Introducing mastery-based grading

A student views their grades: A in math, B in science, and C in language arts. Receiving an A in math may demonstrate that the student is doing well; the other grades suggest areas for improvement. But what specific skills in language arts need attention—is it reading comprehension? Vocabulary? Writing? Traditional letter grades can leave students and families feeling uncertain because they don’t identify the exact skills that need improvement.

Even the A in math can be misleading. Does the A reflect complete mastery of the material? Or did a heavily weighted exam mean they could excel in certain areas of math while still having foundational gaps in others?

At the WellSpring Private School, we are delivering an educational experience that prioritizes student growth. This year, we are making a shift from a traditional grading system to a mastery-based grading system for Elementary grade levels. This is more than a change in how we grade—it's a shift in how we understand and support student learning.

What is a standard anyway?

Mastery-based grading focuses on students' progress toward mastering specific learning targets called standards. A standard is a clear, specific learning goal that defines what a student should know and be able to do at a particular grade level or within a specific subject area.

For example, in a grade 3 English language arts (ELA) class, one of the standards might be:

"Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.”

This standard is focused on a specific aspect of ELA that the student is expected to master. Instead of simply receiving a letter grade for the entire ELA course, students will be evaluated on how well they meet individual standards like the one above.

A more informative grading system

With mastery-based grading, a numerical scale from 1 to 4 is used to evaluate a student’s mastery of each standard. Unlike traditional grading—which uses letters or percentages—the 1-4 system offers a more detailed picture of a student’s understanding. Each number on the scale represents a specific level of proficiency.

The 1-4 system is all about growth mindset, meaning that if the student can’t show now that they have understanding, with time, practice and support they should be making progress and growing.

It's a bit like the stages of riding a bike:

What are the benefits?

Individualized learning and support. By breaking down each subject into specific standards, our teachers can identify where each student may need additional help. This allows for more targeted support and the opportunity for students to work on improving in specific areas, rather than feeling overwhelmed by an overall grade.

Clarity and transparency. Traditional letter grades can be unclear. Does a "B" mean a student understands most of the material, or that they've mastered the basics but struggled with advanced topics? With mastery-based grading, each grade reflects their mastery of a particular skill, offering a clear picture of their strengths and areas needing improvement.

Encourages a growth mindset. Mastery-based grading emphasizes progress and improvement. Students see learning as a continuous process and understand that struggling with a concept is a natural part of growth. Rather than fearing failure, they learn to see it as an opportunity to see gaps in understanding and work towards closing them.

Moving forward together

This change is a step toward creating an environment where every student’s progress is valued and celebrated. Our goal is not simply to report progress but to cultivate a love of learning that will last a lifetime.

Our goal is not simply to report progress but to cultivate a love of learning that will last a lifetime.