North Olmsted High School Counseling Office

Counselors’ Assignment by Student’s Last Name

Margie  Brandt A - G - 9th - 11th Grade 

Wendy Walland H - O - 9th - 11th Grade

Tricia Calloway P - Z - 9th - 11th Grade

Kristy LaBella A - Z  - 12th Grade

Award of Academic Excellence

The criteria for this award are:

• Students must have a 3.5 weighted GPA or better after 7 semesters.

• An ACT composite score of 24 or 1160 SAT (Critical Reading & Math).

Honors Diploma

• There are now several different Honors Diplomas 

• For all the Honors Diplomas, the cumulative GPA criteria is an unweighted 3.5 or higher by the 7th semester of high school.
  Click on the Ohio Department of Education Website below for information on the criteria for each Honors Diploma. 

• See your school counselor if you have questions.

• Honors Diploma Criteria

Graduation Recognition

Graduating seniors are eligible to receive academic honors based on their cumulative weighted grade point average (GPA) through the completion of seven semesters (end of the first semester senior year), as outlined below: 

• • Summa Cum Laude (with the greatest honor) - Awarded to students with a weighted GPA of 4.00 or higher.

  • Magna Cum Laude (with great honor) - Awarded to students with a weighted GPA between 3.900 and 3.999.

  • Cum Laude (with honor) - Awarded to students with a weighted GPA between 3.700 and 3.899.   

RENAISSANCE - A Program to Promote Academic Excellence

The Renaissance Program is designed to recognize and celebrate students for their academic success each semester. Through a variety of rewards, incentives, and recognition opportunities offered throughout the school year, the program encourages all students to strive for their personal best. Renaissance aims to create a positive school culture that values hard work, achievement, and continuous improvement. 

• GOLD RENAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS ● All grades of A for the previous semester for all enrolled classes (NOHS, Polaris and CCP) 

• WHITE RENAISSANCE REQUIREMENTS ● 3.5 or better Weighted GPA for the previous semester with no grade below a B (NOHS, Polaris and CCP) 

• ACADEMIC HONORABLE MENTION ● 3.25 –3.49 Weighted GPA with no grades below a C (NOHS, Polaris and CCP)   

Arts Credit for College 

Some colleges recommend that students best prepare for college by including at least 1.00 credit of Fine and Performing Arts in their high school curriculum. While all courses in the art and music departments satisfy this recommendation, only selected courses in other departments can be used.

The state universities in Ohio have addressed which courses satisfy their recommendations.

Academic Credit 

• Credit is awarded upon the satisfactory completion of the course. 

• Credit for all courses is awarded at the end of the first semester and second semester.

• Partial credit is not awarded.

• To receive academic credit, students must pass two out of the three grading opportunities in a semester.

• The grading opportunities for a semester are the two quarter grades and end of semester exam.

Class Load – Minimum 

Students are required to maintain a minimum course load of 5.25 credits each year. Most students

carry six or seven classes. 

Schedule Changes & Impact on Grading 

• Students may not add a course to their schedule after the completion of the 5th day of school in a

semester. 

• This does not apply to course level changes that can occur throughout the year with the

approval of a student's counselor, teacher, parent, and administrator. 

• The grade(s) earned to date of change follow the student as "grade-in-progress" to the new course. 

• After adding a class, the student is responsible for the work assigned prior to his/her joining the class. 

• For the class dropping procedure, see Schedule Change and Class Drop Policy included in this guide. 

Grade Point Average (GPA) 

• The grade point average, calculated at the end of each quarter, serves as a progress report. 

• The grade point average, which becomes a part of the cumulative record, is calculated on the final grades earned at the end of each semester.

Auditing Courses 

• Auditing is limited to elective courses and courses that are not prerequisites for other courses, pending available space. 

• This request must be made within the first four weeks of the course. 

• A student who audits a course must attend all classes, complete all classwork, and abide by all classroom policies.

• The student will not receive a grade on his/her report card nor earn credit.

• The grade for an audit course will be recorded as AU on the student's transcript and not affect the student's GPA.

• Auditing is a privilege, and cannot be used exclusively to protect GPA.

• If a student does not adhere to the provisions of this agreement, he/she will be removed from the course.

• Audited courses do not figure into athletic eligibility.

Repeating Courses 

• Students may request to repeat World Language courses in order to improve their comprehension of the course material. 

• If the original grade was a passing grade, the highest grade will become the grade of record for the course, and the original grade and credit will be removed from the transcript. 

• If the original grade was a failing grade, that failing grade and the new grade will remain on the transcript, and will affect the student's grade point average. 

• Students must notify their school counselor if they wish to repeat a World Language course in which the original grade was passing.

Credit Flexibility 

• All public school districts in the state of Ohio are required to offer alternative means to earn a high school

diploma through a program called Credit Flexibility. 

• Students and parents interested in more information on the Credit Flexibility Option should contact the school principal and their school counselor.

Educational Options 

Summer school, correspondence, and virtual classes 

• Students with approval from their school counselor and administrator may utilize approved educational options such as summer school, correspondence courses, and virtual learning courses to earn credit toward graduation. 

• Students are advised to confer with their counselor concerning educational options and requirements. 

• All students may take summer school to make up classes they have failed. 

• Grades earned in summer school are included in GPA calculations; however, summer school coursework cannot be used to recover athletic eligibility.  

College Credit Plus (CCP) 

• CollegeCredit Plus provides students with the opportunity to take classes at college while attending high
  school and earn both high school and college credits. 

• Students who qualify may take the courses at college at no cost other than transportation. 

• The purpose of the program is to allow rigorous academic pursuits and to provide a wider variety of options to high school students. 

• CCP courses available at North Olmsted High School are English Composition 1, English Composition 2, US History to 1877, and US History 1877 - present. 

• A mandatory informational meeting will be held after winter break. 

• A letter of intent for this program must be completed by April 1 for the following school year and is open to 9th through 12th grade students. 

• No exceptions to the deadline can be made. (Please be aware that the deadline typically falls over Spring Break.) 

• Although in most cases the college courses do not require tuition, the student may be billed for any course that he or she fails or withdraws from.

• Please note: North Olmsted HS cannot change student schedules as a result of scheduling difficulty at CCP locations. 

• For more information, see:  College Credit Plus - The Ohio Department of Higher Education
  
  

 NOHS Grading Scale

The achievement mark represents the teacher’s determination of the degree of the student’s mastery of the curriculum, individual teacher requirements, specific course requirements, department guidelines, board and high school policies, and state mandates. 

The following scale is the standard by which all grades will be calculated unless students are otherwise notified in writing.

   Schedule Change and Class Drop Policy

Students are required to take a minimum number of academic credits each school year, as defined in the Course Selection Guide. The student's course load includes both required and elective courses, and can include classes at North Olmsted High School, Polaris Career Center, or other educational options such as College Credit Plus. Students schedule their classes with the support of teachers, counselors, administrators, and parents during the registration period. Much time is taken to ensure certain the decisions made during the registration period are in the best academic interest of the student. Students are urged to choose their course selections thoughtfully and to seek assistance as needed.

Students are given opportunities to review and make changes in their schedules before they are submitted. The student schedule becomes official once it is entered and accepted into the Master Scheduling System. Any changes to schedules have a serious impact on class size, teaching assignments, and the overall operation of the academic program of North Olmsted High School. Students and parents should not plan a schedule with the idea it can be changed, because as a rule, it will not be changed.

Once a schedule is submitted and accepted, it can only be changed without academic consequences under the following circumstances:

1. Academic misplacement as determined and initiated by the teacher

2. A graduation requirement is needed

3. Failure in a prerequisite class

4. Study Hall is dropped to add a class

5. A technical error or an obvious mistake

6. A health issue, requiring documentation by a physician

A student who withdraws from a class for any reason not indicated above and/or not agreed upon by the NOHS administration will receive a grade of F for the duration of the class. The grade of F will be indicated on the student’s transcript and will be calculated into the grade point average of the student.

A student who wishes to drop an academic course (including Honors and Advanced Placement) must complete the green schedule change form from the School Counseling Office and obtain teacher and parent signatures. Once the form is complete, it is returned to the school counselor and then turned into the NOHS administration for final decision. If the reason for the change is not from the approved list above, the resulting grade will be a failure for the duration of the class.

Note: Courses must have and maintain appropriate student enrollment to be offered. The North Olmsted High School Administration reserves the right to make changes to course offerings as a result of enrollment concerns.

Schedule Change and Impact on Grading

Students may not add a course to their schedule after the completion of the 5th day of school in a semester. This does not apply to course level changes that can occur throughout the year with the approval of a student's counselor, teacher, and administrator. The grade(s) earned to date of change follow the student as "grade-in-progress" to the new course. After adding a class, the student is responsible for the work assigned prior to his/her joining the class.

Athletic Eligibility

North Olmsted Student-Athletes must meet OHSAA and local North Olmsted school district Board policies to be eligible to participate in athletics. In accordance with the OHSAA, the following athletic eligibility criteria have been set. 

FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN GRADES 9-12

● In the immediately preceding grading period, a student must receive a passing grade in a minimum of

    five (5) one-credit courses, or the equivalent, which count toward graduation; 

● The grades referenced, when combined, must have a total grade point average of at least 1.5 on a four

    (4) point scale:

● A student enrolled in the first grading period after advancement from the eighth grade must have

    passed a minimum of four (4) subjects in the preceding grading period in which the student was

    enrolled; and those grades must, when combined, be a total grade point average of at least 1.5 on a

    four (4) point scale.

● Eligibility for each grading period is determined by grades received in the preceding grading period.

    Semester and yearly grades do not affect eligibility. Do not change your course schedule or drop a

    course without first consulting your guidance counselor or athletic director to determine whether it

    will affect your eligibility.

● For eligibility purposes, summer school grades may not be used to substitute for failing grades

    received in the final grading period of the regular school year or for lack of enough courses taken the

    preceding grading period.

● Students taking post-secondary school courses must comply with these standards. Please see your

                guidance counselor or athletic director if you have questions.

● Eligibility requirements are clearly defined in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Constitution

    and Bylaws. Ultimately, the understanding of and acknowledgment to meet all eligibility

    requirements falls upon the student-athlete and his/her parent/guardian.

  ● Residence: A student is eligible at the school located in the Ohio school district where the parent or

 legal guardian resides when all other eligibility standards are met. If your parent/legal guardian lives

 outside Ohio, you are not eligible unless you meet one of the exemptions to the residency bylaws.

 When there has been a court-ordered change in custody, the student must reside in the same school

 district as the legal guardian. (“Legal guardian” will be defined by court paperwork”).

● Age Limitations: Once a student attains the age of 20, the student will no longer be eligible to

   compete in a sports competition. This age restriction goes into effect immediately on that date

   regardless off where the athlete is within the sports season.

● Non-Interscholastic participation: Participation by an athlete in a non-interscholastic program

   (tryouts, practice, or contests) while a member of a school squad in the same sport is PROHIBITED.  An

   athlete becomes a member of a squad by participating in an interscholastic contest (scrimmage,

   preview, or regular season contest). Exceptions: In individual sports, an athlete may practice and try

   out for a non-school team but may NOT compete in a contest.

Pre-Participation Exams (“Physicals”) 

OHSAA medical and parent consent forms are required of all interscholastic participants before they may

participate in any practice or interscholastic event. The original form will be filed in the athletic office

(forms are also available on the OHSAA website:  www.ohsaa.org)

Transfers

The transfer bylaws apply to all students in grades 9-12 who are transferring to high schools whether the

schools are public or non-public, member or non-member, or whether the high schools are within the same

school system or district. All transfer students are ineligible until the proper paperwork has been

submitted to the OHSAA and eligibility is granted. Check with the athletic administrator.

Additional information on OHSAA bylaws can be found at: OHSAA.Org.

The entire Student-Athletic Handbook can be viewed at northolmstedathletics.org. 

How Should the NCAA Eligibility Process Work?

The attached guide is helpful for what classes to take and when, as well as the NCAA requirements.

         NCAA Resources

        Division I Academic Standards

   Division II Academic Standards

        Division III Amateurism Standards

Grade 9

• Student takes academic college-preparatory courses, preferably one in each of the following areas: English, math, science, social studies and world language. The student should compare their course selection at our school against the list of NCAA-approved core courses.

Grade 10

• Student continues to take academic college-preparatory courses, preferably one in each of the following areas: English, math, science, social studies and world language, and making sure they are on the list of NCAA-approved core courses.

• Student registers with the NCAA Eligibility Center at eligibilitycenter.org.

• At the end of the year, the student contacts the school counseling office asking them to provide their official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Grade 11

• The student continues to take college preparatory courses in the areas listed above.

• The student checks with a counselor to make sure he or she will graduate on time with all required NCAA core courses.

• The student takes the ACT or SAT, submitting his or her scores to the NCAA using code 9999 to ensure that the score is reported directly to the Eligibility Center.

• At the end of the year, the student contacts the school counseling office asking them to provide their official transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Grade 12

• Student finishes last NCAA core courses.

• Student takes the ACT or SAT again, if necessary, submitting his or her scores to the NCAA using code 9999.

• After April 1, the student goes back into their Eligibility Center account to update their academic and amateurism information and request a final amateurism certification decision from the NCAA Eligibility Center.

• After graduation, the student contacts the school counseling office, asking them to provide their final official transcript with proof of graduation to the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Make sure to check the specific criteria for Division I and Division II on the NCAA Eligibility Center website www.eligibilitycenter.org

Approved core-course list

Students should verify the classes they are taking to ensure they are on the approved

core-course list. If a student has a question, they should contact their school counselor and the NCAA Eligibility Center.

Important Information Regarding Nontraditional Courses

The rules regarding software-based credit recovery, virtual, online, independent study and correspondence courses have changed. These types of courses, which are identified by the NCAA Eligibility Center as nontraditional courses, must meet new guidelines in order to be used for college-bound student-athletes who are planning to attend an NCAA Division I or II college or university. Please visit the www.eligibilitycenter.org to view a school/program’s List of NCAA Courses

 NCAA LIST OF APPROVED CORE COURSES

NCAA LIST OF NON-APPROVED CORE COURSES

Dramatic Reading I & II - Intro to Theatre & Intro to Theatre II  - Intro to Communication - Service Learning