New Grading Model Overview- Updated
2. What this means for you
Page 2 of 10 · Benefits
What this means for you
The new grading model was built with every person in the CPA community in mind — students, teachers, and parents. Here is what it means for each of you.
For students
Your grade will finally show all of who you are
Under the old system, a student who showed up every week, worked hard, asked great questions, and lived out their faith could still get a low grade if they did badly on tests. That was unfair — and it missed what CPA is really trying to build in you.
The new model fixes that. Your grade now reflects how you show up, how prepared you are, how you grow over time, and how you explain what you learned in your weekly meeting with your teacher. If you struggle on multiple-choice tests but can explain ideas clearly and defend your work in a real conversation, your grade will show that.
"You cannot fake a real conversation with your teacher. And you should never have to."
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Your honesty is protected
When you explain your learning live to your teacher, no one can question whether the work was yours. You proved it yourself.
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Effort and character count
Showing up on time, being prepared, engaging daily, and living out your values now earn real points in your grade.
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You can bounce back
A bad week does not define you. You can bring older work to later meetings, show your growth, and earn back points through real effort.
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You learn to speak for yourself
Talking through your learning with your teacher every week builds skills you will use in college, job interviews, and beyond.
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Your faith life is recognized
Serving others, being honest, building friendships, and growing spiritually now carry real weight in your grade — not just a pat on the back.
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You are in charge of your story
The weekly reflection and portfolio let you decide what to present and how to show your growth. You own your progress, not just your scores.
For teachers
Teaching the way it was always meant to be
Teaching was never supposed to be about collecting stacks of papers and running them through a grading system. It was supposed to be about relationships — a mentor and a student, thinking together and growing together.
For the past few years, many teachers found themselves spending more and more time wondering if the work students turned in was real. That is not why anyone became a teacher. And it is not what CPA students deserve.
The new model gives teachers back what made them want to teach in the first place — real conversations with real students, where professional judgment and personal mentorship are the most important tools in the room.
The old teacher role
xGrading submitted work of uncertain origin
xRunning AI detection tools on student papers
xReporting scores that may not reflect real learning
xFeeling powerless in a changing landscape
The new teacher role
+Meeting one-on-one with each student every week
+Asking questions that show what a student really knows
+Grading what they witness in real time
+Using professional judgment built into the model
Under the new model, a teacher's professional opinion is not just allowed — it is formally part of the grade. The Teacher Conviction component exists because no computer can replace the judgment of a trained educator who has met with a student every week all semester. CPA teachers are credentialed professionals and Christian mentors. The new model treats them as both.
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Your judgment is part of the grade
Your professional read of whether a student truly learned the material now carries real weight — formally built into the rubric.
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Relationships drive results
The weekly meeting is now the main assessment event. What happens in that conversation is what you are measuring.
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You see the whole student
The weekly reflection gives you a clear picture of where each student stands — academically, spiritually, and personally — before the meeting even starts.
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Faith mentorship is your job
Praying with students, encouraging their faith, and investing in their spiritual growth are now a recognized part of your professional role.
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.”
2 Timothy 2:2
For parents
A grade you can trust — and a student you can actually see growing
You chose CPA because you wanted something different — a school that cares about your whole child, that weaves faith into learning, and that keeps you in the loop. The new model makes good on that promise.
When your student earns a grade under this model, that grade reflects their attendance, their preparation, their verified understanding, their faith in action, and their growth over time — not just a score from a computer-graded test.
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Grades you can trust
An 85% in this model means your student showed up, was prepared, defended their learning, engaged with their faith, and impressed their teacher.
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You can sit in on the meeting
Parents are always welcome at the weekly teacher meeting — and now that meeting is the heart of the assessment.
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Growth you can see over time
The weekly reflection and portfolio build a running picture of your student's progress — academically, spiritually, and personally — all semester long.