Skip to main content

Reminder: Upcoming End of Course Exams Will Impact Final Grades For Grade 9 Students

Posted On April 16, 2024
680 Views
free exams, testing, classroom, writing.jpg

 

Next month, students may take standardized assessments that will count for 20% of their final Semester B grades.

As a reminder, ninth grade (class of 2027) students currently enrolled in high school National, State, and Local Government (NSL) and Biology courses will take the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) assessments which will be factored into their school grades. These assessments align with the content that students have been learning in their coursework throughout this year.

The student’s final Semester B grade will be a calculation of the student’s third quarter grade (40%), fourth quarter grade (40%) and the MCAP assessment grade (20%). 

As communicated earlier this school year:

  • This is a NEW requirement from the Maryland State Department of Education.

  • The assessments will be administered at your student’s school sometime between May 1 and May 15. Your school will communicate the specific dates.

  • The End of Course (EOC) Exams are the Life Science Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (LS MISA), aligned to the MCPS Biology course, and the Government assessment, aligned to the MCPS National, State, and Local Government course.

While passing the End of Course (EOC) exam is not mandatory for graduation, students must pass the course to earn course credit.

We ask you to reinforce the following reminders to ensure your child is well-prepared for these assessments:

Attendance and Effort: Stress the importance of coming to school on the assessment days and giving their best effort during the test. Students will not be permitted to retake the assessment. If students do not take the assessment and have unexcused absences, they will receive a zero on the assessment which will be calculated into their final grade. The student will still need to participate in the assessment to meet the graduation requirement.

Studying with Course Materials: Encourage your child to study using their notes and class materials from both Semester A and Semester B. Click here to access additional practice tests for both the LS MISA and the MCAP Government Assessment.

Your child’s final Semester B grade will be included on the report card, which will be mailed home on June 24.

Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please contact your child’s teacher or your school. Frequently asked questions and answers about End of Course Exams can be found here. Please visit this website for more information.