As a parent, if you walk into a traditional school and ask a teacher how your child is doing in history, they’ll likely give you a number. “They have an 88.”
But if you stop to think about it, what does that 88 actually mean? Does it mean they understand the impact of the Civil War? Does it mean they turned in all their homework on time? Or does it just mean they are “compliant” and good at playing the game of school?
Mathematically, an average can be incredibly misleading. If a student makes two 100s and a zero, their average is the same as a student who makes three 67s. Those two students are in completely different places in their learning journey, yet a traditional grade book treats them exactly the same.
At Inspire Academies, we believe you deserve better than a number that says nothing. We monitor progress by focusing on what your child actually knows and what they can do.
The 1–4 Rubric: A Clearer Picture of Growth
To give families accurate information, we move away from traditional percentages during the learning process and use a standards-based 1–4 scale. This isn’t just a different way of grading; it’s a different way of communicating.
Imagine your eighth grader is learning about George Washington. Instead of a vague grade on a worksheet, we use this rubric to define their mastery of that particular history skill:
- 4: Your child can identify Washington as our first general and president and clearly explain his lasting impact on the nation. They own this knowledge.
- 3: They can explain his role, but perhaps they needed a little prompting—a “remember what he did after the war?” to get them there.
- 2: They need significant guidance and extra information from us to recall the facts.
- 1: We don’t have enough information yet to show they know who he was or what he did.
A “3” or a “4” tells you your child is gaining mastery. A “1” or a “2” isn’t a failure—it’s a signal that we need to adjust our approach to help them get there.
I know you may be thinking, “That’s great, but my kid needs a GPA for college scholarships.” We understand that some of society still speaks the language of 0–100, so we provide a simple translation:
- 4 = 90–100
- 3 = 80–89
- 2 = 70–79
- 1 = Below 70
However, we want to be clear: the number is the secondary goal. If we only focus on the 95, we miss the opportunity to help a child develop. A student can have a 95 because they are compliant, but we want them to have a “4” because they are capable.
The “Show of Greatness”
Monitoring progress shouldn’t just be something teachers do to students; it’s something students should do for themselves.
At the end of each grading period, we host a Show of Greatness (our version of student-led conferences). We empower our students to sit down with you, their family, and explain exactly what they’ve learned.
Reflection is a key part of the brain’s learning process. If you have experiences without reflection, very little learning actually takes place. When a student has to look back at where they started and show you how far they’ve come, it does two things:
- It gives you a front-row seat to their growth that a report card never could.
- It helps the student recognize their own progress, building the confidence they need to keep growing.
A Challenge to All Families
We’ve been working for years to perfect this standards-based approach. It’s a shift in mindset for everyone — staff, students, and parents alike.
My challenge to you is this: Ask the hard questions. If you are a part of Inspire Academies, don’t just settle for the number on the screen. If you see a grade, come up to the campus and challenge us. Ask, “What does my kid actually know? Can they show me?” Our staff should be able to sit down with you and show you exactly where your child is in their journey.
If you aren’t an Inspire Academies family yet, I challenge you to take that same mindset to your current school. Don’t be afraid to ask for more than an average. Ask for evidence. You deserve to know if your child is truly growing or just checking boxes.
We are committed to communicating the “ebb and flow” of your child’s development — academically, socially, and emotionally. Together, we can ensure that “becoming” isn’t just a goal, but a visible, measurable reality.
Justin Johnston is the superintendent of BRAINATION’s Inspire Academies and a parent of an Anne Frank Inspire Academy student.
