Standards Based Grading

About SBG

Summit School District implemented Standards Based Grading (SBG) in 2013 as SBG provides meaningful, detailed, and helpful feedback for students, which results in increased levels of learning and student achievement. 

For the 2026–27 school year, Summit School District is using an updated standards-based grading scale designed to provide clear information about what students know and are able to do.

Grades are based on evidence of student learning and understanding rather than simply the amount of work completed. Across grade levels, the scale describes a student’s progress toward meeting academic standards. Secondary schools include additional levels to provide more specific information about student progress.

Students demonstrate higher levels of understanding when they can apply their learning to new situations, make connections, and solve more complex problems. Other levels indicate when a student is developing understanding, building foundational skills, or when additional evidence of learning is needed.

Teachers may provide appropriate supports as students demonstrate their learning. The goal is to ensure that those supports help students access the task while maintaining the academic expectations of the standard.

What is SBG?

Standards based grading (SBG) focuses on learning based on a demonstrated understanding of specific concepts which increases student achievement. SBG provides explanations of consistent concepts and material that students should know at each level in their education, which are called learning standards. When students receive report cards, they receive a grade (1.0-4.0) on how well they mastered the material.

In 2018, the State Board of Education approved revisions to the Colorado Academic Standards (CAS), as required by statute, which is to be implemented in 2020. Summit School District, along with other Colorado school districts, are implementing the same high-level instructional standards and assessing students on how well they are learning and mastering this content. Summit School District uses standards based grading to provide an accurate picture of the current level of student proficiency. Grading and reporting around specific standards, while using the accompanying strategy of formative assessment with feedback related to progress toward standards, has been shown to significantly boost achievement.

Advantages of SBG 

1. Provides an accurate understanding of student academic achievement by measuring what a student knows and is able to do by separating work habits and behavior from academic skills.

2. Provides more specific feedback to teachers, students and parents, so teachers are able to deliver targeted instruction based on students' strengths and weaknesses.

3. Provides clear and consistent expectations for what students are learning and proficiency of learning standards that is accurate, fair, specific and timely.

4. Shifts the focus toward mastery of essential learning standards and away from the accumulation of points toward a grade on a report card.

5. Promotes improved student learning, character development and academic success.

6. Fosters student ownership of education by enabling them to identify areas of improvement, engage in their learning and self-direct their activities.

Guiding Principles

Summit School District is committed to applying standards based grading practices uniformly across all schools and grade levels. The district follows these guiding principles and expectations to ensure that all grading and reporting are consistent.

Standards Based Grading Scale

Schools will use a four-point standards based grading scale 1.0 – 4.0). 

Please see the terminology and descriptions listed in the figure below: