is intentional.
Major assessments carry more weight because they better show true mastery. Toggle below to see how weights differ by course type.
Core courses: Math, English, History, Science, World Languages. | Elective courses: CTE, Arts, Music, PE, and other electives.
Student support
Your student has more chances than you might think.
WPS grading policies are built around learning, not a single moment. Retakes and late work policies exist to support your student.
Retakes — when a student scores below 70% or requests a retake
1
Student earns below 70% on a major assessment or requests a retake.
2
Student completes remediation — tutoring, error correction, or a teacher conference.
3
Student takes a supervised retake. The new score replaces the original.
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The goal is mastery, not a single score.
Late work — still accepted
1
Students may submit late work within 10 instructional days.
2
Late work earns the actual score your student earns — not an automatic zero.
3
Students with IEP or 504 accommodations may receive additional time.
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Completion and learning always matter.
How families can help
Six questions to ask your student tonight.
You do not need to be a grading expert. These simple questions open the door to meaningful conversations about learning.
Standards
“What standards are you learning right now?”
Weight
“Which assignments carry the most weight in your grade?”
Practice
“Have you completed all of your practice work?”
Retakes
“Have you used any retake opportunities if you needed them?”
Missing work
“Do you have any missing or late assignments?”
Canvas
“Can we check Canvas together tonight?”
Canvas
You can always see your student’s grades.
Canvas is WPS’s gradebook. Log in any time to see exactly what is happening with your student’s progress.
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Current gradesUpdated within one week of every assignment
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Missing workLabeled with Missing, Late, or Incomplete codes
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Assignment categoriesSummative, formative, classwork, and mastery weights
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Grading policiesCategory weights and retake policies posted by every teacher
Our commitment
WPS grading practices are designed to:
01
Support learning
Every policy gives students a fair chance to show what they know.
02
Increase clarity
Families and students always know where grades come from.
03
Improve consistency
Students in the same course are graded the same way, every classroom.
04
Maintain high expectations
Fairness and rigor go together in every WPS classroom.
Download the Family Guide
A printable one-page summary of everything on this page.