Academics :::

Academic Ability Levels

Students are assigned to course levels on the basis of test scores, performance/achievement, and teachers’ recommendations.  A student may be in one or more honors or accelerated level courses at one time since departments individually place students.  No student can take all courses at either the honors or accelerated level because several courses required for graduation, e.g., in practical arts,  creative arts,  business,  social studies, and  physical education, are structured to serve a heterogeneous population, and these departments have some required courses which are offered only at the preparatory level.

Personal growth involves making informed decisions and learning from the consequences of those decisions.  For this reason, the selection of courses should be made carefully by students and parents with information from teachers and counselors.  The role of these professionals is to help students and parents make informed decisions which minimize failure, maximize success, and ensure the orderly and efficient operation of the school.  Finally, teachers have the responsibility to maintain the integrity of standards and expectations of courses.

Academic Grading System

Grades and credits are necessary elements of academic performance; however, the goals of a comprehensive high school education are accomplished by the pursuit of knowledge, skills, concepts, and understanding.  Diligent study and effort result in learning, achievement, and rewards not measured by grades, GPA, and/or credits.

Grades earned represent an appraisal of student academic achievement.  A student’s academic achievement will be evaluated and awarded a letter grade based on the attainment of objectives, standards, and expectations of the course in which he/she is enrolled.  Each student will be encouraged to enroll in courses at the appropriate ability levels as recommended by school personnel.  Academic achievement is represented by letter grades as follows.

 A - Superior
 B - Above Average
 C - Average
 D  - Below Average
 F  - Failure
 AS -  Audit completed successfully
 AU -  Audit completed unsuccessfully
 CP - Conditional Pass
 DP  - Doubtful Pass
 CR - Credit
 NC - No Credit
 I - Incomplete
 W - Withdrawal
 WF - Withdrawal Failure

All letter grades noted above may be used for evaluation of student work per the following:

  • A, B, C, D, F, I, AS, AU, CR, NC, W, WF all may  be used at quarter and/or semester marking periods.
  • DP/CP may only be used at the end of a semester  grading period.
  • A grade of “CP” (Conditional Pass) is used when a student’s achievement in the course is low, but he/  she may continue in the sequence of courses.  If the student successfully completes the second quarter or following semester’s work, he/she will automatically receive a grade of “D” for the first semester.
  • A grade of “DP” (Doubtful Pass) is used when credit for the course is to be counted toward graduation credit requirements; however, the student is not to continue with the next course in the sequence.  It carries the same grade point value as a “D.”
  • A grade of “I” (Incomplete) is used when a student has not completed requirements for a course grade. It may be used at either quarter or semester time.  Though completion of work as quickly as possible is recommended, a student may complete his/her work and receive a final grade for the course within the first six weeks of the following semester. Students receiving incomplete grades for second semester courses may complete work for final grades within he first six weeks of the following fall semester.
  • A grade of “W” (Withdrawal) is used when a student drops or is removed from a course between the 10th day of a semester through the last day of the  first or third quarter.  The grade “W” will appear on the report card and transcript thereafter.  The “W” grade does not receive a grade point value, and is therefore not part of either the weighted/unweighted GPA, class rank, or Honor Roll computation. 
  • A grade of “WF” (Withdrawal Failure) is used when  a student drops a course during the second or fourth quarters (i.e., the halfway point or later of a semester) or is removed from a course at any time.  The “WF” grade will appear on the report card and transcript thereafter.  The “WF” grade receives a grade point value of 0 and is part of the weighted/unweighted GPA, class rank, and Honor Roll computation.

Teachers may use + or - signs with grades A-D in order to differentiate levels of achievement.  These signs will appear on report cards and transcripts, but they are not used to determine class rank or grade point averages.

Due to the sequential nature of foreign language and mathematics courses, a student who receives an F for a first semester grade will be dropped from the course for the second semester.  This will necessitate successfully repeating the course in order to continue in the sequence. Schedule changes are permitted under these circumstances.