Date: April 17, 2026
To: High School Administrators
From: Tiffany Hall
Teaching & Learning
Summary:
GRADE DESIGNATIONS
The NG designation is used when a student has not attended enough of a class to demonstrate achievement of the learning objectives. This may occur due to excessive absences or late entry into the course, as outlined in Administrative Procedure I-8: Student Progress and Academic Achievement. An NG does not carry credit or grade points. The NG communicates that insufficient days of enrollment or excused absence prevents a teacher from making a valid determination of learning.
An “I” is used when a student has participated sufficiently in the course to demonstrate learning but is missing significant work. The teacher expects that the student can still complete the missing work and demonstrate mastery. Typically, the student is given until the end of the following term to submit the required work. Once completed, the I is replaced with a grade and the appropriate credit is awarded. After one term, the I will be replaced automatically with an F. A student can still apply for a grade change, but after a term the “F” will be on the report card and GPA.
Section IV.H. Assigning a ‘No Grade’ (NG)
- A NG can replace a letter grade when a student has an excused absence longer than 10 days but cannot be used as a consequence for unexcused absences.
- The NG marking may be used as outlined in Section III.A.3.b.
- The NG should not be used to avoid assigning an ‘F’ grade.
- An NG does not convey credit or affect a student's grade point average.
Section III.A.3.b Students who transfer in after the midterm without a grade will be assigned a ‘no grade’ (NG). If there are extenuating circumstances and the students can demonstrate sufficient mastery of the content, the teacher may use their discretion to determine if a ‘P’ would be an appropriate option. A ‘P’ conveys credit for graduation but does not affect the grade point average.
Rationale:
During the pandemic (2019-20, 2020-21), teachers used the NG when students were not participating in school. This decision reflected concerns from teachers and administrators that many students were not able to access online instruction consistently, and therefore, an “F” was not an appropriate representation of their learning.
Following this period, some teachers continued using the NG for students who were attending class but not achieving academically, substituting it for an “F.” This was not aligned with Administrative Procedure I-8.
In 2024-25, schools were reminded that the NG may not be used in place of an “F.” An email was sent to administrators, counselors, and teachers in October 2024 reinforcing this expectation. Counselor training on the appropriate use of the NG occurred in November 2024. This was to be implemented by the start of the 2025-26 school year.
CREDIT RECOVERY
Knowing that the NG = F from T4 2020 until 2024-25, credit recovery has recognized those NGs as Fs and allowed credit recovery to be assigned. However, NGs earned in 2025-26 and beyond are not considered Fs and eligible for credit recovery. This is because credit recovery is based on the student completing an original credit class and recovery key learning, and the NG means that they were not in the course for sufficient time to evaluate key learning.
The credit recovery system should recognize an NG granted in before this year (2025-26) as an F and grant access to CR courses. IF IT DOES NOT, please use the blue "+credit recovery button" and use "NG from 202X-XX not recognized." That will be checked and assigned if appropriate.
Incompletes can't be recovered until they are changed to an F grade. Again, this happens automatically at the end of the next term for a course taken in this district (we can't change grades that come in from other schools). However, it is always better to have a student complete the course with the teacher.
Expectations for Implementation:
- Communication
- Principals are responsible to ensure that teachers and counselors are aware of this information.
Keywords: NG, I, report card, grades
