The exams and tests are valid when students directly prepare to take them. Exams, tests and classwork are graded against absolute standards, not on a curve. A reporting system exists that makes it clear to students and their parents how they are progressing toward expected standards. Assessments validly test the full range of adopted standards. Curriculum and assessments are aligned.
Recognitions mark real accomplishment - meeting a standard or intermediate expectations.
Enough clearly demarcated progress points are set so that all students experience recognition and celebration of their accomplishments periodically. Families and other community members who matter to students participate in celebrations and recognition events. Employers and colleges recognize and ask for evidence of academic accomplishments for high school students. There is an articulated curriculum in each subject that avoids needless repetition and progressively deepens understanding of core concepts. The curriculum and instruction are clearly organized around major concepts specified in the standards.