Horseheads Intermediate School
6th Grade Academic Awards Criteria
For your convenience, we have provided the criteria for each of the three academic awards. Awards are given to sixth grade students who are promoted to Middle School.
President’s Award for Educational Excellence
To be eligible for the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, students at each award level (elementary, middle or high school), must meet the requirements in Category A and Category C. If a school does not have letter grades, a student must meet the requirements in Categories B and C.
- Grade Point Average: Students are to earn a grade point average of 90 on a 100 point scale (an A- on a letter scale or a 3.5 or 4.0 scale). When computing grade point averages at the respective award level, only the years at that level are to be included through the third quarter of the exiting grade. Note: Elementary schools are not to include K-3 in their computations.
- School Criteria/Standards: Standards of achievement for the award are to be established by each school that reflect standards of excellence equivalent to a 90 percent level or higher on the traditional grading scale. This category enables school personnel to use new assessment and evaluation tools in developing award criteria at their school and apply the criteria fairly to all students. The primary indicators of excellence must be based on academic achievement. School personnel may also consider, as part of the criteria, activities in which a student demonstrates high motivation, initiative, integrity, intellectual depth, leadership qualities, and/or exceptional judgment. They may also require student essays and outstanding attendance, but these activities must bear some relationship to the academic performance of a student.
- In addition to A or B, Schools are to include the following two criteria to determine their selected students:
- Standardized Achievement Test: Achieve in the 85th percentile or higher on the 5th grade math and reading benchmark assessments. Students must achieve at least a Level 3 on the NYS ELA and Math Tests with a score of 330 or higher on at least one of these two tests. Students may qualify for this award based on state test scores or local benchmark assessments.
President’s Award for Educational Improvement
The purpose of this award is to recognize students that show outstanding educational growth, improvement, commitment, or intellectual developments in their academic subjects but do not meet the criteria for the President’s Award for Educational Excellence. This award should not be compared to the President’s Award for Educational Excellence or seen as a second tier award, for it recognizes a very different type of academic achievement. It is meant to encourage and reward students who work hard and give their best effort in school, in many cases in the face of special obstacles to their learning.
This award is given at the principal’s discretion based on the criteria developed at the school. The criteria should reflect the purpose of the award and must be applied fairly to all students.
The following are examples of criteria for which the President’s Award for Educational Improvement were presented in the past:
- Students who show tremendous growth and improvement but do not meet the criteria for the President’s Award for Educational Excellence.
- Unusual commitment to learning and improvement despite various obstacles.
- A school record that would have met the school’s selection criteria for the President’s Award for Educational Excellence but illness, personal crisis, or special needs prevented the student from maintaining such high standards during the year despite hard work.
- Students with excellent school records who do not meet each criterion for the President’s Award for Educational Excellence.
SUMMARY:
- EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE:
The state test scores have to be at least a level 3 on both Math and ELA. One of these scores has to be at least 330. If a student did not take the state tests, we will use the Benchmarks. Students must have achieved an 85% or above on both the Math and ELA Benchmark from the end of 5th grade. Students may qualify for this award based on the state tests or the benchmark assessments.
Averages – We will use overall averages for 5th and 6th grade years. If the student received a U at either grade level, then he/she will not qualify for the award.
GRADE POINT AVERAGE:
Grade 5 Average
Grade 6 Average 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Marking Periods
The overall average should be a 90 or above. - EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT AWARD: Strictly improvement throughout the year based on the criteria on page 2.
- HONORABLE ACHIEVEMENT: Student must have an overall average of 85% or higher for 5th grade and the first 3 marking periods of 6th grade. Student also consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic which includes completion of classwork and homework, active participant in class, organized and prepared for class, consistent effort and commitment.
If you have questions, please contact the school at (607) 739-6366.