The New School uses the State of Maine educational standards for grades K-12 to set learning goals or standards for each course. In order to receive full credit for a course our students must demonstrate that they have met or exceeded at least eighty percent of the standards. This is a more rigorous requirement than that used by most Maine schools: the equivalent of earning a grade of A or B in every course.
How We Assess Progress
The methods used by TNS to assess students’ progress towards learning goals are flexible and take a variety of forms. We do not use standardized tests or assign grades as we believe there are more authentic and affirming ways to evaluate student progress and skills. Teacher observation in the classroom, the quality of students’ work, presentations and performances, gateways, and senior projects are some of the ways in which student comprehension and mastery are evaluated. Students often work with their teachers to determine the best methods of demonstrating proficiency for a particular area of study.
Transcripts documenting coursework and credits earned, and narratives by teachers describing students progress are sent home twice a year. Parent-teacher conferences take place at the time of mid-semester progress reports or any time that parents, students, or teachers see a need for consultation to give students support.
Both semesters end with LEAP (Learning Exhibitions and Performance) Night — The New School’s version of final exams — where students showcase work from their classes. Feedback teams consisting of adult volunteers spend an hour with each student reviewing their work in a discussion about their academic strengths and challenges.
Our alumni’s consistent success with being admitted to their top choice of college exposes the myth that testing and grades are essential for entry to a top tier college. Graduates of TNS have a demonstrated maturity and self-awareness as learners and develop a breadth of real world experience which sets them apart from many other college applicants. Our graduates have gone on to attend colleges and universities such at the Maine College of Art & Design, The University of New England, and The University of Glasgow.