Westlake Middle School changes grading policy

Homework and class participation won’t be part of academic letter grades next year at Westlake Middle School in Lombard. And grades won’t be coming home as often.

Westlake will change its grading policy and switch to trimesters instead of quarters beginning in August, said Maura Zinni, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning for Lombard Elementary District 44.

Under the new grading policy, students will receive an academic grade based on scores on tests, quizzes and projects. A separate school behavior grade will be composed of scores on homework, class preparation and participation, Zinni said.

“We believe it’s a much more accurate and ethical way to report progress to parents and students,” Zinni said.

The district recently held three parent meetings to explain the grading changes, after concerns arose about the lack of motivation for students to complete assignments outside of class.

“Midterms and final grades seem to be big motivators to get their grades going, at least in my house,” said Colette Luchetta-Stendel, a parent of twin Westlake students. “If there’s only three (grading periods), then they won’t be doing it as often.”

Zinni said students will be given clear rubrics explaining how work will be graded and how grades will be reported. She said students will know what to strive for in terms of the traditional letter grade and the school behavior grade.

“The separating out of homework and participation will be new for them,” Zinni said. “Homework and class participation will continue to be very important for students and parents to know about, and teachers will continue to assign what we call quality homework.”

Heidi Jenkins, whose daughter Sydney is in sixth grade at Westlake, said she had some concerns about removing homework scores from the academic grade before hearing the district’s explanation.

“I think most people are against it; I’m actually OK with it,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins said Sydney first experienced separate academic and school behavior grades in her math class this year. At first, Sydney paid less attention to her homework and scored worse than usual on her first test.

“After that, when she realized that she needed to study, I feel like she knows math; she knows it better,” Jenkins said. “I think it has made her a better student.”

Zinni said District 44 plans to explain more details of the new grading system at an open house near the beginning of the next school year in August.

“There will be lots of opportunities for parents to hear the message, then experience it with their own kids next year,” Zinni said.