Student Evaluation

In our K-5th grades we do

not give letter grades at Colby. We believe that by documenting

students’ strengths

and weaknesses via checklists of skills and narrative reports

we can more accurately represent what a student is learning.

Grades are generally a reflection of how well a student

does on each assignment through a semester, which may not

be an accurate description

of a

student’s

mastery. For example, if a student struggles with long division

during the first part of a

trimester

but becomes proficient in the last week, he would likely

receive a low

grade for the trimester due to his poor performance in the

beginning. This would not, however, accurately reflect the

student’s

ability. We believe that our progress reports provide the

opportunity

for us to accurately depict what our students are able

to do.

At Colby skills are described as emerging (E), developing

(D), or proficient (P). An emerging skill is one which requires

teacher assistance in order to complete. For example, if

a student is given a subtraction problem which he cannot

solve and the teacher must guide him through the process

of using a number line (or other means) in order to find

the answer, the student’s subtraction skill is considered

to be emerging. If a student can solve some subtraction problems

without teacher guidance but requires assistance with others,

the student’s subtraction skill is considered to be

developing. If a student can consistently and accurately

complete subtraction problems without teacher guidance, the

student’s subtraction skill would be considered proficient.

Students in our Middle School are given letter grades to

prepare them for the types of evaluation they will face after

Colby. These students also perform self-evaluations which

they craft into a presentation to

their

parents and teachers. Allowing our mature students to be

accountable for assessing their own progress facilitates

their development of individual

accountability and personal

responsibility. It gives real weight and meaning to the Colby

virtue of personal best.