Checking Grades and Assessment in PowerSchool

At Calgary Academy, student progress and achievement is communicated in real-time through PowerSchool. To support our parents, we have a helpful guide on navigating this platform and information on what assessment looks like through Grades k–12.

Accessing PowerSchool

  1. Log into PowerSchool and select “gradebook” to access student grades.
  2. Scroll and click on the grade or [i] to see assessment on a project or class.

Viewing Progress and Comments: Kindergarten to Grade 3

Assessment in Grades K–3 features three aspects for grading:

  • Collected: The student has been introduced to an idea.
  • Developing: The student has started exploring and growing their learning.
  • Demonstrating: The student has grown in their leanring and can show what they know.

Parents can find the outcomes of an assignment on PowerSchool, while another platform, SeeSaw, provides updates on the learning done in class.

Viewing Progress and Comments: Grades 4–8

Assessment in Grades 4–8 works on a four-step proficiency scale:

  • Beginning: The student is starting to understand a concept and/or skill.
  • Developing: The student is able to show they understand a concept and/or skill and is leanring to understand some complex ideas.
  • Consolidating: The student is able to show a thorough understanding of more complex ideas, concepts, and skills. They are starting to make connections.
  • Sophisticated: The student is able to show they can make connections between ideas, concepts, and skills, and use their understanding across learning.

Parents can check SeeSaw for activities and learning updates, while PowerSchool details the Outcomes, Growth, and Feedback of assignments.

Viewing Progress and Comments: Grades 9–12

Assessment in Grades 9–12 works on a five-step proficiency scale:

  • Poor: The student has not yet met the leanring outcome at a basic level.
  • Limited: The student is beginning to meet the basics of some of the learning outcomes.
  • Satisfactory: The student meets the expectations of the learning outcomes at a basic level.
  • Proficient: The student proficiently meets the expectations of the learning outcomes.
  • Excellent: The student meets all expectations of the learning outcome with excellence.

Parents can expect percentages used for overall grading, Outcomes and feedback can be found o PowerSchool. Note: Integrated studies and Phys-ed use the proficiency scale for Grades 4–8 in their assessment.

Stay in the Loop

Once a month, check in onPowerSchool, and have conversations with your learner about how they are progressing. Teachers have a similar checklist and are having school-based conversations around the same themes to assist in at-home conversations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Assessment

How Will Outcomes-Based Assessment Prepare My Child for Post-Secondary?

When students are clear on what they are learning, how they are progressing in that learning, and specific areas of strength and opportunity, they are flexible learners who can advocate for what they need across contexts. This skill will support them in their post-secondary endeavors.

Are We Getting Rid of Percentages for Grades?

No. Grades 9–12 still have percentages for their grading, as post-secondary institutions continue to require these percentages. Grades K–8 use a proficiency scale to indicate growth and provide feedback using the indicators.

What is Outcomes-Based Assessment and Reporting?

Using the Alberta curriculum to provide specific measurement of student learning and creating learning targets to clarify student understanding of what they are learning and how they are progressing in that learning.

What Types of Assessment Do CA Teachers Use?

Short answer—many! Long answer—assessments that fit the type of work students are doing, the kinds of learning they are participating in, and are the best way to demonstrate conceptual understanding, rather than test-taking ability.