Grades 

WEIGHTING OF COURSES

Courses offered in the Lower Dauphin High School curriculum vary considerably in their degree of difficulty (see level descriptions on previous page). This range of course difficulty results from a program that is geared to provide for a broad range of student differences in abilities, interests, vocational, and academic pursuits. For this reason, grade points vary in accordance with the levels of difficulty of the course. This weighting factor is necessary to ensure that an element of fairness exists in determining the class rank of students. All courses ranked as Weight 1 shall be recorded as the actual grade average. Courses ranked as Weight 2 shall receive an additional 2.5 percentage points to the grade average. Courses ranked as Weight 3 shall receive an additional 5 percentage points to the grade average. Courses ranked as Weight 4 shall receive an additional 10 percentage points. Courses ranked as Weight 5 shall receive an additional 12 percentage points. The weight for each course is indicated on the course tracking sequence for each department.

In computing the weighted grade point average, only academic courses (Weight 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) shall be considered. Excluded from the computation are most classes from Art, Health and Physical Education, Family and Consumer Sciences, Technology Education, Music, Reading, and Independent Studies.

CLASS RANK

Class rank is determined by arranging all students in order of their weighted grade point averages. This average is based upon the total percentage points earned divided by the credits for academic courses taken. The computation will take place each marking period. Students who repeat courses due to previous low grades or for other reasons shall have both grades listed on a transcript, but only one credit will be awarded. In 9th grade, there is a great deal of movement in the first marking period. For that reason, 9th graders will not receive a class rank on their report card until the end of the second marking period. Eligibility for recognition of valedictorian and salutatorian honors shall be limited to students who are continuously enrolled at Lower Dauphin High School for three (3) or more school years immediately prior to the date of graduation.