Earning Grades and Credits

For the purpose of the high school transcript, with the approval of the principal or designee, a student may repeat a course in order to raise his/her grade.  Both grades received shall be entered on the student’s transcript, but the student shall receive credit only once for taking the course.  The highest grade received shall be used in determining the student’s overall grade point average (GPA).  For the purposes of college applications, please see specific guidelines from each university system. 

Report cards are issued at the end of each quarter, semester and term. Quarter grades are posted on the PowerSchool Portal and are considered grades-in-progress with no credits. The semester and term grades are the final grades for the term and become a part of the student’s permanent academic record. Five credits per semester are issued for each passing grade in each class. Semester and term grades are used to determine eligibility for sports and extracurricular activities. 

Prior to the start of his/her final year of high school, a student meeting specific district requirements will be determined a valedictorian candidate and will be made aware of the requirements necessary to become a final valedictorian.  

Requirements for candidacy:

1.  Cumulative unweighted GPA of 4.0 in ALL COURSES posted to transcript through the 3rd quarter of the senior year (or end of term 1 grades for early graduates).

2.  A minimum of 60 weighted credits (AP and HONORS) posted to transcript by graduation. At least ten of these credits must be completed during the senior year.

Beginning with the graduation class of 2029:

• At a site where the total possible credits earned is 320, a minimum of 80 weighted credits must be posted by graduation.

Students interested in challenging an academic course shall file a petition form with their counselor prior to or within the first week of a term.  IF APPROVED, THE EXAM WILL BE GIVEN THE FIRST WEEK OF THE TERM. WE DO NOT OFFER CHALLENGE EXAMS BEFORE THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS.  A course challenge exam may be offered when the academic course is part of a sequence of courses normally taken in specific order or when the course is normally required for entry into another course.  We cannot guarantee that a replacement course will be available in the same year or term that the exam is taken.

During their enrollment in high school, students may challenge no more than four courses which meet graduation requirements. A student may challenge only one course per semester. Courses previously taken where credit was received, remedial courses, and physical education/health courses are exempted from the course challenge program.  A student may challenge a particular course only once, and he/she cannot later enroll in the same course to improve or replace a challenge grade. The challenge grade is permanent on the student’s high school transcript.  The student must earn an A or B grade to receive credit for challenging a course by examination. 

Students may choose to take courses outside of the Folsom Cordova Unified School District when a student is, for good reason, unable to take the course of study offered at Vista del Lago High School.  Examples of courses that must have an approved  Course Substitution Contract include, but are not limited to:

Courses taken at a district other than FCUSD once a student is enrolled at any FCUSD school

Courses taken during summer break while school is not in session

Courses taken via independent study while enrolled in an FCUSD school.

Courses taken online while enrolled in an FCUSD school.

Courses taken at a 2 year or 4 year college or university while enrolled in an FCUSD school.

In order for permission to be granted for a student to take such a course, the following stipulations must be met:

Students must have a full, inflexible academic schedule planned for their entire time enrolled at Vista del Lago.  A student may not be approved for a course substitution if the student has an unscheduled class period or electives during the regular school year that do not meet high school graduation requirements or pathway/college preparatory needs.  

Course Substitution Contracts must be approved in advance of enrollment in any non FCUSD course.

Course substitutions will only be approved if the course is an FCUSD  graduation requirement and taken through a WASC accredited Program.

Students are not guaranteed a seat in the higher level course depending on seat availability in the master schedule at the time of the request.

As of the Class of 2020, Vista Del Lago no longer ranks students.  In place of class rank, college admissions personnel will use the Vista del Lago school profile which can be found on our website. 

In advanced placement and select honors courses, students receive a weighted grade towards their GPA.  Vista del Lago assigns 1(one)  grade point per semester for grades A, B and C.  Grades earned lower than a C do not earn the weighted point.  Courses that assign weighted grades are indicated in the course descriptions in this curriculum guide. 

Students will see three GPAs reported on their transcript.  These are calculated using our district formulas described below.  Important: When applying to college, although Vista GPAs can give a student a general idea as to what their admissions GPA might be, college admissions policies and practices allow for their own formulas to calculate GPAs for the purpose of admissions.  As a result, the GPA listed on the Vista del Lago transcript may differ from the one used by admissions at any given campus.  Colleges do not always make public how they calculate student GPAs although some do publish that information on their websites.

FCUSD Transcript GPAs:

Weighted GPA: all grades earned in all courses taken in grades 9th-12th with an extra point given to any UC a-g approved weighted course

Unweighted GPA: all grades earned in all courses taken in grades 9th-12th without extra pointed given to UC a-g approved weighted course

College Prep GPA: all grades earned in college prep courses in grades 10th-12th with an extra point given to any UC a-g approved weighted course.  College prep courses are those approved by the University of California and placed on Vista's a-g list.  These courses are indicated on the transcript with a (P) in the course title.

Advanced Placement/Honors courses

Vista del Lago High School’s programs for high-achieving students are intended to offer challenging educational experiences.  These programs are designed for highly-motivated students who choose to take a more demanding program to improve their critical thinking and skills. Students who pass an AP exam may earn college credit. Please check with the college you wish to apply to in order to insure they accept advanced placement test scores for credit. Upon completion of an AP course, students will receive weighted grade points as per District Policy 5126.3.  The Curriculum Guide has a complete description of all courses in this category.  Due to the rigors of these courses, and accelerated pace of the block system; it is strongly advised that students take no more than four AP courses per year.  Students and parents are required to review and agree to the Honors/AP Policies and Procedures before being enrolled in an Honors/AP course. 

Concurrent Enrollment

Vista del Lago has a strong working relationship with the Los Rios Community College District and we encourage our qualified students to take advantage of their Concurrent enrollment program. Some examples of courses that are offered at FLC include Anthropology, Astronomy, Philosophy, American Sign Language and College Success.  All rules and regulations governing the Los Rios and other community college districts will be in effect for all college courses taken by high school students. There is a 11 unit per term maximum.  Students must follow the special admit process on the college website, prior to enrollment at any community college.  Students must provide their own transportation. 

Dual Enrollment

 FCUSD has partnered with Folsom Lake College (FLC) to offer Dual Enrollment courses.  Students have the unique opportunity to take a college course and receive college units while also fulfilling high school elective credits.  Students in Dual Enrollment courses generate a Folsom Lake College transcript and a separate grade from their high school.  FLC timelines, such as course withdrawal, must be honored and that withdrawal or failing grades that could occur will become permanent on the student’s college transcript. Dual enrollment courses are offered at no cost to students.  Although Dual Enrollment classes are FLC college classes, they are completely asynchronous online courses. The expectation is that students work on their dual enrollment class in a "study hall" during one of their high school periods. 

Independent Study is for students who will be absent from school for a minimum of three days and a maximum of 15 days.  Class work is requested following parent notification.  This notification must be made through the assistant principal's office at least three days prior to the absence period. 

Home Hospital is available for qualified students who are unable to attend school for three weeks or more due to medically-verified reasons.  Parents should contact the counseling staff to obtain information about the program. Approval is obtained through District Health Services.