In December, 2008, I discussed this important topic in a variety of forums, ranging from a "State of the School" address to discussions with parents from feeder schools. In keeping with the commitment I made at that time to report back with updated information, I am pleased to share some exciting news. First semester results confirm that we are succeeding in having grades reflect students' efforts without dilution of our academic goals, as follows:

• Our average GPA coming into this year for the entire school was a 3.35. Our GPA for the 1st semester was a 3.55 A spike of .2 
• Last year, the cumulative GPA for our juniors was a 3.39. It was a 3.59 for the 1st semester this year.

Back in December, my message was:

In terms of the symbiotic values of academic rigor and balance, specifically grading standards and the overall balance afforded the students in our community, we constantly strive to improve. For Sage Hill School, academic excellence includes a comprehensive understanding of subject matter, defined not by arbitrary rubrics but by love of knowledge, balance, life skills, and personal growth. In other words, our faculty is responsible for assessing the whole student. … All of our educators are devoted to our students' success; however, as with any successful enterprise, we must establish expectations and processes that ensure fairness and consistency throughout the organization.

Several action steps were implemented to enhance equity in grading and balance in each student's life. Equity in grading is being closely monitored on a quarterly basis to increase consistency among teachers by subject, by department, and across our curriculum. Curriculum is continuously evaluated to ensure that it reflects the mission and values of the school and to promote opportunities to engage in the extraordinary learning both inside and outside of the classroom.

We will continue to measure our performance against our mission to ensure that we are faithful to its values. Our aim is to appropriately recognize our students' academic achievements with attention to fairness and balance. As always, we are grateful that our community offers its support and its voice in the process as we continue to evolve in our ability to execute on these worthwhile goals.


Warmly,
Gordon McNeill
Head of School