Elementary school report cards offer much more than just a letter grade; they are a vital snapshot of your child’s academic progress, social development, and overall learning experience. Understanding this crucial document is the first step toward actively supporting their education and celebrating their achievements. We know that deciphering the different grading systems, skill assessments, and teacher comments can sometimes be confusing. That’s why this website is here: to empower you with clear, easy-to-use resources that break down the elementary report card. By understanding what the scores and narratives truly mean, you’ll be equipped to have productive conversations with your child and their teacher, ensuring your child has the support they need to succeed academically and developmentally.
Sample Report Cards
Below Are links to sample report cards in each grade
- Young 5s [English] [Arabic]
- Kindergarten [English] [Arabic]
- 1st Grade [English] [Arabic]
- 2nd Grade [English] [Arabic]
- 3rd Grade [English] [Arabic]
- 4th Grade [English] [Arabic]
- 5th Grade [English] [Arabic]
What are Essential Standards
To ensure that your child is learning the most crucial knowledge and skills for their grade level, schools choose “Essential Standards.” Think of these as the absolute must-haves—the fundamental building blocks students need to be successful in the next grade and beyond. Because there are many standards in the curriculum, your child’s report card focuses only on these essential ones. This targeted approach provides you with a clear, meaningful snapshot of your child’s learning. Instead of getting one overall, often vague, letter grade for a subject, you see precisely which critical skills they have mastered and which specific areas still need more practice or support. This focus helps both you and the teacher work together on what matters most for your child’s long-term academic growth. 🌱
You can find the full set up Michigan Standards here:
Michigan Department Of Education Standards
The Report Card Marks
All student will receive a mark on how well they are meeting grade-level content standards. Students that are not meeting grade-level standards ( a proficiency score of 1 or 2) will also receive a mark on their growth.
Proficiency Marks
| Mark | Explanation |
| 3 – Mastery | Student can independently demonstrate knowledge and application of the skill with grade-level materials. |
| 2 – Progressing | Student can demonstrate knowledge but cannot yet independently apply the skill with grade-level materials. |
| 1 – Needs Support | Student cannot yet independently demonstrate knowledge or application of the skill with grade-level materials. |
| 4 – Exceeds | Student can independently demonstrate thorough, in-depth knowledge and consistent application of the skill with materials above grade level. |
Growth Marks
| Mark | Explanation |
| EG | Expected Growth: The student is showing expected growth at their instructional level, given the academic challenges of the standard. |
| SG | Some Growth: The student is showing some growth at their instructional level given the academic challenges of the standard. |
| MG | Minimal Growth: The student is showing minimal growth at their instructional level given the academic challenges of the standard. |
Grade Level Essential Standards Resources
3rd Grade
|
Standard |
Report Card Language |
Official Language | |
|
RF.3.3 |
Using phonics to sound out words. |
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words. |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
RF.3.4 |
Reading accurately and smoothly. |
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension. |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
RI.3.1 |
Finding answers right in the text. |
Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
RI.3.2 |
Identifying the central topic and supporting facts. |
Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea. |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
RI.3.3 |
Explaining connections using time, sequence, and cause/effect. |
Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect. |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
RI.3.8 |
Understanding how ideas connect in a text. |
Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text (e.g., comparison, cause/effect, first/second/third in a sequence). |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
RL.3.1 |
Citing the text to prove understanding. |
Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
RL.3.2 |
Retelling and finding the lesson in stories. |
Recount stories, including fables, folktales, and myths from diverse cultures; determine the central message, lesson, or moral and explain how it is conveyed through key details in the text. |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
RL.3.3 |
Describing character feelings and actions. |
Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events. |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
RL.3.9 |
Comparing a series’ characters, settings, and ideas |
Compare and contrast the themes, settings, and plots of stories written by the same author about the same or similar characters (e.g., in books from a series) |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
W.3.1 |
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. |
Stating opinions and giving reasons. |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
W.3.2 |
Write informative/ explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. |
Explaining topics with clear information. |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |
|
SL.3.1 |
Writing clear, informative reports. |
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly. |
Resource 1 Resource 2 |