Wisconsin State Journal

In an effort to keep students who fail early in their high school careers from falling completely out of school, ninth-grade teachers at Madison’s West High School are planning to give classroom grades of no lower than 40%, eliminate extra credit and allow up to 90% credit for late work in required classes.

Madison’s largest high school is looking to implement several changes to grading practices this year — primarily meant to keep freshmen on track to graduate during a time when slips in academic performance are not unusual — while other changes school-wide are being sought to create consistent expectations for grading...