Explanation of Grades

All courses taught for credit receive a letter grade or a pass/fail option.

Grade-point values and the percentage used to determine each grade are as follows:

Weighted Courses

High school students should pursue the most challenging and rigorous course of instruction which their individual skills and abilities will allow them to master. At the same time, students engaging in the most demanding course work offered in the curriculum deserve the recognition which makes them highly competitive with their peers for admission to selective colleges and universities, as well as for scholarships and financial aid.

The term “weighted grading” describes the process of assigning additional strength or numerical value to a grade which a student earns in certain courses designated as “weighted” courses. This additional value reflects in computing a student’s grade point average (GPA) and class rank. Courses selected for weighting are those, which are determined to be rigorous, require prerequisites, and are considered to be college preparatory.

• All Advanced Placement (AP) courses receive credit on a 5.0 weighted grade scale.

• Designated Honors courses receive credit on 4.5 weighted grading scale.

*Students taking weighted courses who do not earn passing grades will not receive course credit.

All courses approved for weighted grades will follow a district approved curriculum and require the district course final exam. Honors courses will be weighted once the curriculum has been developed to meet specific standards. Students who transfer into SCHS with AP, CE and honors courses will receive the appropriate weighted grade scale.

Grade Classifications & Promotions Policy

1st Year in High School --- Freshman

2nd Year in High School -- Sophomore

3rd Year in High School -- Junior

4th Year in High School & 17 or more credits -- Senior

Student classification is according to the number of years in attendance in high school. Students are promoted each year to remain with their original graduating class; however, students who do not successfully pass required courses and meet graduation requirements will not graduate with their original class and may find themselves taking additional semesters to complete high school. If a student needs to complete additional coursework to fulfill graduation requirements, the student will fulfill the graduation requirements established in their first year of high school, not the graduation requirements of the class with which they graduate.

Advanced Placement Courses

Sand Creek High School participates in the College Board’s National Advanced Placement program. AP courses are equivalent to introductory college-level courses. Students who take the national exam in May can earn college credit depending on their score and depending on the college they attend. Additionally, students taking the AP exam earn weighted grades (+1.0) for the course.

Although the expectations are similar across subject areas, the process to enroll differs slightly. AP courses may have prerequisites. Refer to the course catalog for specific prerequisites and speak with teachers in the subject area of interest. For more information on AP programs and descriptions visit: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/reg.html

Concurrent Enrollment Courses

Students who meet the qualifications may take Concurrent Enrollment Courses through Pikes Peak Community College, paid for by District 49 as long as they receive C's or better in their college classes. These courses earn a weighted grade (+1.0) for the course. The process to enroll in concurrent enrollment is different from traditional courses and requires a benchmark score on the Accuplacer, PSAT or SAT and passing grades the semester prior to applying. For more information, please see the Concurrent Enrollment page for more information.