The following grading scale is used in all FCPS middle and high school courses.

Other Report Card Marks

Incomplete (I)

While a student should receive a grade whenever possible, there are times when an “Incomplete” (I) grade is appropriate.  Teachers may assign incompletes under the following circumstances:

• Students with excused absences who are unable to complete assignments that are major components of the quarter grade receive an “I” for that grading period.  If a student receives an “I”, he or she must adhere to the teacher’s plan to complete missing assignments.  
• A student may receive an “I” for a quarter grade only if his or her absences are excused according to criteria established by FCPS. See Regulation 2234, Student Absences and Attendance Regulations.

While a student should receive a grade whenever possible, there are times when an “Incomplete” (I) grade is appropriate.  Teachers may assign incompletes under the following circumstances:

• Students with excused absences who are unable to complete assignments that are major components of the quarter grade receive an “I” for that grading period.  If a student receives an “I,” they must adhere to the teacher’s plan to complete missing assignments.  
• A student may receive an “I” for a quarter grade only if their absences are excused according to criteria established by FCPS. See Regulation 2234, Student Absences and Attendance Regulations.

It is expected that students will make up incomplete grades by the end of the next grading period and should work with the teacher(s) to create a plan.  If this is not possible, the teacher will convert the “I” to a letter grade at that point.  An incomplete may not be given as a final grade. High school seniors should not receive incompletes at the end of the seventh semester due to the required computation of grade point averages (GPA).

A student will be awarded an “Incomplete” as a grade for driver’s education if they earn a passing grade in the classroom driver’s education course but do not attend the parent/teen safe driver’s evening program. This grade of “Incomplete” may remain as a final grade but will not impact the GPA.

No Mark (NM)

While a student should receive a grade whenever possible, there are times when a “No Mark” (NM) grade is appropriate.  Teachers may assign “No Mark” under the following circumstances:

• A student has been diagnosed with a medical issue which prevents them from completing work.
• Other circumstances in which prolonged absences hinder a student’s ability to complete work as approved by the principal.

The No Mark (NM) grade may be used with principal approval as a senior semester grade or end of year grade to indicate the student has been unable to complete coursework due to prolonged health related issues. The NM can remain on the report card and transcript unlike the incomplete. Students shall be given opportunities to make up the work by the end of the next grading period; however, if this is not possible, the NM grade will remain on the transcript. 

Pass-Fail (P or F)

See the current version of Regulation 2436, Optional Pass-Fail Grading for High School Courses for rules and procedures for high school students who choose to take one elective credit per year to be marked pass-fail.

Audit (T)

In special circumstances, high school students may be allowed to attend one course without receiving credit for it. The audit application (IS-680 Request for Audit Status) must be completed, submitted, and approved prior to the beginning of the course.

• Students may audit a course one year and then take it for credit the next year.
• Students who audit a course must meet all attendance requirements and strive toward completion of POS standards, benchmarks, and indicators.
• Students may not change from audit status to credit during the school year with the exception of students with a home language other than English.

Students with a home language other than English (ELP levels 1-4, 6, & 10) enrolled in credit bearing classes may participate with an audit status. At any time an audit status may be changed to credit status at the request of the teacher.  Audit status should be used judiciously in consideration of the student’s post secondary goals, the impact it will have on the student’s parallel advancement with cohort members, the student’s length of time in U.S. schools, and the student’s English language proficiency level.

When multilingual learners transfer during the school year and are being considered for enrollment in a class with an audit status, the school counselor should conduct a transcript review to confirm that the enrollment is appropriate and in alignment with the student’s graduation timeline.  Newly enrolled multilingual learners who demonstrate understanding of the standards should be given the opportunity to earn credit for the course.

Withdraw, Pass-Withdraw, Fail (W/P or W/F)    

See the current version of Regulation 2445 Rules and Procedures for Students Dropping High School Courses for rules and procedures that apply to any student who wants to drop a high school course.