Grading & Testing

SEMESTER SYSTEM: WHS is on a semester grading system. There are two semesters: Fall and Spring, which are eighteen weeks in length. Each semester grade is FINAL. First semester is not averaged with second semester.

EARNING UNITS/CREDITS: Before graduation, students must accumulate a minimum of 23 units (or credits). A student will earn 1/2 unit for each semester class in which he/she earned a grade of 70 or higher.

4 units of English Language Arts required for all students
4 units of Mathematics required for all students
4 units of Science required for all students ( the 4th unit may be used to meet both Science and an elective requirement)
3 units of Social Studies required for all students
1 unit of Health and Physical Education required for all students
a total of 3 units required for CTAE / Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts for all students (students planning to enter or transfer into a University System of Georgia must take two units of the same foreign language).
4 additional elective units for all

How units (credits) are calculated:

each semester is worth .5 (1/2) credit
passing both semesters of the same subject gives a student full credit for that subject
each semester stands alone
if a student does not pass a class during the Fall semester, but passes the class in the Spring, he or she will only receive a 1/2 credit for one semester ( Spring)
Students have to make up any required class that he or she does not pass

GRADE PROMOTION AND PROGRESSION

To progress from 9^th grade to 10^th grade, a student must earn 5 ½ units.

To progress from 10^th grade to 11^th grade, a student must earn 11 ½ units.

To progress from 11^th grade to 12^th grade, a student must earn 17 units.

Mid-year grade level promotion is as follows:

No Mid-year promotion from 9^th to 10^th grade

To be promoted from 10^th grade to 11^th grade, a student must earn 14 units.

To be promoted from 11^th grade to 12^th grade, a student must earn 20 units.

REGISTRATION AND SCHEDULING: Class scheduling is completed in February each year. Scheduling is conducted through the Infinite Campus Academic Planner. In the Spring semester, students will meet individually with their School Counselors to discuss course selections and post-secondary plans.

The student will register for the entire (upcoming school) year, but will be allowed to change his/her schedule each semester if he/she fails a prerequisite course. All students entering grades nine through eleven must be in a minimum of seven classes for the school year; students entering grade twelve of the proceeding school year must be enrolled in a minimum of six classes (if they have OPT out approval) with the exception of fifth year seniors or seniors who need additional credits.

SUMMER SCHOOL - OPEN CAMPUS - CREDIT RECOVERY: Students who are behind in their credits may choose to pay tuition and attend summer school and/or the Open Campus High School. However, a student may earn only 8 credits per academic year. Summer school is held at the Open Campus High School. It is housed at the Lafayette Education Center in Fayetteville. WHS operates a credit recovery program. Information regarding credit recovery options is available each semester from your counselor.

CLASS RANK:Class rank is determined using the student’s weighted quality point GPA for all subjects; rank is cumulative. Weighted quality point GPA uses the final grades posted to the transcript. AP courses are weighted and receive an additional quality point. Dual Enrollment courses are weighted and receive an additional half quality point.

GRADING SCALE

A=90-100

B=80-89

C=71-79

D=70

F=below 70

GRADE POINT AVERAGE: Infinite Campus allows you to access grades in real time. However, each semester teachers will report grades at the following intervals:

Progress Report - end of first 4 1/2 weeks
Report Card - end of first 9 weeks
Progress Report - end of 13 1/2 weeks
Report Card - end of 18 weeks - final numerical grade assigned and permanently recorded

A student’s cumulative grade point average (GPA) is computed by averaging all (final) semester grades. The current cumulative GPA will appear on each report card; however, that cumulative GPA is different than the GPA figured for the purposes of HOPE, and some college admissions.

Georgia Milestones End of Course Tests

The End-of-Course Assessment program is comprised of the following eight content area assessments:

Mathematics

- GSE Algebra I ( Acc. GSE Algebra I B/Geometry A)

Social Studies

- United States History

Science

- Biology

English Language Arts

- American Literature and Composition

Who is required to take the EOC? Any student enrolled in and/or receiving credit for an EOC course, regardless of grade level, will be required to take the EOC upon completion of that course. Middle school students completing an EOC course must take the EOC regardless of whether they are receiving high school credit. Students enrolling from non-accredited programs are required to take and pass the EOC prior to receiving credit for the course.

How does the EOC affect the student's grade? The EOC is administered upon completion of one of the above courses. The student’s EOC score is averaged in as 20% of the final course grade. The student must have a final course grade of 70 or above to pass the course and earn credit toward graduation. When the student repeats a course to earn credit for graduation, he/she must participate in the EOC at the end of the repeated course.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT

WHAT IS IT? Advanced Placement (AP) Tests measure achievement in freshman post-secondary level courses taught at the high school, and depending upon examination results, may enable students to receive advanced placement, post-secondary credit, or both when they enter college. They are recognized and accepted by a majority of the colleges and universities in the United States. AP courses are college-level courses. All students must take the AP exam at the end of the course. Most colleges will accept a score of a 3, 4, or 5 on the exam.

WHO SHOULD TAKE IT? Since these are post-secondary level courses, they are specifically for the student who is prepared to devote extra time and to give superior effort to meet demanding requirements. FCBOE requires that students who are enrolled in an Advanced Placement course takes the AP exam at the end of the course.

WHEN IS IT GIVEN? AP Tests are given in May each year. The College Board determines all testing dates and times. (for more information please visit www.collegeboard.com)

HOW DO STUDENTS REGISTER TO TAKE IT? We will host an AP Informational Night at the start of second semester. Students will be able to ask questions and gather more information on the courses offered on our campus. Students who decide that they would like to accept the challenges of AP coursework will then complete an online application. The AP Coordinator and teachers give their students information concerning the procedures for applying to the course, for registering, and for taking the test.

HOW ARE SCORES REPORTED? Scores are reported directly to the student from the College Board. In addition, the high school and the post-secondary institution that the student designates can receive the scores. Scores are on a five-point scale, with a score of five being the highest possible score.

PSAT & National Merit

PRELIMINARY SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP QUALIFYING TEST (NMSQT)

WHAT IS IT? The PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT is a program co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. For many students, the PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT is the first official step on the road to college. It assesses skills developed through years of study in a wide range of courses as well as through experiences outside the classroom.

The PSAT 8/9 and PSAT/NMSQT is a 2 hours and 40 minutes examination and contains three parts: Critical Reading, Math, and Writing Skills. The Critical Reading test has two parts, one 60 minute section of critical reading and multiple choice, and a writing portion that is 35 minutes in length. The Math test, also consist of two parts, NO calculator section is 20 minutes and one additional section with a calculator for 45 minutes.

The PSAT 8/9 is taken by 9th grade high school students. The NMSQT is the same test as the PSAT; the PSAT NMSQT is taken by 10th and 11th graders. 11th grade students are the only students who may qualify for the National Merit Scholarship. A selection index score is derived from the PSAT score to identify the top one-half of one percent of students who expect to graduate the following year in every state. These students are called National Merit Semi-Finalists and may become Finalists in the National Merit competition. To qualify as a finalist, each student must make a comparable score on the SAT, have good grades in high school, and have the endorsement of his/her principal.

WHO SHOULD TAKE IT? Ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade students who may be considering attending college in the future should take this test. Students must take the PSAT/NMSQT in their junior year to qualify for National Merit or National Achievement Scholarship Programs – even if they take the PSAT as a freshmen or sophomore. Students take the PSAT/NMSQT to: help assess skills necessary for college-level work, prepare for the SAT's competitions for national scholarships, and receive information from colleges.

WHEN IS IT GIVEN? The PSAT is given in October each year.

HOW DO STUDENTS REGISTER TO TAKE IT? All FCBOE 9th and 10th grade students will take the PSAT in the fall; 11th grade students can register at in August. Students can practice PSAT questions online to prepare for the test.

HOW ARE SCORES REPORTED? The scores are returned to WHS along with an individual report of student answers. This report indicates the correct answers for each item on the test and the answers each student actually gave. In addition to the score report, the student also receives a test booklet so that items missed can be carefully reviewed. Khan Academy also provides students with additional practice based on PSAT data.

NOTE: Since different colleges, universities, and technical institutes have varying admissions policies, students must carefully check into the admissions requirements for institutions to which they plan to apply.

SAT: SCHOLASTIC APTITUDE TEST

WHAT IS IT? The SAT Reasoning Test is a three-hour-and-45-minute test that measures critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills that students have developed over time and that they need to be successful in college.

WHO SHOULD TAKE IT? Students should consult the institutions to which they are applying to determine if they require the SAT for admission. It is recommended that most students take the SAT and/or ACT during the spring of the junior year and again the fall of their senior year. It is important to remember that the courses taken in high school contribute to achieving a successful score on the SAT and the ACT.

WHEN IS IT GIVEN? The SAT is offered seven times a year in October, November, December, January, April, May, and June.

HOW DO STUDENTS REGISTER TO TAKE IT? Students should go to www.collegeboard.com or pick up a registration bulletin to mail in the Guidance Office. The registration should be submitted directly to the College Board by the student by the specified deadline. The exact test dates, registration deadlines, and fees are listed in the Student Bulletin. Practice SAT booklets are also available and should be studied carefully before the test date. (Whitewater High School Code: 111279)

HOW ARE SCORES REPORTED? Scores are reported directly to the student. The scores are sent to the high school code and the post-secondary institution that the student designates, if the student lists the appropriate codes.

SAT SUBJECT TESTS

WHAT IS IT? Subject Tests (formerly SAT II: Subject Tests) are designed to measure your knowledge and skills in particular subject areas, as well as your ability to apply that knowledge. Students take the Subject Tests to demonstrate to colleges their mastery of specific subjects like English, history, mathematics, science, and language. The tests are independent of any particular textbook or method of instruction. The tests' content evolves to reflect current trends in high school curricula, but the types of questions change little from year to year.

WHO SHOULD TAKE IT? Check the requirements of the colleges you are considering. Many require or recommend one or more Subject Tests for admission, course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Used in combination with other background information (your high school record, scores from other tests like the SAT Reasoning Test, teacher recommendations, etc.), they provide a dependable measure of your academic achievement and are a good predictor of future performance.

WHEN IS IT GIVEN? Refer to the Student Bulletin.

ACT: AMERICAN COLLEGE TEST

WHAT IS IT? The ACT is America's most widely accepted college entrance exam. It assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work.

The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science.
The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. (Required by some colleges for admissions)

WHO SHOULD TAKE IT? Students should consult the institutions to which they are applying to determine if they require the ACT for admission. It is recommended that most students take the ACT and/or SAT during the spring of their junior year and again the fall of their senior year. It is important to remember that the courses taken in high school contribute to achieving a successful score on the ACT and the SAT.

WHEN IS IT GIVEN? The ACT is offered six times a year in September, October, December, February, April and June.

HOW DO STUDENTS REGISTER TO TAKE IT? Students should go to www.actstudent.org or pick up a registration bulletin to mail in the Guidance Office. The registration should be submitted directly to ACT by the student by the specified deadline. The exact test dates, registration deadlines, and fees are listed in the Student Bulletin. Practice ACT booklets are also available and should be studied carefully before the test date. (Whitewater High School Code: 111279)