ACADEMICS 1.00
1.01 Alternative Educational Option and Credits
Students who earn alternative credits toward graduation (credit recovery or night school) and wish to apply those credits toward graduation requirements, must submit final transcripts to the guidance department no later than the last day for senior exams. Correspondence courses must be completed no later than the end of the third grading period.
Class ranks are figured for the purposes of college admission and job applications. This is information that most colleges and businesses require. These ranks are calculated at the end of each semester.
Class rankings are figured in the following manner:
1. All grades at the high school level are averaged together;
2. A composite average for all class work to date is determined;
3. Averages are then placed in numerical order for class ranks;
4. For GPAs above a 4.0, a formula QP-4C (quality points minus 4 x amount of credit attempted) will be utilized to determine a student’s respective ranking;
a. quality points equal the numerical value of letter grades earned (i.e., 5,4,3,2,1,0 for one full credit A, B, C, D, F, respectively)
5. Students who have earned a 4.0 GPA will follow those students who rank above a 4.0,
6. Students below a 4.0 GPA follow in descending numerical GPA ranking.
The following criteria have been established to determine recognition as valedictorian; he/she will have:
1. Earned highest class rank among students who meet all other requirements;
2. Completed at least two Advanced Placement (AP) courses; the total number of AP courses cannot exceed the total number offered by Copley High School.
3. Earned at least one Carnegie unit of credit above the Board of Education’s minimum requirement for graduation;
4. Enrolled at CHS a minimum of four semesters; including the 7th and 8th semester.
5. Earned five academic majors (three units of credit in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language).
The following criteria have been established to determine those students Academically Honored (top 5% students according to class rank) at Commencement. He/she will have:
1. Earned at least the minimum number of credits established by the Board of Education for graduation:
2. Enrolled at CHS a minimum of two semesters;
3. Earned four of five academic majors with a minor in the fifth academic area or,
4. Earned four of five academic majors with another major in any other area.
1.03 CONVERSION SCALE FOR GRADING-PERIOD AND EXAM GRADES
99 - 100 = A+ = 13 82 - 83 = C+ = 7
95 - 98 = A = 12 77 - 81 = C = 6
93 - 94 = A- = 11 75 - 76 = C- = 5
91 - 92 = B+ = 10 73 - 74 = D+ = 4
86 - 90 = B = 9 68 - 72 = D = 3
84 - 85 = B- = 8 66 - 67 = D- = 2
0 - 65 = F = 0
First Nine Weeks x 3
Second Nine Weeks x 3
Final Exam x 2
= Total Points
84 - 104 points = A
60 - 83 points = B
36 - 59 points = C
10 - 35 points = D
0 - 9 points = F
Please Note: A student must pass two of three categories to earn credit, regardless of point total.
The practice of “curving” (an equitable adjustment of scores) may be used if, in the opinion of the instructor, it more accurately reflects the performance of students.
Copley High School has a strong tradition of academic excellence and students will continue to have the ability to enroll in a Copley High School class and complete coursework via the traditional methods. However, students have the opportunity to utilize alternative methods to earn academic credits for graduation. Students interested in pursuing a credit flex option must apply by November 30th for spring semester and April 30th for fall semester. Application packets can be accessed in the guidance office. New optional methods to earn credit include:
Flexing Out. Flexing out of a Copley High School class by demonstrating mastery of the course content will allow the student to learn the course objectives at his/her own pace outside of enrolling in the classroom.
Flex Plan for a New Course. By completing thirty (30) hours of coursework to earn one-quarter (¼) credit, sixty (60) hours of coursework to earn one-half (½) credit or one hundred twenty (120) hours of coursework to earn one (1) credit, a student could pursue an elective area of interest that is not currently served in the Copley High School curriculum.
Requirements and guidelines for the honors diploma are available in the guidance office.
If a student drops a course during the first marking period of a semester, the course will not be recorded on the student’s permanent record. After the first grading period, a dropped course will revert to “F.” Courses may be dropped only with the approval of the counselor, teacher and parent.
Exams are scheduled at the end of each semester for everyone - no exceptions. A program for senior exam exemption may be available for spring exams at the discretion of the administration. This program is for seniors only. Students deliberately not taking a final exam will have the grade handled in the following manner: Failure for the semester
Letter grades shall be used as follows:
A = demonstrates excellent competency and understanding of the skills presented in homework, testing, classroom participation, etc.;
B = demonstrates above-average achievement in testing, homework, classroom participation, etc.;
C = demonstrates average achievement in testing, homework, classroom participation, etc.;
D = demonstrates a below-average achievement in testing, homework, classroom participation, etc.;
F = demonstrates failure of achievement in testing, homework, classroom participation, etc.
The above grades shall translate into the following numerical grading scale for all students in Grades 9-12 as follows:
A = 93 - 100
B = 84 - 92
C = 75 - 83
D = 66 - 74
F = 0 - 65
Evaluation focuses on the development of a more precise grading scale. A plus (+) or minus (-) grade will be used for grading-period and exam grades only to indicate more or less value than the letter grade itself. Therefore, 13 grades for grading periods and exams are possible. The semester grade is determined by adding the numerical values of the two nine-week quarter grades and the semester exam grade. Any questions regarding grades should be referred to the classroom teacher.
The following are the minimum units of credit required for graduation:
English 4 credits
Mathematics 3 credits (4 credits for class of 2013)
Science 3 credits (Science must include 1 unit of Physical Science and 1 unit of Biological Science)
U. S. Studies 1 credit
Government/Economics 1 credit
World Studies 1 credit
Health ½ credit
Physical Education ½ credit
Electives 7 credits (One elective credit must come from the areas of Business/Technology, Fine Arts, or Foreign Language)
Please note that these are minimum requirements. Students following a regular program, without failures, should earn more than the minimum credits.
Grade placement of Copley High School is as follows:
Ninth grade - A student entering the Freshman class (first semester, ninth grade) should have passed or been assigned from the eighth grade.
Tenth grade - A student entering the Sophomore class (first semester, tenth grade) should have earned a total of 5 ¼ units of credit.
Eleventh grade - A student entering the Junior class (first semester, eleventh grade) should have earned a total of 10 ½ units of credit.
Twelfth grade - A student entering the Senior class (first semester, twelfth grade) should have earned a total of 15 ¾ units of credit.
Additional Graduation Requirements:
Students must also complete a minimum of 12 hours of community service. The hours must be completed from July 13th through April 30th of the senior year. Students must fill out the appropriate forms and submit their hours for approval.
All non-exempt students who expect to receive a diploma from Copley High School must pass the Ohio Graduation Test in the areas of writing, reading, mathematics, social studies, and science. All test sections assess minimal skills expected of students in the 10th grade. Tests are given the first time in March of the sophomore year and each October and March thereafter. Once a student passes a test section, he/she has met the obligation of that test area. Students who fail any test section are offered a variety of intervention opportunities (intervention classes, intervention labs, and after school tutorial sessions) to assist them in improving the skills necessary to pass the test.
Students may graduate and receive a diploma without passing all five tests of the OGT (See Guidance Department)
Membership in National Honor Society is based on scholarship, leadership, service and character. The following criteria have been established to determine membership in the National Honor Society:
1. 3.65 grade point average after 4 semesters
2. Active participation in school activities
3. Active participation in community service activities
4. Faculty recommendations
5. Majority vote of the NHS faculty council
A GPA of 3.65 qualifies a student for consideration to become a member of NHS. Membership is not based on GPA only. Leadership, service and character are equally important in determining membership.
Copley High school shall formally evaluate its students every nine weeks of the school year. The dates of these formal evaluations shall be recognized and identified on the adopted school calendar. Interim progress reports will be issued at the mid-term of each grading period.
In physical education and swimming courses the student has the option of receiving a regular grade or taking the course with a pass or fail grade. A failing grade will be averaged with all other grades and will lower the student’s average. A “pass grade” will not be averaged for the purpose of honor roll, class rank, point average, etc.
