Plymouth-Canton middle schools switch to 5‑point grading scale; district says gaps are closing

Plymouth‑Canton Community Schools officials presented data to the Board of Education showing the district’s new Middle School Common Grading Framework produced fewer failing semester grades and narrowed demographic performance gaps.

The framework replaces the traditional 100‑point averaging system with an equal‑interval five‑point scale and sets common categories and weightings: summative assessments (60%), learning checkpoints (35%) and practice (5%). Anthony Reller, introduced as executive director of bridal school education, told the board the 5‑point scale corrects what the district called a mathematical inaccuracy in the previous averaging method, where very low scores disproportionately pulled down averages.

The district reported semester‑one…