Report card comment generator
and examples

These examples follow the usual tone for each level: in elementary school the comment often speaks to the student and family warmly, while middle and high school comments use the third person and focus on habits and skills. Use them as a starting point and add one thing you actually observed. For a comment tailored to one student, use the generator above; for a larger bank of examples, read our guide to report card comments.

Elementary school (K–5)

• Maya has grown into a confident reader this quarter and loves sharing what happens in her books. Next, she is working on sounding out longer words on her own.

• Liam adds and subtracts within 20 with ease. Practicing math facts at home for a few minutes a day will help him move faster.

• Ava is a kind classmate who includes others at recess. Her next goal is to raise her hand and wait her turn during group discussions.

• Noah keeps his desk and folders organized and follows classroom routines independently.

• At the start of the year, Sofia found it hard to stay on one task. She now works for longer stretches without reminders, which is great progress.

Middle school (6–8)

• Ethan participates thoughtfully in class discussions and completes assignments on time. Reviewing his notes before quizzes will help his test scores match his classwork.

• Olivia brings strong ideas to group projects but is easily distracted during independent work. Using a planner would help her keep track of deadlines.

• Lucas has shown steady growth in writing this semester, especially in organizing paragraphs. He should keep adding evidence to support his claims.

• Emma’s grade dropped this quarter because of several missing assignments. Checking the class website weekly and asking for help early will make a difference.

High school (9–12)

• Jacob analyzes texts with insight and supports his arguments with well-chosen evidence. His contributions raise the level of class discussion.

• Isabella has a solid grasp of the material but rarely participates. Sharing her thinking more often would strengthen her understanding and her grade.

• Daniel’s test results vary widely from unit to unit. Consistent review between classes is essential as the course moves toward the final exam.

• Grace works independently, manages her time well and holds herself to a high standard.

A grade does not tell the whole story, but it sets the tone of the comment. Many districts use letter grades (A to F), and others use standards-based grading. This table gives one example for each level.

Grading scales vary by district and school. If yours uses another scale, add it in the generator’s notes.

Progress reports go home mid-quarter or mid-semester, before the final grade. Their job is to flag what is going well and what can still change, while there is time to act.

• Jordan is off to a strong start this quarter, with all assignments turned in on time. Keep it up through the end of the grading period.

• Mia currently has two missing assignments in science. Turning them in by Friday will have a real impact on her quarter grade.

• Aiden is participating more in class since the start of the semester. Next, he should focus on showing his work in math.

• Chloe’s reading log has been inconsistent. Twenty minutes of reading each night will help her reach her goal by the end of the trimester.

• Ryan’s quiz scores are improving. Attending the after-school review sessions before the unit test would help him keep this momentum.

• Lily is struggling with fractions right now. We are working on it in small groups, and practice at home would help.

The end-of-year comment looks back and ahead: it sums up the year and leaves a note for the next grade.

• What a year! You grew so much as a reader and writer. Have a wonderful summer, and keep reading!

• Henry was a dependable classmate all year and always ready to help. He is well prepared for next grade.

• Zoe finished the year with steady effort that shows in her results. She has a strong foundation for next year.

• After a difficult first semester, Owen made real progress this spring. He should carry this energy into next year.

• Some key math skills still need work. Practicing during the summer is strongly recommended.

A few short examples. In the generator, choose the subject and the comment focuses on the skills of that subject.

English Language Arts

• Writes creative stories with vivid word choice. Next, she should focus on punctuation and paragraph breaks.

• Reads with good comprehension and retells stories accurately in his own words.

Math

• Solves problems accurately but needs to explain his reasoning step by step.

• Tackles word problems with persistence and tries different strategies.

Science

• Makes careful observations and records lab results with precision.

Social Studies

• Connects historical events to today’s world in thoughtful ways.

Physical Education

• Shows great effort, follows the rules and is a fair teammate.

Some phrases show up on many report cards but tell families nothing. Here is how to rewrite them.