Proficiency Scoring

Proficiency scoring, also called proficiency-based grading, is a grading system made up of number “grades” from 4 to 1 - where 4 is advanced and 1 is beginning. (NOTE: All OASD elementary schools use proficiency scoring. Proficiency scoring is NOT used at the high school level in the OASD.)

Proficiency scoring clearly communicates what a student should know and be able to do in each content area, and provides meaningful feedback to students, parents, and teachers regarding every student’s academic progress. 

Elementary Schools: All OASD elementary schools (grades K-5) have been using proficiency scoring for many years.

Middle Schools: In the 2023-2024 school year, all OASD middle schools (grades 6-8) will be using proficiency scoring. (NOTE: Over half of the school district's middle school educators already made the shift to proficiency scoring in the 2022-2023 school year.)

Proficiency scoring is NOT used in OASD high schools and there will be NO change at the high school level.

• What stays the same?
  • As a parent follower in Canvas, you can see the work the student has completed
    Your child will still receive an academic and LCS score for each content area
    Instruction will be designed to meet the essential standards and engage the students in learning
    Infinite Campus will have the posted grades at weeks 7, 14, and semester
• What will be different?
  • Students receive 4 (Advanced), 3 (Proficient), 2 (Developing), 1 (Beginning)
  • Detailed feedback will be given in Canvas so students have clear steps on how to move forward
• How can I see the feedback in Canvas using a web browser

• All student work that is not at the proficient level can (and should) be improved to show mastery. This practice ensures that students will not have gaps in their understanding of critical concepts and essential skills.
• A student’s grade accurately represents their level of understanding as opposed to a percentage of points earned on class activities. The conversation between student and teacher shifts from, “How many more points do I need to get a certain grade?” to demonstrating that they have mastered the concepts. It is exciting to hear a student talking about the learning, as opposed to “how many points is the assignment worth?”
• The focus is shifted from the quantity of work completed to the quality of the work completed.
• It encourages looking at students as individuals and honoring a range of learning styles and ways of demonstrating what students know so that teachers can provide specific supports or acceleration as needed. 

• Advanced (4): Student demonstrates, applies, and extends complete understanding of key concepts and skills at this point in the year. 
• Proficient (3): Student demonstrates and applies a complete understanding of key concepts and skills at this point in the year.
• Developing (2): Student demonstrates a general understanding but has an incomplete application of key concepts and skills at this point in the year.
• Beginning (1): Student demonstrates a beginning understanding of key concepts and skills at this point in the year.
   

In proficiency scoring, advanced represents a level of achievement beyond the expected standards. Students who reach the Advanced level have demonstrated consistent, exceptional mastery of the skill being assessed.
 

Proficient signifies that the student has developed a solid understanding of the skill or standard being assessed. They demonstrate the ability to apply their knowledge effectively and perform tasks with accuracy and consistency. They can explain and demonstrate their understanding of the standard or skill.

Developing indicates that the student is making progress towards higher proficiency, but has not yet reached the desired level of mastery. Beginning signifies that the student is at the initial stages of learning and has just started to develop basic understanding or competency on a standard.

In a traditional grading system, grades reflect an averaging of points collected throughout the marking period to determine a letter or percentile grade for a subject area. In a proficiency scoring system, grades reflect the level of proficiency on specific standards for each subject area. Learn about some of the common questions we get when comparing traditional scoring with proficiency proficiency scoring. 

Proficiency scoring is designed to focus on the depth of understanding and application of knowledge rather than simply assigning grades. It measures how well students have grasped the concepts and skills in each subject, and it's important to note that scoring can vary based on the individual student's learning process.

Check out the video below for some tips and tricks to help you talk to your child about their scores in the proficiency scoring system.