Accessing Your Gradebook
Before configuring anything, you need to navigate to the Grade Book in Infinite Campus. There are two paths depending on your district's setup:
Path A: Main Menu
Navigate to Instruction ? Grades ? Grade Book. Select the course and section you want to configure from the dropdown.
Path B: Teaching Center
Click on the course name in your Teaching Center, then select the Grades tab. This is often faster for teachers with many sections.
Important:
Always set up Categories first, then Grade Calc Options second. Grade Calc Options reference your categories, so they must exist before you configure calculation settings. This order matters every semester.
Creating Categories
Categories group related assignments for sorting and grade calculation. Every assignment you create must belong to a category, so categories must be set up before you can add assignments.
Step-by-Step: Adding a Category
- 1. From the Grade Book, click the Settings chevron (gear icon or arrow) to open the setup panel.
- 2. Click Categories from the settings menu.
- 3. Click the Add button (usually bottom-right of the Category List).
- 4. Enter a Name for the category (up to 50 characters) — e.g., "Tests," "Quizzes," "Homework," "Projects."
- 5. Select the Sections this category applies to. If you teach multiple sections of the same course, select all that should share this category.
- 6. Under Grading Task, choose the appropriate task (e.g., "Semester Grade" or "Quarter Grade") as defined by your district.
- 7. Assign a Weight (numeric value — do not include the % sign). All category weights should total 100.
- 8. Optionally set a Default Scoring Type (Points, Marks, or Rubrics) and Default Points.
- 9. Click Save.
Repeat for each category you need. You cannot delete a category once assignments are aligned to it.
Category Name
Use clear, descriptive names your students will recognize: Tests, Quizzes, Homework, Classwork, Projects, Participation, Labs, Final Exam.
Section Assignment
Select which sections use this category. Co-taught sections may not appear — check with your admin if sections are missing.
Grading Task
Always choose the correct grading task (Semester, Quarter, Trimester) as configured by your district. Mismatched tasks cause grades not to display.
Assigning Category Weights
Weights determine how much each category contributes to the overall grade. In a weighted grading system, a 50-point test in a category worth 40% has far more impact than a 50-point homework in a category worth 10%.
Further Reading & Tools
Calculate Your Grades: Use our Weighted Grade Calculator and Total Points Calculator to see where you stand.
Related Guides: Deepen your understanding with the IC Grade Calc Options and IC Grade Categories.
How Weights Work
Overall Grade = S (Category % × Category Weight) ÷ S Active Weights
Key rules:
- Weights should total 100 — enter numeric values without the % sign (e.g., 40, not 40%)
- Proportional, not equal — IC calculates weights as ratios, so entering 2, 3, 5 is equivalent to 20%, 30%, 50%
- Empty categories are excluded — if a category has no scores yet, IC redistributes its weight proportionally among active categories
| Category | Weight Entered | Effective % | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 40 | 40% | Highest |
| Projects | 25 | 25% | High |
| Quizzes | 20 | 20% | Medium |
| Homework | 15 | 15% | Lowest |
Configuring Grade Calc Options
Grade Calc Options control how IC calculates and displays in-progress grades. This is the step most commonly missed — and the #1 reason students see "no grade" in the portal. See our Grade Calc Options Explained page for the student perspective.
Step-by-Step: Setting Grade Calc Options
- 1. From the Grade Book, click the Settings chevron.
- 2. Click Grade Calc Options.
- 3. For each grading task and term, set the Calculation Type to In Progress Grade. If this is set to "No Calculation," students will not see any grade.
- 4. Select the appropriate Grading Scale (e.g., A–F, district-specific scale). This determines the letter grade students see alongside the percentage.
- 5. Check the Weight Categories checkbox if you want your category weights to apply. Without this, IC treats all assignments equally regardless of category weight.
- 6. Leave Use Scores Percent Value unchecked unless your district specifically requires it. This option changes how IC aggregates scores within a category and can produce unexpected results.
- 7. Use the Fill Options button to copy settings across multiple terms or sections quickly.
- 8. Click Save.
Critical checkbox:
The Weight Categories checkbox is the single most important setting. If you created weighted categories but forgot to check this box, IC will ignore all your weights and calculate using straight total points instead. This is the most common gradebook configuration mistake.
Choosing a Grading Scale
The grading scale you select in Grade Calc Options determines how IC converts percentage scores to letter grades. Your district pre-configures available scales — you choose from what's available. For a deep dive, see our IC Grading Scale Explained guide.
Standard A–F Scale
Most common: A = 90–100%, B = 80–89%, C = 70–79%, D = 60–69%, F = below 60%. Some districts use an equalized 50–100 scale where the minimum failing grade is 50%.
District-Specific Scales
Many districts create custom scales with +/- grades (A+, A, A-), standards-based marks (4/3/2/1), or pass/fail options. Check your district's grading policy to confirm which scale to use.
Common Category Setups
Not sure how to structure your categories? Here are popular configurations used by real IL, OH, MN, and NV districts using Infinite Campus. See our Grade Categories Guide for student-facing explanations.
?? Standard Three-Category (Most Common)
Tests 40% · Quizzes 30% · Homework 30%
Best for: Traditional classes where assessments are the primary measure of understanding.
?? Lab Science Setup
Tests 35% · Labs 30% · Quizzes 20% · Homework 15%
Best for: Science courses with significant lab components.
?? Project-Heavy Setup
Projects 45% · Tests 30% · Participation 15% · Homework 10%
Best for: Art, design, CTE, and project-based learning courses.
?? Formative/Summative Split
Summative (Tests/Projects) 70% · Formative (Quizzes/Classwork) 30%
Best for: Districts using a standards-based or mastery approach with two broad categories.
?? With Final Exam Category
Tests 35% · Quizzes 20% · Homework 15% · Projects 15% · Final Exam 15%
Best for: Semester-long courses with a cumulative final. Remember the final category stays empty until end of term.
Advanced Settings & Tips
?? Drop Lowest Score
In the category settings, check Drop Lowest Score (%) to automatically exclude each student's lowest percentage score in that category. Useful for quiz categories where you want to forgive one bad day.
?? Exclude from Calculation
Check Exclude from Calculation to create a category whose assignments appear in the gradebook but don't affect the overall grade. Useful for practice work, extra credit tracking, or participation logs.
?? Fill Options
Use the Fill Options button in Grade Calc Options to copy settings from one term or section to others. This saves significant time if you teach 5+ sections with the same setup.
?? Use Scores Percent Value
This option changes how IC aggregates scores: instead of summing raw points, it averages percentages per assignment. This means a 5/5 quiz and a 50/100 test each count equally. Leave unchecked unless your district specifically requires it.
"Set up your gradebook once at the start of the semester, verify with a test assignment, and you won't have to touch it again."
— Best practice from IC training resources
Troubleshooting Common Issues
? Students See No Grade / Blank Grade Column
Cause: Grade Calc Options are set to "No Calculation" instead of "In Progress Grade." Fix: Go to Settings ? Grade Calc Options, change type to In Progress Grade, select a grading scale, and save.
? Weights Are Being Ignored
Cause: The "Weight Categories" checkbox is unchecked in Grade Calc Options. Fix: Enable the checkbox and save. Grades will recalculate instantly.
? Grades Seem Inflated Early in the Semester
Cause: Categories with no scores (like Tests or Finals) are being excluded and their weight redistributed. This is normal behavior — grades will adjust once scores are entered in all categories.
? Cannot Delete a Category
Cause: Assignments are aligned to the category. Fix: Reassign or delete all assignments in the category first, then delete the category. Consider renaming instead of deleting if you need to restructure mid-semester.
? Grades Don't Match Student Calculations
Cause: Often due to weight redistribution, rounding, or the "Use Scores Percent Value" option. Fix: Direct students to our Grade Not Matching troubleshooting guide, or verify your settings match district policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up my gradebook in Infinite Campus?
Open Grade Book from the Instruction menu or Teaching Center. Click the Settings chevron, then create Categories first (naming each and assigning weights). Next, configure Grade Calc Options by setting the calculation type to In Progress Grade, selecting a grading scale, and checking Weight Categories. Save after each step.
How do I create weighted categories?
Go to Settings ? Categories ? Add. Name the category, assign a numeric weight, select sections, choose the grading task, and save. Repeat for each category (weights should total 100). Then go to Grade Calc Options and check the Weight Categories box to activate weighted grading.
What are Grade Calc Options?
Grade Calc Options control how in-progress grades are calculated and displayed to students and parents. Key settings include calculation type (In Progress Grade vs. No Calculation), grading scale, and the Weight Categories checkbox. See our Grade Calc Options Explained page for full details.
Why are my students' grades not showing?
The most common cause is Grade Calc Options set to "No Calculation." Change the type to "In Progress Grade," select a grading scale, and save. Also verify that at least one assignment is scored and aligned to a category.
Do I need to set up the gradebook every semester?
Yes. Categories and Grade Calc Options are tied to specific terms and sections. At the start of each new semester, you'll need to recreate categories (or copy from previous terms if your district supports it) and reconfigure Grade Calc Options for the new term's grading tasks.
Related Calculators & Guides
Grade Calc Options Explained
Student-facing guide to understanding the settings your teacher configures — weighted vs. total points, grading scales, and more.
Grade Categories Guide
Deep dive into how Tests, Quizzes, Homework, and Projects categories work from the student perspective.
Empty Category Weight Redistribution
What happens when a category has no grades — explains the redistribution mechanics students and parents often find confusing.
Weighted Grade Calculator
Interactive calculator that replicates IC's weighted category math — great for verifying your gradebook setup is correct.
External References
- How to Setup Your Infinite Campus Grade Book — Mayfield Schools (PDF)
- Grade Book — Grade Calc Options — Columbus School District
- Grade Book — Categories — Columbus School District (Confluence)
- Methods for Calculating Grades — Official IC Documentation (PDF)
- Infinite Campus Gradebook Setup — Categories and Grade Calc Options (YouTube)