Academic Policies

Grade Promotion

Due to the recent schedule and credit requirement changes, in order for students to be on track for graduation they should earn an average of 32 credits a year.  Grade level changes happen at the completion of the school year, not at the end of each semester.

Instructional Grouping

Heterogeneously grouped courses are open to all students and may include students who have a wide range of abilities and interests.  Departments also offer courses that are designated as Honors or Advanced Placement.  Heterogeneously grouped courses, as well as those designated as Honors or Advanced Placement, are all college preparatory courses. 

Courses designated as Honors are characterized by an accelerated pace, an intensive examination of content, or both.  Honors courses will demand substantial independent work, extensive use of supplementary materials, and sophisticated analysis and synthesis of ideas and information. A separate honors course is so noted in the course title.  In some courses, the honors designation is an option within a heterogeneously grouped classroom. When an honors option is available within a classroom, it is noted within a given course description. Courses designated as Advanced Placement are courses that offer the highest level of challenge we offer and follow the college-level AP curricula endorsed by the College Entrance Examination Board. Students should consider their long-term goals, overall course load, out of school time commitments, and level of motivation when determining the correct level course for themselves.

Grade Point Averages

Un-weighted grade point averages are computed for all Amherst Regional High School students.  Grade point averages are computed each semester, based on courses that have been completed to date.  All graded courses taken at Amherst Regional High School are included in these computations with the following exceptions: Alternative Learning Programs and special education academic support classes.  Courses that extend over two terms are not counted in the GPA until they have been completed. Courses taken outside of ARHS (including college and university courses) are not included in a student’s GPA. When reporting to colleges, the High School reports a student’s individual GPA. Amherst Regional High School does not provide individual rank in class ratings.  The grades included in a grade point average are based on a 4.0 scale as follows:

Homework

Homework is considered an integral part of the educational process in our school. Academic success requires that ARHS students are organized, disciplined and active participants in all classes. Students must come to school every day on time and prepared to learn. Completing all assigned work inside and outside the classroom ensures academic preparation that leads to academic success.  Homework may be assigned by teachers for different purposes, some of which include the following:

• To encourage responsibility, self-discipline and independence

• To expand the curriculum

• To increase academic achievement

The type of homework assigned depends on its purpose, as stated above.  Homework assignments may involve:

• Preparation

• Practice

• Application

• Extension

• Creativity

Teacher Responsibility for Homework:

• Teachers must be clear and specific with all students about what is required for homework, including due dates, assessment criteria for completed work, and relevance to course work.

• Teachers should assign homework that is relevant, that reinforces and/or expands classroom work.

• Teachers should give students feedback on homework in a timely fashion and keep them informed regularly of their performance and the status of their work.

• Teachers need to keep parents/guardians informed of students' class performance; therefore, they must report to them a pattern of not completing homework. This can be done through phone calls or e‑mail sent home after the student has failed to turn in multiple assignments.

• Teachers must inform students of missed work/homework upon their arrival back in class after an absence and inform them when the work is due.

Student Responsibility for Homework:

• Students must complete homework within the time limit assigned by the teacher.

• Students must try to provide the best quality of work possible.

• Students must alert their parents/guardians and/or teachers the moment they confront any difficulties in the process of completing homework.

• In the event of an absence, students are responsible for getting the work they might have missed upon their return to school. For each day of absence, students have two days to make up and/or make the necessary arrangements to complete missed homework.

• Students must come to school with Chromebooks fully charged each day.

Parent/Guardian Responsibility for Homework:

• Parents/guardians must provide a home environment that is conducive to effective homework/study time.

• Parents/guardians should monitor homework completion and promote a positive attitude at home regarding the importance of homework for academic progress.

• Parents/guardians should regularly check the PowerSchool Parent/Student portal to keep informed of student progress and performance.

Final Examinations

All courses of study will include some type of experience designed to evaluate student achievement of the overall curricular goals.  Examination periods will be scheduled at the end of each semester to facilitate the scheduling of such experiences.  It should be noted that exams will not be given before the regularly scheduled exam period.  If students have to leave school before the exam period begins, they must make arrangements with teachers to take their exams when they return.

Progress Reports and Home/School Communication

Progress reports for all courses are available online in the Student/Parent Portal halfway through each semester and again at the end of each semester.  Teachers can contact parents/guardians via email or a phone call if a student’s performance warrants comment.  Students and parents can also check grades and assignment completion using the PowerSchool portal by visiting http://powerschool.arps.org/.  A username and password may be obtained from the Main office.

Parent/Guardian Concerns

If a parent/guardian has a concern about a particular class, the parent/guardian should first contact the teacher involved.  Many problems can be resolved in this manner, but if the problem persists, the subject area department head can be contacted.  If the parent/guardian continues to have a concern regarding his/her child’s schedule or course curriculum, the parent should contact the child’s school counselor (or liaison for students with IEPs).  After consulting with the teachers, department head, and school counselor, a parent/guardian may wish to contact the Assistant Principal or the Principal with questions or concerns. Contact information for all staff is available on the high school website.

National Honor Society

Students interested in becoming members of the National Honor Society during their junior or senior year should begin preparing as early as the ninth-grade year.  Scholarship, leadership, service, and character are criteria for consideration of eligibility.  Juniors and seniors with a cumulative average in all subjects of B+ (3.3) are eligible to apply for membership in the National Honor Society. All high school courses, even if taken at a school other than ARHS, are included in the calculation.  Students who have met the eligibility requirements are notified via email and invited to submit an application.  Once interested students complete the eligibility questionnaire, parents/guardians and faculty members are given the opportunity to provide written statements in support of the students’ applications.  An appointed faculty council then reviews all pertinent information to determine whether each eligible student meets the criteria for membership.