Report Cards and Conferences
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 7-12 can review student grades online in ASPEN, our online student information database. To learn more about accessing student grades online please contact your school. If you already have a password, you are welcome to log on now.
Report Cards
Somerville Public Schools uses a Standards-Based Report Card for students in Grades K–5 (outlined below). Beginning in Grade 6, students will receive traditional report card letter grades that reflect their progress toward grade-level standards and their ability to meet classroom expectations. This system provides a clear picture of student progress and identifies when additional support may be needed.
K-5: The Layout
The K-5 report card is issued four times a year. Instead of letter grades, it uses four categories to show your child’s progress toward meeting each standard. This approach helps students understand expectations more clearly and provides teachers and families with a consistent view of what each child should know and be able to do, allowing instruction to be better tailored to individual needs.
E
Exceeding the grade level standard consistently
M
Meeting the grade level standard and producing quality work
P
Progressing toward the standard and producing required grade level work with teacher assistance
N
Not meeting the standard and not yet able to produce required grade level work
N/A
Standard not addressed this term. You should expect to see some N/As used in the first two quarters. This is because the entire curriculum cannot be taught at once. While some learning standards will be addressed throughout the entire year, others will be phased in as the school year progresses.
Conferences
Parent/Guardian conferences (sometimes called “Caregiver”) offer an ideal opportunity to speak with school educators about student progress and expectations. It’s also a great way to learn how to help foster continued learning at home and throughout the entire school year.
Preparing to Meet with Your Child’s Teacher
As you think about the report card and prepare to have conversations with your child’s teacher, some of the following may be helpful questions to ask during your conference time:
Before the Conference
Before meeting with your student’s teacher, consider having a brief conversation with your child to better understand their perspective on their classroom experience: