Gradebook

Gradebook is a record-keeping tool used by educators to organize and calculate student performance across assignments, tests, and activities. It serves as the primary repository for scores, feedback, and attendance in many classrooms and schools. A gradebook may be physical, such as a notebook or binder, or digital, often part of a learning management system or standalone software. Electronic gradebooks typically include a roster of students, a list of graded items, category weighting, scoring scales, and options for per-assignment comments and rubrics. They support calculation methods such as simple average, weighted average, dropping lowest score, and letter-grade conversion according to school policy. They may also track percentages, final grades, and progress over time, and generate reports for students, parents, and administrators.

Common features include assignment tracking, rubrics, grading schemes, late or missed submission handling, extra credit, and security controls to limit access. Gradebooks are used to monitor mastery of standards, communicate performance, and produce reports for transcripts and progress checks. They can integrate with grade import/export functions, attendance, and LMS data, enabling data synchronization and analytics.

Challenges include data accuracy, policy consistency, grade inflation, privacy concerns, and the need for regular maintenance. Best practices emphasize clear policies, regular auditing, consistent weighting, and secure access. The term gradebook is also used in higher education, K-12, and professional training, with variations in terminology and features.