The first quarter has come to a close

With the first quarter of the 2024-2025 school year ending, it is time for both students and teachers alike to reflect. It is important to realize that each quarter is very important, even in the beginning. Looking back on your grades and other things from the first quarter is good to help you recognize what you need to work on in the upcoming quarters. The first quarter grades also contribute to things upcoming towards the end of the semester, like midterm exams.

Midterm exams are very important tests that teachers give right before winter break. This year they’ll be on December 17^th through December 20^th. This ties in with the first quarter of the school year because if students want to be exempt from these exams, most teachers require a B or higher for the first and second quarter in their class. All of this is also important for students in the Communication Broadcasting Arts (CBA) magnet program, as first and second quarter grades as well as midterm exam results can all contribute to a student’s requirements to be in CBA.

“I did horrible in the first quarter, but I’m currently improving by getting my work done by the due dates” says Deerfield Beach High School junior, Debora Callejas.

It is also important to keep in mind that first quarter grades do still count for students’ grade point average (GPA). GPAs are updated after every semester, so it adds up first and second semester grades and goes from there. These grades are also the biggest contributing factors to class rank. The class rank is a numerical value that shows how a student’s academic performance compares to their classmates. This number also considers the difficulty of a student’s classes. To elaborate, if someone is taking honors or AP courses, they may be ranked higher than someone who is not taking those types of classes.

All in all, the first quarter is just as important as all the quarters that come after it. Now that it has concluded, students can look back on their grades and see if they need improvement in certain areas. There are always opportunities to help a student improve, like tutoring. With the very short second quarter, it is imperative that everyone is on top of their work as there are many breaks and days off during this quarter.

Written by Leila Rogers | Graphic Designed by Leila Rogers

Published November 12, 2024 | ePathfinder | News