diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/models/settings/course_grading.py b/cms/djangoapps/models/settings/course_grading.py
index fbbb37450cb1..53020504b093 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/models/settings/course_grading.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/models/settings/course_grading.py
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ def get_section_grader_type(location):
         old_location = loc_mapper().translate_locator_to_location(location)
         descriptor = get_modulestore(old_location).get_item(old_location)
         return {
-            "graderType": descriptor.format if descriptor.format is not None else 'Not Graded',
+            "graderType": descriptor.format if descriptor.format is not None else u"Not Graded",
             "location": unicode(location),
         }
 
diff --git a/cms/static/js/views/overview_assignment_grader.js b/cms/static/js/views/overview_assignment_grader.js
index b13181b5e405..578056b62383 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/views/overview_assignment_grader.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/views/overview_assignment_grader.js
@@ -18,11 +18,13 @@ define(["js/views/baseview", "underscore", "gettext", "js/models/assignment_grad
                         '<% graders.each(function(option) { %>' +
                             '<li><a <% if (option.get("type") == assignmentType) {%>class="is-selected" <%}%> href="#"><%= option.get("type") %></a></li>' +
                         '<% }) %>' +
-                        '<li><a class="gradable-status-notgraded" href="#">Not Graded</a></li>' +
+                        '<li><a class="gradable-status-notgraded" href="#">' +
+                        gettext('Not Graded') +
+                        '</a></li>' +
                     '</ul>');
             this.assignmentGrade = new AssignmentGrade({
                 locator : this.$el.closest('.id-holder').data('locator'),
-                graderType : this.$el.data('initial-status')});
+                graderType : this.$el.data('display-status')});
             // TODO throw exception if graders is null
             this.graders = this.options['graders'];
             var cachethis = this;
diff --git a/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html b/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html
index 7947d9dd4347..22365a911a5b 100644
--- a/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html
+++ b/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ <h4 class="header">${_("Subsection Settings")}</h4>
     <div class="row gradable">
       <label>${_("Graded as:")}</label>
 
-    <div class="gradable-status" data-initial-status="${subsection.format if subsection.format is not None else _('Not Graded')}">
+    <div class="gradable-status" data-initial-status="${subsection.format if subsection.format is not None else u'Not Graded'}" data-display-status="${_('Not Graded')}">
     </div>
 
     <div class="due-date-input row">
diff --git a/cms/templates/overview.html b/cms/templates/overview.html
index c346f97e5ca2..060ccc5fc6ab 100644
--- a/cms/templates/overview.html
+++ b/cms/templates/overview.html
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ <h3 class="section-name" data-name="${section.display_name_with_default | h}"></
 
                           <ul class="actions-list">
                             <li class="actions-item grades">
-                              <div class="gradable-status" data-initial-status="${subsection.format if subsection.format is not None else _('Not Graded')}"></div>
+                              <div class="gradable-status" data-initial-status="${subsection.format if subsection.format is not None else u'Not Graded'}" data-display-status="${_('Not Graded')}"></div>
                             </li>
                             <li class="actions-item delete">
                               <a href="#" data-tooltip="${_('Delete this subsection')}" class="action delete-subsection-button"><i class="icon-trash"></i> <span class="sr">${_("Delete subsection")}</span></a>