Santa Fe schools to move high-school grades to familiar points system while keeping standards-based instruction

Santa Fe Public Schools announced April 23 that it will shift high-school grading to a points-and-percentages model for overall course grades while keeping standards-based instruction, proficiency scales and feedback as the foundation.

Assistant Superintendent Michael Hagley said the move is intended to make overall course grades easier for students and families to understand without abandoning standards-driven instruction. "Grades should clearly communicate student learning," Hagley said, summarizing the task force’s North Star.

Key elements: the district will calculate overall course grades using familiar points and percentages, retain a standards view that shows progress toward specific standards and improve how PowerSchool displays both views. The task force recommended weighting summative assessments more heavily (a common practice), with a working ratio of roughly 70% summative and 30% formative, and clarified expectations for retakes and reassessments.

Teacher discretion and training: Hagley said teachers will keep discretion to mark missing or incomplete work as pending or exempt earlier learning attempts, and the district will provide targeted professional learning community supports and fall training for high-school teachers to ensure consistency.

Board concerns and next steps: Trustees asked about the communications plan so families understand the shift; administration said teachers were briefed and that outreach to families would continue with emails and social-media supports. The district will pilot improved PowerSchool displays over the summer so students and families see clearer progress in the standards view.