Course Expectations and Fair Evaluation
Students have the right to know course requirements and to be evaluated fairly. Grades, progress reports and other evaluations are based on clearly stated requirements applied fairly to all students. Ask your teacher when requirements are unclear.
Grades and Reports
The school year has two semesters. The first ends before winter break in December; the second begins in January and ends in May. Semester grades are the official grades recorded on the transcript. Grade reports are completed each semester. Check grades in Infinite Campus or contact teachers.
Grading Scale
Teachers use plus/minus grades on report cards, progress reports and transcripts.
Grade | Published scale value |
|---|---|
A+ | 96.5 |
A | 93.5 |
A- | 89.5 |
B+ | 86.5 |
B | 83.5 |
B- | 79.5 |
C+ | 76.5 |
C | 73.5 |
C- | 69.5 |
D+ | 66.5 |
D | 63.5 |
D- | 59.5 |
F | Below 59.5 |
Other notations include NC (no credit, audit), I (incomplete), WP (withdraw pass), WF (withdraw fail) and P (passing).
Grade Point Average
GPA uses courses receiving a letter grade for the semester. The final GPA is based on eight semesters of classes. Plus/minus marks appear on transcripts but do not change the following non-weighted course points:
Grade | GPA treatment |
|---|---|
A+ through A- | 4 points |
B+ through B- | 3 points |
C+ through C- | 2 points |
D+ through D- | 1 point |
F or WF | 0 points |
NC, NCE, WP or P | Not used in the computation |
Incomplete Grades
Teachers decide whether to assign an incomplete. Coursework must be finished within two weeks after the semester ends unless the teacher has agreed to another arrangement in writing. Without a prior arrangement, the incomplete becomes an F after two weeks.
Grade Changes and Repeated Courses
Each course grade is recorded on the transcript. Only teacher and/or administrator input can change or remove a grade. Teachers submit grade changes to the registrar using the appropriate form.
When a course is repeated, both grades appear on the transcript and count in GPA. Credit is awarded only once for passing the same course, except in music, physical education, journalism, electronic media, Art/Design, student government, student assistant, peer partner and drama classes.
Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating, plagiarism and unauthorized collaboration on written work or multimedia presentations are not tolerated. Academic dishonesty results in a zero on the assignment, test or other work, or other consequences determined by the teacher and school administration.
Student Classification and Credit Progress
During the first three years of high school, students are classified by years in school: first-year students are freshmen, second-year students are sophomores and third-year students are juniors.
At the end of the third year, students who have not earned at least 34 credits are not on track to graduate with their original class and remain classified as juniors. The handbook’s credit-progression chart is shown below. Grade-related privileges, including IDs, off-campus privileges and parking permits, are based on this credit-earned system.
Credits earned | Credit progression |
|---|---|
9 or fewer | Freshman |
10–21 | Sophomore |
22–35 | Junior |
36 or more | Senior |
Testing and Student Assessment
School assessments help measure student achievement, skills and progress. Students should make attendance a priority during testing windows.
Benchmark Testing
Reading and mathematics progress is measured two or three times during the school year using MAPS testing. Students needing additional help may be assigned tutoring or remedial classes.
Standardized Testing
Standardized testing includes CMAS, PSAT for grades 9 and 10, and SAT. Teachers review basic skills throughout the year and support test-taking strategies.