Levels of Achievement: A New Way to Report Student Learning in Junior High
Some Edmonton Catholic Schools junior high students will see a new way of reporting achievement during the 2026-2027 school year.
Students in participating courses will receive Levels of Achievement instead of percentage grades. Levels of Achievement are designed to provide families with a clearer understanding of what students know, understand, and can do in relation to curriculum expectations.
Participating schools and courses are piloting this approach as part of Edmonton Catholic Schools' ongoing work to align assessment and reporting practices with Alberta's curriculum. Families of participating students will be notified by their school.
What Is Changing in Participating Junior High Courses?
- Students will receive Levels of Achievement that describe what they know, understand and can do in relation to curriculum expectations.
- Percentage grades (%) will no longer appear as the final reported result.
- Students will receive an overall Level of Achievement for a course.
- Students will receive Levels of Achievement for individual learning outcomes.
- Families will see Levels of Achievement in live reporting and on report cards.
What Is Not Changing?
The way achievement is reported is changing. What students are expected to learn is not. The following remain the same:
- Learning expectations
- Curriculum outcomes
- Academic rigour
- Classroom instruction
- Ongoing teacher feedback
- Support for student success
Families will continue to receive regular information about their child's learning throughout the school year. Levels of Achievement are intended to provide clearer information about student progress, strengths and areas for growth. Teachers will continue to communicate with students and families and provide feedback that supports learning.
Why Are We Making This Change?
Alberta's curriculum is built around clearly defined learning outcomes. Levels of Achievement provide a clearer picture of student learning by focusing on what students know, understand, and can do in relation to those outcomes.
This approach helps families better understand:
- Areas of strength
- Areas for growth
- Progress toward learning expectations
- Next steps in learning
What are the Levels of Achievement?
Each learning outcome will be assessed using our updated Levels of Achievement, shown below:
Updated Levels of Achievement | What This Means for Student Learning | Previous Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Standard of Excellence | Your child:
| 91-100% |
Proficient Standard + | Your child is at the Proficient Standard and is starting to demonstrate areas of excellence. | 81-90% |
Proficient Standard | Your child:
| 71-80% |
Acceptable Standard + | Your child is at the Acceptable Standard and is starting to demonstrate areas of proficiency. | 61-70% |
Acceptable Standard | Your child:
| 51-60% |
Beginning Standard + | Your child is at the Beginning Standard and is starting to demonstrate areas within the Acceptable Standard. | 41-50% |
Beginning Standard | Your child:
| 31-40% |
Not Yet Meeting the Standard | Your child:
| 30% and below |
Accessing Live Reporting in PowerSchool
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the school division removing percentage grades (%)?
Percentage grades are being removed for new curriculum courses (Social Studies, Math, Career Education & Financial Literacy, Physical Health & Wellbeing) in addition to a pilot in current English Language Arts and French Language Arts because they do not align well with how learning is defined and assessed in Alberta’s new curriculum. The new curriculum emphasizes students’ progress toward clearly defined learning outcomes. Reporting student learning using Levels of Achievement provides a clearer and more consistent picture of what students know, understand, and can do.
What will replace the percentage grade?
Percentage grades will be replaced with an averaged Level of Achievement. This level represents a student’s overall achievement in relation to curriculum outcomes, based on evidence gathered over time.
Is this a change in expectations or academic rigour?
No. Learning expectations, curriculum outcomes, and instructional time remain the same. This change affects how achievement is reported, not what students are expected to learn or the level of challenge in their courses.
Will this change apply to all courses?
This change applies only to courses aligned with the new Alberta curriculum. Courses aligned to the previous curriculum will continue to use percentage grades where required.
How is an averaged Level of Achievement determined?
Teachers gather a wide range of evidence throughout the course, such as:
- Student work
- Observations
- Conversations
Over time, teachers determine the Level of Achievement that best reflects the student’s most consistent and most recent learning in relation to curriculum expectations. This approach values growth and learning progress rather than single scores or averages of every task.
How will this appear on the report card?
For new curriculum courses, the report card will display:
- An averaged Level of Achievement for the overall course grade, and
- A list of learning outcomes, each receiving their own Level of Achievement to showcase areas of strength and growth for the student.
This information is intended to support meaningful conversations about learning.
How does this help families understand their child’s learning?
Levels of Achievement focus on learning outcomes rather than numerical scores. They help families see:
- How well their child is meeting curriculum expectations
- Areas of strength
- Areas where additional support or practice may be helpful
Teacher comments and ongoing communication remain an essential part of understanding student progress.
Will students still receive feedback during the year?
Yes. Students will continue to receive regular and timely feedback throughout the course. This feedback supports learning, improvement, and goal‑setting and is not dependent on percentage grades.
How will this affect student motivation?
The move to Levels of Achievement places greater emphasis on learning, improvement, and mastery of skills rather than point accumulation. Research and practice show that feedback focused on learning progress supports student engagement and growth.
How does this affect transitions between grades or schools?
Using Levels of Achievement supports consistency across classrooms and schools offering new curriculum courses. Achievement information continues to travel with students and provides receiving teachers with clear insight into student learning.
Who should families contact if they have questions?
Families with questions about reporting or their child’s progress are encouraged to contact:
- Their child’s teacher, or
- School administration
Ongoing communication between home and school remains a priority.
Why is the school Division making this change now?
This change supports the implementation of Alberta’s new curriculum and reflects our Division’s commitment to assessment and reporting practices that are:
- Clear
- Consistent
- Aligned with curriculum expectations
- Focused on student learning and growth