STUDENT INFORMATION, LEARNING AND EXPERIENCE

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS (SPRING LAKE PARK HIGH SCHOOL)

A total of 64 credits are required for graduation from Spring Lake Park High School. Students must also pass all required courses as outlined for their specific graduating class. Required courses include:

Language Arts (12 credits):

Language Arts 9 or equivalent (3 credits)

Language Arts 10 or equivalent (3 credits)

Language Arts 11 or equivalent (3 credits)

Language Arts 12 or equivalent (3 credits)

Mathematics (9 credits):

Quadratic Algebra (3 credits)

Geometry (3 credits)

Algebra 2 (3 credits)

Science (9 credits):

Physical Science 9 (3 credits)

Biology (3 credits)

One year of chemistry or one year of physics (3 credits)

Social Studies and Economics (11 credits):

Human Geography (2 credits)

Civics (1 credit)

U.S. History (3 credits)

World History (2 credits)

Economics (1 credit)

U.S. Government (1 credit)

Social Science Elective (1 credit)

Physical Education / Health (3 credits):

Foundations or fitness or beginning weight training (1 credit)

Additional Phy. Ed elective (1 credit)

Health (1 credit)

Arts (3 credits) General electives (17 credits)

MAKING UP WORK (GRADES 7-12) AND CREDITS (GRADES 9-12)

Students who are absent for a class or a full day will have access to the work missed and assistance to complete it. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for and turn in all make-up work if they are absent. Most school work can be accessed by logging into the student’s Schoology account and thus can be completed when a student is not in school. Students should check with their teachers on expectations and timelines for making up missed work.

High school students who have failed or not completed a course and need to make up course credits have many ways to do so, including the Contract for Credit, the Alternative Learning Team, attending Metro Heights Academy night school or full-time day school. Students needing to make up required credits should see their counselor to discuss the options available.

Statewide Assessments And Opting Out

Your student has the opportunity to participate in statewide assessments, specifically the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) for reading, math and science, and if applicable, the ACCESS for ELLs, an assessment for English Language Learners. These assessments are administered in person for all students including students attending school full-time online.

The Minnesota Department of Education provides a parent/guardian guide for these assessments as well as a process for parents and guardians to decline to have their child participate. Find the guide and refusal process details on the statewide testing website.

Find the complete picture of our balanced assessment system in Spring Lake Park Schools on the assessment page of our website.

Student Expectations And Behavior Response

At Spring Lake Park Schools, we have high expectations for how students contribute to the positive, safe, and engaging learning environment we all create together. We communicate our expectations and proactively teach and model social, emotional, and behavioral skills at all grade levels.

Each year, we ask students and families to review student expectations together and acknowledge they have done so. Families can find the Student and Family Behavior and Attendance Agreements within their Campus Parent Portal account. Review it together and then sign electronically to acknowledge you have communicated these expectations with your student. This process helps set the tone for students as they begin the year and clarifies for them how we all expect them to conduct themselves each day at school.

We know even with clear and consistent expectations and proactive development of students’ social, emotional and behavioral skills, challenging and unexpected behaviors will occur. When this happens, we provide consistent and predictable responses that are aligned to the intensity of the behavior. The document we ask parents to review with their child each fall has more information regarding expectations and responses to misbehavior. Families may also reach out to the principal at your child’s school should you have any questions.