FAQ

Registration Facts

 1. Students must have received passing grades in at least four (4) subjects or two (2) credits at the last semester of report cards to be eligible in any school activity. 

 2. The school day is divided into seven 50-minute periods, one of which is designed for a 25-minute lunch period and 25-minute study period. The remaining six periods are filled with classes.

Accelerated and Advanced Placement Program

The Accelerated and Advanced Placement (AP) programs provide a rigorous curriculum for students who select a more challenging course of study. Accelerated courses are designed to lay the foundations for Advanced Placement courses. Advanced Placement is a cooperative educational program between secondary schools and colleges/universities. AP courses use college-level curricula to prepare students for the AP exams, which are offered annually in May at a cost of $94 per exam. A student who earns a score of 3 or better on an AP exam will generally receive credit for the equivalent course at one of the 2,000 colleges and universities that give credit for AP exams. The Sioux Falls School District expects students to take the AP exam as a part of the AP course.

AP exams are a significant part of the AP program, but not the only part. Students can benefit from taking AP courses by learning a subject in greater depth, developing skills that are critical to successful study in college, demonstrating to colleges their willingness to undertake a challenging course. Listed below are the Accelerated and AP courses that are offered and the recommended sequence in which to take the course. Students may elect to take an AP course even if they have not had any previous accelerated courses. 

Accelerated and Advanced Placement Course Offerings

AP Scholar Award Requirements

AP Scholar - Granted to students who receive a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

AP Scholar with Honors -  Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and a score of 3 on four or more of these exams.

AP Scholar with Distinction - Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

AP Capstone Diploma - Earned scores of 3 or higher on AP Seminar and AP Research and 4 additional AP exams.

Credit for High School Courses Taken in Middle School

The SFSD has received a waiver from the State Department of Education to allow middle school students who successfully complete the courses listed below to receive high school credit towards graduation for the respective content area:

· Algebra I (Math credit)

· Accelerated Algebra II (Math credit)

· Accelerated Geometry (Math credit)

· Biology (Science credit)

CTE Academy Explorations (CTE credit)

· Spanish I (elective/World Language credit)

· Spanish II (elective/World Language credit)

 These courses will be listed on the high school transcript, be included in the high school GPA, and apply to the SD Opportunity Scholarship. Students must pass the course to receive credit.

 Students who drop a course after the first 5 school days of a semester will receive an “F” grade, which will appear on their transcript and be figured in their grade point average. However, changes to a course of a lower or higher difficulty in the same subject area may occur at the request of the teacher, with administrator approval. 

Dual Credit Opportunities

The Sioux Falls School District provides a variety of options for high school students to enroll part-time in post-secondary courses. Students can also take courses of interest on location or online at STC, Augustana University, the University of Sioux Falls, USD Community College, etc. for dual credit. Participation can be through the state’s dual credit program that partners with South Dakota’s public universities and technical schools or through arrangements with local private schools. Students receive 0.5 high school credit for each semester of a dual credit course. Those wishing to participate in the program must follow these procedures:

1. Students must be high school juniors or seniors, and meet eligibility requirements of the institution.

2. Students must file a dual enrollment form with the high school and with the post-secondary institute (STC, Augustana, USF, USD Community College or other). This form requires the signature approval of a parent/guardian AND high school official.

3. Students must contact the institution and follow the admissions and registration procedures, and adhere to the requirements.

4. Deadline for students to submit forms are by December 15 for the spring and May 15 for the following fall.

 Please note:

Space provided for high school students is limited. Registration is conducted on a first come first served basis. All costs are the responsibility of the student and/or parent/guardian. High school students are not eligible for financial aid. 

For more information, please see the South Dakota Board of Regents website: https://sdbor.edu/cost-aid/dual-credit/

Gifted and talented Program

The Gifted and Talented Program provides opportunities for students of high capability to further develop their talents and skills by facilitating acceleration, and coordinating enrichment opportunities. Acceleration – Accelerated courses are available in English, Math, and Science. These classes will be labeled on transcripts reflecting their difficulty. It is recommended that students meet these requirements for an accelerated strand class: an “A” or “B” in previous similar courses, standardized testing score at or above the 90th percentile in that subject, commitment to course work, and self-motivation. Enrichment Opportunities – Shadowing, interest group seminars, discussion groups, Future Problem Solving, Quiz Bowl, Nobel Conference, Fine Arts Mentorship, and after-school classes are some of the enrichment opportunities available to students in the Gifted and Talented Program.

Grading Scale

A  = Excellent                          90-100%

B  = Above Average             80-89.9%

C  = Average                            70-79.9%

D  = Below Average            60-69.9%

F  = Failing                                59.9% and below

National Honor Society Information

The National Honor Society (NHS) was founded “as a concrete way to promote high school academic standards, a means of ensuring the continuation of democracy, and an instrument for the betterment of the individual and the school (NHS Handbook, 1992).” The NHS promotes the development and exhibition of positive leadership qualities, encourages service involvement in the community, and promotes the development and manifestation of character.

The faculty council for each High School Chapter of the National Honor Society makes a review of the scholastic records of all junior and senior students. This review determines scholastic eligibility for further consideration for nomination to the NHS Chapter. Successful appointment to membership in NHS is dependent upon the following things:

1. Grade point average (must equal or exceed 3.5).

2. Recommendation for membership by one or more of the  teaching staff.

3. Expression of interest on the part of the student in the NHS.

4. Completion of all parts of a Student Activity Information Form.

5. Favorable recommendation for membership as determined by majority vote of the faculty council.

Online Coursework

Online courses provide increased accessibility and flexibility for high school students to take either during the school day or after school. Courses are available in English, Math, Science, Social Studies and elective courses. Students taking a virtual/online course during the school day will report to the designated online classroom. Students taking high school courses online after school hours will provide their own computer and Internet access. See your high school counselor for information.

Students should work with counselors before taking any online courses.

Regents’ Scholar Diploma Information

The South Dakota Department of Education and the Board of Regents annually recognize seniors committed to academic excellence by issuing Regents’ Scholar diplomas.

Additional information can be found at: https://www.sdbor.edu/teachers-counselors/Pages/Regent-Scholars.aspx

 Recipients of Regents’ Scholar diplomas are accepted for automatic entrance to any of the six institutions of higher education in South Dakota. To be eligible, a student must have completed the following courses at a 300 level or higher with no final grade below a C and a grade point no lower than a B.

·  4 credits of English.

·  1 credit of fine arts.

·  3 credits of social studies.

·  4 credits of algebra or higher mathematics.

·  4 credits of science, including 3 credits of approved lab science.

·  2 credits of a modern or classical language (including American Sign Language) OR Two (2) units of Career & Technical Education (CTE) OR a combination of One (1) unit of Modern or Classical Language and One (1) unit of Career and Technical education. If taking two language courses,  the two credits must be the same language. 

South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship

The State of South Dakota has established a scholarship for students interested in attending a State University or technical school. This program awards a scholarship up to $7,500 over four years to high school graduates from South Dakota who complete a challenging high school curriculum and maintain certain academic standards.

The South Dakota Legislature established five requirements that all South Dakota high school graduates must meet in order to establish their initial eligibility in the Opportunity Scholarship program. These requirements specify that a recipient must:

1. Be a resident of South Dakota at time of high school graduation.

2. Have an ACT composite score of 24 or higher before beginning postsecondary education. If using a SAT score, the sum of the verbal and mathematics scores on the SAT must be at least 1090.

3. Complete high school course requirements with no final grade below a C and cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (grade B) prior to graduation. 

All recipients must receive a C or higher on all coursework including: 4 Units of English

·  4 Units of Algebra or Higher Mathematics 

·  4 Units of Science including 3 units of an approved lab science (biology, chemistry or physics)

·  3 Units of Social Studies

·  2 Units of either of the following or a combination of the two:

* Approved career and technical education courses

* Modern or Classical Language (includes American Sign Language)

·  1 Unit of Fine Arts

· 0.5 Unit of Personal Finance or Economics

· 0.5 Unit of Physical Education

· 0.5 Unit of Health or Health Integration 

4. Attend a university, college, or technical school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and that provides instruction from a campus located in South Dakota.

5. Enter into program within 5 years of HS graduation, or within 1 year of the student’s release from active duty military service (if that release is within 5 years of the date of the student’s HS graduation). Students seeking to transfer from a regionally accredited university, college, or technical school located outside of South Dakota may do so within two years following high school graduation and be eligible to receive a partial award.

 Additional information can be found at: https://sdos.sdbor.edu/Pages/default.aspx 

Transcript Requests

The registrar will accommodate requests made by seniors for college entrance or scholarship requirements.

Weighted Grades

The District will maintain a non-weighted GPA and corresponding class rank and a weighted GPA and corresponding class rank. Bonus points for AP courses and Project Lead the Way Courses will be added to a student’s GPA after the GPA has been calculated using a non-weighted system. Both weighted and non-weighted GPA’s corresponding class rankings will always be printed on student transcripts.

Calculation of Weighted GPA

a. Students shall receive bonus points to their non-weighted GPA for all Advanced Placement and Project Lead the Way courses that they complete with a semester grade of C or better.

b. In order to receive credit for a yearlong course, students must complete both semesters of an Advanced Placement or Project Lead the Way course. Students in a yearlong AP or Project Lead the Way course will lose the first semester bonus points if they do not complete the second semester of the course.

c. GPA points shall be calculated as follows for a full year course:

Grade Bonus Points

A) 0.045

B) 0.0225

C) 0.015

D) No bonus points