ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
IMPORTANT INFORMATION Classes at high school run on a four-block schedule. A four-block schedule is so named because there are four class periods a day. Class periods are approximately 90 minutes long. Each class lasts for nine to eighteen weeks. Under this structure, students earn .5 credits per a nine-week class, and one credit for a class that meets for two nine-week terms. There are some exceptions to this structure in that we continue to offer band, orchestra, and choral music throughout the year on an every-other-day basis. WEIGHTED GRADES The District values academic rigor because it increases student achievement, encourages students to stretch to their potential, and contributes to effective transitioning to postsecondary institutions. The District also recognizes that a policy of adding a minor weight to a grade can appropriately motivate more students to pursue academic rigor, which is aimed at their long-term success. A weight of 0.025 will be added to the cumulative grade point average (GPA) for each completed half-credit within the high school resulting in a total of 0.05 additional weight per-credit course. The courses eligible for weighting are all of the Advanced Placement, Latin IV, and level 5 or 6 World Language courses. A course taken through the Early College Credit Program (ECCP) shall have an added weight only if the course is beyond the current course sequence in math and world languages. These specific ECCP courses earning three, four, or five credits shall be eligible for an added weight. A weight of 0.05 shall be added to the GPA after successful completion of each of the designated courses. ECCP courses earning less than three credits shall not be eligible for an added weight. ADDING/DROPPING A COURSE Prior to the start of a term, students may drop any course and add another course in their schedule for one or more of the following reasons: ● Medical needs ● Failure of a class ● Course is needed for graduation or post secondary prerequisite for a course ● Scheduled in an inappropriate course level ● Change in performance in current year requires change to be made in next year’s schedule If a student meets the above criteria, there is space in the class, and the change does not overload another course, then a change can be made. DROPPING DOWN FROM AN HONORS TO A REGULAR SECTION Students may drop down from an honors section to a regular section of a course only during the first five days of the course or term. At the end of the first term of the course, students may drop down if they have a grade of “C” or lower in the Honors class. The student may only drop down to a regular section of the same course. A student may only drop to a regular section after meeting with specified faculty and completing requisite paperwork. The student’s grade in the non-honors class will be determined by combining the grades earned in both the honors and non-honors class.
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