GRADE CLASSIFICATION, GRADES. GRADUATION

Grade level classification for high school students shall be determined by the regular program high school counselor at the beginning of each school year and shall be based solely on the total number of accumulated credits towards graduation earned by the student.

After the ninth grade, students are classified according to the number of credits earned toward graduation.

                                    Credits Earned                    Classification

                                    5                                              Grade 10 (Sophomore)       

                                   10                                              Grade 11 (Junior)

15                                              Grade 12 (Senior)

GRADES

The district distributes progress reports during each grading period to notify parents/guardians whose children are not achieving.  The progress report indicates which of the academic subjects the student is having difficult achieving.  A parent/teacher conference also must be requested. 

Intervention programs are available on each campus for students in danger of failing language arts, mathematics, science or social studies.

Progress reports are distributed midway through the grading in elementary, middle school, and high school level.

A parent/guardian may call their child’s school counselor to verify whether a progress report or report card has been issued.

For grades 7-12 numerical grades shall be used for all State Board approved courses.  Total numerical scores shall be used in determining promotion, course credit, and maintenance of a grade of 70 for participation in extracurricular and other activities.

In accordance with Board Policy EIA, the District shall record a 50 for any average numerical grade that is lower than 50.

Incomplete grades must be completed within a week after the end of the related semester or six weeks period.  After that time, the recorded “I” becomes a 50.

GRADUATION (See also EARLY GRADUATION)

REQUIREMENTS FOR A DIPLOMA:

To receive a high school diploma from the District, a student must successfully complete the required number of credits and pass a statewide exit-level exam.

The District will require students in grade 11 to take a new state test for graduation in the 2003-2004 school year in order to graduate in 2004-2005.

The new grade 11 exit-level test will cover English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies and will require knowledge of Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, Integrated Chemistry and Physics, English III, and early American and United States History.  (See Testing on page 39.)

MINIMUM PROGRAM:       The Minimum Program requires 24 credits for graduation as mandated by the State.

RECOMMENDED PROGRAM:  The Recommended Program requires 24 credits for graduation as mandated by the State.

DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM:  The Distinguished Achievement Program requires 24 credits for graduation as mandated by the State.

EXCEPTIONS:  The principal, with the approval of the Superintendent, may reduce or waive the required local credits for students entering the District high school from school districts that do not require added local credits for graduation or from school districts that do not provide an opportunity to earn more than six credits per year. The Superintendent shall establish specific written guidelines for reducing or waiving additional required credits toward graduation.

    Upon the recommendation of the admission, review, and dismissal committee, a student with disabilities may be permitted to graduate under the provisions of his or her individualized education program (IEP).

CONDITIONAL REQUIRED ELECTIVES:   On entering the ninth grade, student records shall be screened by the principal and/or designee to determine the standing of students in mathematics and language arts. Students who are two or more years below grade level on any standardized achievement test or who fail to show mastery on any part of the eighth grade state-mandated test may be scheduled for additional local credits of mathematics and/or language arts, conditioned upon the availability of space.  Students who fail to master any section of the state-mandated exit level tests shall be required to take additional mathematics and/or language arts classes. The high school counselor shall determine whether or not students are required to take these additional classes and shall schedule those students accordingly. Students required to take these classes shall be awarded one-half credit per semester to count as part of the additional local credits required for graduation.  Students shall be required to take these additional classes until such time as they master the appropriate section(s) of the exit-level tests or until they have completed the total credits required for graduation as specified above.

SUMMER SCHOOL GRADUATES:  Senior students who have not fulfilled the graduation requirements by the end of their senior regular school term shall not participate in commencement exercises.  Provided the student has demonstrated mastery of all sections of the state-mandated exit-level test, seniors who fulfill the graduation requirements by successfully completing courses in summer school shall be awarded a diploma in accordance with procedures established by the principal.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION WAIVER:  The District has chosen to allow students to substitute certain physical activities for the 1.5 required credits of physical education. Such substitutions shall be based on the physical activity involved in:

1.      Drill team, marching band, and cheerleading during the fall semester.

2.      Athletics.

3.      Two-or three-hour block vocational gainful employment credits.

OLYMPIC-CALIBER PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAMS:   The District has chosen not to award state credit for physical education for private or commercially sponsored physical activity programs conducted either on or off campus.

READING CREDITS:  The District has chosen to offer up to 3 credits of reading for state graduation credit. The Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for establishing procedures to assess individual student needs and evaluate student progress, and shall monitor instructional activities to ensure that student needs are met. Students shall be identified as eligible to earn reading credit based on:

1.                  Recommendation by teacher or counselor.

2.         Scores on assessment instruments and/or achievement tests.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS: Specific graduation requirements are determined by the year students enter the ninth grade and the graduation program that the student follows.  These requirements are listed in policy EIF(Exhibit). 

EXIT-LEVEL TEST:      A  student  who  has  not  performed  satisfactorily  on  all  sections  of  the secondary exit-level assessment instrument by the time he or she has successfully completed grade 12 shall not receive a high school diploma until the student has performed satisfactorily on all sections.  Education Code 21.553(a); 19 TAC 101.2(d)  [See EKB] These students shall receive a Certificate of Completion and shall be recognized separately from those students graduating and receiving their high school diploma.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTION STUDENTS:  An  additional exception  to  the  completion of the required  credits occurs in   the  Vocational  Adjustment  Counseling  program,  in  which  full-time employment of a student in a  job for four and one-half months qualifies him or her for a high school diploma.

                              A student, served by the special instruction department for an individually designed course, shall receive a grade and credit for that course as assigned by the special instruction teacher.  The student’s transcript shall indicate the credits were awarded for an individualized program.

                              Students receiving grades for specifically designed courses taught by the special instruction teacher shall receive report cards; the grades shall be reported in the same manner and have the same range as grades for students in the regular program.  The grade given in a special instruction course shall not be averaged with other grades to determine class rank.

HONOR GRADUATE   Students who have been granted early graduation may be West

Oso High School honor graduates provided they meet all requirements for honor graduate status as stated above.

VALEDICTORIAL/ SALUTATORIAL HONORS   Students who have been granted early graduation and whose computed GPA equals or exceeds the GPA of the highest ranked four-year graduate shall be declared the early graduate valedictorian, but the four-year graduate shall receive the state scholarship.

Students who have been granted early graduation and whose computed GPA equals or exceeds the GPA of the second highest four-year graduate and is less than the GPA of the highest ranked four-year graduate, shall be declared the early graduate salutatorian, but the four-year graduate shall receive the state scholarship. 

GRADUATION EXPENSES

Because students and parents will incur expenses in order to participate in the traditions of graduation, such as the purchase of invitations, senior ring, cap and gown, and senior picture, both student and parent should monitor progress toward completion of all requirements for graduation.  The expenses often are incurred in the junior year or first semester of the senior year.

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