Target-Based Grading and Reporting

What is Target-Based Grading and Reporting?

Target-Based Grading communicates student proficiency on priority learning targets derived from the Wisconsin Academic Standards. Target-Based Grading identifies what a student knows, or is able to do, based on those pre-established learning targets. West Salem School District believes the purpose of grading is to provide students and parents a snapshot view of a student's learning on academic and behavioral/life-ready skills at a particular point in time.

The foundational beliefs of Target-Based Reporting include:

Academic grades are dependent upon student proficiency against identified learning targets and are not influenced by non-academic factors.
Behavioral/life skills grades are also assessed and reported using defined rubrics.
Students receive a separate grade for their current academic scores and behavioral/life skills scores.
To ensure accuracy in reporting what students know and can do against identified learning targets, extra credit as a way to increase a student's academic grade is not offered.
Homework is a tool that helps learning but is not used to determine a student's summative score for academics

Please see below for a link to each building's Target-Based Grading website.

West Salem Elementary School West Salem Middle School West Salem High School

INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES

Target-Based Informational Flyer (MS/HS)
Target-Based Reporting FAQs (MS/HS)
Grade Conversion Chart (MS/HS)
Parent's Guide to Skyward