POLAND – Middle and high school students will have to do more than ace their math exams and turn in cool science projects if they want good report cards this year.

They’ll have to watch their attitudes. And make an effort in class.

Bruce M. Whittier Middle School and Poland Regional High School, public schools known for their unusual requirements, will start grading student behavior this fall.

“We wanted to provide a more complete picture of student performance in our classrooms,” said Principal Derek Pierce.

The schools have always factored effort and attitude into grades for physical education, arts and technology classes. Now, in more academic subjects such as math, science and foreign language, students will receive a separate grade – called “habits of work” – on their report cards.

As with all academics, teachers will base the new grades on standards. To receive a high grade for behavior, students must show perseverance, be prepared for class, behave ethically and accept responsibility for their actions. They must also cooperate with others and use their time effectively.

Because the 750-student middle and high schools don’t give traditional letter grades, students who meet all requirements will receive grades of “distinguished,” “advanced,” “competent” or “not consistently demonstrated” on their report cards.

Students won’t fail classes based solely on poor behavior. The new grades also won’t appear on transcripts, which are sent to colleges, and won’t be factored into grade-point averages.

At least not yet.

“We’re going to see how it goes,” Pierce said.

If successful, school officials may add the new grades to transcripts and grade-point averages next year.

Some colleges said they would welcome the new grades. At Colby College in Waterville, Admissions Director Steve Thomas said it could help determine a prospective student’s attitude and work habits. Generally, he relies on recommendations and an interview to figure that out.

“More information is always better,” he said.

But at the University of Maine in Orono, Assistant Provost John Beacon said behavior grades would not help him decide whom to admit. Guidance counselors often note a student’s extraordinary effort when they send high school information. Such personal insights are useful, he said. But a general grade would not be.

“I would probably say, Oh, that’s nice,’ but I wouldn’t use it for admissions,” he said.

While many other middle and high schools note student behavior on report cards or in parent-teacher conferences, few grade it. In many schools, teachers award extra points for attitude and effort if a student’s course grade is on a cusp.

It’s the “fudge factor” of grading in traditional schools, Pierce said.

When Poland opened its schools in 1999, administrators decided such subjective grading would hurt their new system, which bases grades on rigid standards and requires students to show they’ve learned the material.

“It doesn’t matter how nice you are or how hard you try in the standards,” Pierce said. “But those things do matter (in life).”

The two schools originally graded behavior in some math classes, but when the high school was accredited last year, officials said it should find a way to grade behavior for everyone.

Committees of students, teachers and parents helped come up with the final “habits of work” grading system.

As an incentive, students who earn high grades for behavior can land on a new honor roll. They will also be eligible for a new scholarship from the Poland Spring Bottling Co.