Assessment of student progress at Wingra

We believe that a student progresses at his or her own rate in ways that their talents, challenges, and interests dictate. Because we see learning as such an individualized activity, we do not use assessment techniques that compare one student's progress with other students' progress. Wingra students are not ranked according to grade point average and are not given letter grades. Wingra students rarely take tests or quizzes.

Instead, assessing student progress at Wingra occurs in a way that gives a holistic and complete review of the growing child as a learner. Teachers are keen observers of their students and the small student /teacher ratio (12:1) allows for teacher involvement in each student's progress, with opportunities for guidance, redirection and revision. Each senior student meets biweekly with a teacher to review their completed work and discuss their progress. Each classroom also uses some kind of portfolio system to collect student work for long-term evaluation.

Students are actively involved in assessment

At the start of each school year, students meet with parents and teachers to set academic, social and personal goals for themselves and discuss the goals that parents and teachers suggest. Before each of the parent/teacher conferences during the year, students assess their progress towards these goals. A goal feedback conference at the end of the school year gives them the opportunity to reflect back on the year with parents and teachers. They also complete forms to evaluate specific social and academic skills.

Parent-teacher conferences

We consider parents to be partners in the education of their children. The twice -yearly conference is an important time for both teachers and parents to share detailed information about student progress. Prior to these half-hour meetings, teachers prepare a detailed report that is sent to parents in preparation for the discussion. Wingra teachers take the preparation of these reports very seriously, and parents find them to be full of information about their children as learners.

Progress reports

The conference reports provide feedback specific to the talents and challenges of each student in the areas of math, language arts, science, social studies, art, music, physical education, and Spanish. Parents gain insight into their children as learners (observations about organizational skills, attitude, learning style, and work habits) and the student as a member of the school community: their group skills and responsibility to self and others.

Our approach to progressive education »

Descriptions by subject »
Teaching in themes »
Independent projects »

How we evaluate student progress »

An introduction to our classes »
Meet our teachers and staff »