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Graduation Requirements

State and District Content Standards All students must meet or exceed state and district content standards prior to becoming eligible to graduate. Please see the following sections regarding Graduation

Graduation Requirments - General Information Units of Credits Needed Credit from Other Institutions and Home-based Programs Class Rankings and Grade Point Averages Independent Study Student Course Load Years of Attendance

Graduation Requirements - General Information

Graduation Requirements In pursuit of its mission to ensure that all students reach their learning potential, the Board of Education has established the following graduation requirements. Seniors who have unpaid bills will not receive their diploma until they have all their bills paid in full. BACK TO TOP

Units of Credit Needed

The requirements are minimum and in no way infer that once the minimum has been reached, a student should be eligible to graduate without completing eight semesters of work beginning with the freshman year. It is the desire of this district for the student to take as many subjects as his/her ability allows so he can be well informed and be able to carry on a useful vocation upon leaving high school, or to enter higher education. Students should be in attendance four full years of high school. Students who do not complete their work and specific course requirements may not graduate nor take part in the graduation ceremony. The district will not issue blank diplomas. Half credits are not awarded for passing one semester of a full year course. For a year course credit a passing grade must be made for both semesters. If just one semester was failed, this one semester may be made up and a credit given. Twenty-five (25) credits earned over at least four years including grades 9 through 12. Eighteen (18) credits must be solid. Core subjects being: English, Social Studies, Math, Science, Computer Literacy, Agriculture and Business. BACK TO TOP

Credit from Other Institutions and Home-based Programs

All students entering from outside the district must meet the district graduation requirements. The principal shall determine whether credit toward graduation requirements shall be granted for courses taken outside the district. Students who are currently enrolled in the district and wish to obtain credit from outside institutions, or through “on-line” programs, must have prior approval from the principal. The district shall accept the transcripts from a home-based educational program. In order to determine whether the courses and grades earned are consistent with district requirements and district academic standards, the district shall require submission of the student’s work or other proof of academic performance for each course for which credit toward graduation is sought. In addition, the district may administer testing to the student to verify the accuracy of the student’s transcripts. The district may reject any transcripts that cannot be verified through such testing. BACK TO TOP

Class Rankings and Grade Point Averages

Graduating seniors shall be ranked within the graduating class for each high school upon the basis of grade-point averages for the four-year program, including the last semesters. Grades for regular classes will be given the following values: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1. After a course has been passed, no future grade earned in the same course shall be used in determining class rank or grade point average. The student with the highest class rank will be valedictorian. When more than one student holds the numerical one rank, all students holding the rank will be declared co-valedictorians. When transcripts of transfer students show grades such as pass or satisfactory such grades shall not be counted in determining class rank or grade point average. Student entering from home-based education programs must submit student work or other proof of academic performance for each course for which credit toward class ranking or grade point average is sought. BACK TO TOP

Independent study

Independent study, work experience and experienced-based programs approved in advance by the principal may be taken for high school credit. Students must submit a request for approval that includes a summary of the educational objectives to be achieved and monitored by a faculty member. BACK TO TOP

Student Course Load

The course load for freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors shall be minimum of 7 courses that offer credit per day. Students who wish to take less credits in any given school year must obtain advance permission from the principal. BACK TO TOP

Years of Attendance

The Board of Education believes that most students benefit from four years of high school experience and are encouraged not to graduate early. However, in some cases, students need the challenge provided by post secondary education or other opportunities at an earlier age. Therefore, the principal may grant permission to students wishing to graduate early, provided the student has met all district graduation requirements. Required credits/courses ** 1 credit = 1 full year of a course ** Credits Area Specific Courses 4 English English I, II, III, IV 3 Mathematics 3 Science 2 Social Studies Civics, American History 2 Physical Education 1 Computer Literacy 9th grade 10 Electives distributed over grades 9-12 25 Total **18 of the 25 credits must be solid credits** Adopted: October 26, 2004 Revised: September 20, 2005 LEGAL REF.: C.R.S. 22-33-105.5 (home-based education law) CROSS REFS.: AE, Accountability/Commitment to Accomplishment AEA, Standards Based Education IA, Instructional Goals and Learning Objectives IHBG, Home Schooling IHCDA, Postsecondary Options/Concurrent Enrollment IK, Academic Achievement ILBA, District Program Assessments ILBB, State Program Assessments ILBC, Literacy and Reading Comprehension Assessments IJNDA, On-Line Instruction BACK TO TOP