Enrichment Program

Enrichment courses are designed for those students who wish to participate in accelerated courses, which go into more depth of study. All courses are open to all grade-level appropriate students. The prerequisite to taking enrichment courses is the following:

  1. The student has a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above, or

  2. The student has a 3.0 GPA or above in previous related coursework.

  3. Exceptions to these prerequisites can be made via a written application process.          

      Applications can be obtained at the Student Services Center.

The enrichment program consists of the following five components:    

• • Honors courses are designated sections of required courses. These courses are largely for freshmen and sophomores. They are more rigorous, enriched, and are taught at an accelerated pace. Honors courses are scored on a 4.0 non-weighted grading scale.

  • College Elective Courses, are usually vocational classes, which offer college credit, equal to specific courses at the community college level. They are also transferable to some 4-year colleges as elective college credit. A 3.0 GPA is not required for admission. College Elective courses are scored on a 4.0 non-weighted grading scale.

  • College Credit Courses, are core academic classes, which offer direct college credit, equal to specific courses at the college or university level. College Credit courses are scored on a 4.5 weighted grading scale.

  • Advanced Placement (AP) courses meet the requirement of the College Board Advanced Placement curriculum. These courses are designed to prepare students to take the advanced placement test for that course, an optional test given in May. Depending upon the student’s score and the criteria of the specific university, students may earn college credit.  AP courses are scored on a 4.5 weighted grading scale.

  • Post Secondary Enrollment Options Act, which involves Gifted & Talented freshmen and sophomores; and junior or senior students taking courses at Central College or through other colleges.

College Credit Transfer Details:

The high school offers college credit courses for students but remember, it is the students’ responsibility to request transcripts to be sent to their college of choice for the transfer of credits. There is a form in the guidance office to assist you with this process. 

Important note: your GPA and letter grade received in these courses MAY affect your college GPA and financial aid. This will depend on which college you attend.

POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS ACT

The Post‐Secondary Enrollment Options Act allows students to take college level courses as a part of their high school curriculum. This act is intended to promote a more rigorous academic course of study and a wider variety of course options available for eleventh and twelfth grade students.

To be eligible, students must meet the post secondary schools entrance requirements and may not take courses that are comparable to those already offered by the high school district. (For example, if a student wants to take Anthropology at Central College, and it is not offered Pella Community High School, this student may become eligible under this act.) More information is available in the counseling offices. 

Enrollment forms must be picked up from the counselors and completed before registration at Central College. Students who are interested in pursuing a Central College  course must visit with a counselor at the high school. Paperwork will need to be completed and turned into the counselor by the following deadlines:

Fall courses: May 25th (before school is out for the summer)

Spring courses: December 1st

The Pella Community School Board of Education policy listed below is intended as further explanation of how this Act applies to students in Pella.

Code No. 604.6

DMACC CAREER ACADEMY ONLINE COURSES

https://dmacc.edu/careeradvantage/pages/pella.aspx

Students in grades eleven and twelve may enroll in a post-secondary educational institution for academic or vocational-technical credits on a case-by-case basis. Students who intend to enroll in a post-secondary educational institution shall notify the school district during the course scheduling process prior to each semester. Students may attend courses at a post-secondary educational institution only after the school district certifies that the student is eligible to attend under this policy.

Student who are interested in pursuing an online DMACC course must visit with a counselor at the high school. Paperwork will need to be completed and turned into the counselor by the following deadlines:

Fall courses:  May 25th (before school is out for the summer)

Spring courses: December 1st (before Thanksgiving break)

INSTRUCTION AT A POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

Students in grades nine through twelve may receive academic or vocational-technical credits that count toward the graduation requirements set out by the board for courses successfully completed in post-secondary educational institutions. The student may receive academic or vocational-technical credits through an agreement between a post-secondary educational institution or with the board’s approval on a case-by-case basis.

Students in grades nine through twelve who successfully complete courses in post-secondary 

educational institutions under an agreement between the school district and the post-secondary 

educational institution shall receive academic and vocational-technical credits in accordance with the agreement.

Students in grades nine or ten and identified as a TAG student as well as any student in grades eleven and twelve may enroll in a post-secondary educational institution for academic or vocational-technical credits with the board’s approval on a case-by-case basis. Students who intend to enroll in a 

post-secondary educational institution shall notify the school district during the course scheduling 

process prior to each semester. Students may attend courses at a post-secondary educational 

institution only after the school district certifies that the student is eligible to attend under this policy.

Students in grades eleven and twelve who are not enrolled full-time in the school district shall receive academic or vocational-technical credit toward the graduation requirements set out by the board for successful completion of courses at a post-secondary educational institution.  Successful completion of the course shall be determined by the post-secondary educational institution. A student attending credit-bearing courses in a high school for the available hours of instruction is a full-time student. The board shall have complete discretion to determine the academic or vocational-technical credit to be awarded to the student.

Students who have completed the eleventh grade but who have not completed the graduation 

requirements set out by the board may take up to seven semester hours of credit at a post-secondary educational institution during the summer months when school is not in session.  Upon successful completion of these summer courses, the students shall receive academic or vocational-technical credit toward the graduation requirements set out by the board. Successful completion of the course shall be determined by the post-secondary educational institution. The board shall have complete discretion to determine the academic credit to be awarded to the student for the summer courses.

The following factors shall be considered in the board’s determination of whether a student will receive academic or vocational-technical credit toward the graduation requirements set out by the board for a course at a post-secondary educational institution:

• the course is taken from a public or accredited private post-secondary educational institution;

• a comparable course is not offered in the school district.  A comparable course is one in which the subject matter or the purposes and objectives of the course are similar, in the judgment of the board, to a course offered in the school district;

• the course is in the discipline areas of mathematics, science, social sciences, humanities, vocational-technical education, or a course offered in the community college career options program;

• the course is a credit-bearing course that leads to a degree;

• the course is not religious or sectarian; and

• the course meets any other requirements set out by the board.

Students in grades eleven and twelve who take courses, other than courses taken under an agreement between the school district and the post-secondary educational institution, shall be responsible for transportation without reimbursement to and from the location where the course is being offered.

Ninth and tenth grade talented and gifted students and all students in grades eleven and twelve will be reimbursed for tuition and other costs directly related to the course up to $250. Students who take courses during the summer months when school is not in session shall be responsible for the costs of attendance for the courses.

Students who fail the course and fail to receive credit shall reimburse the school district for all costs directly related to the course. Prior to registering for the course, students under age eighteen shall have a parent sign a form indicating that the parent is responsible for the costs of the course should the student fail the course and fail to receive credit for the course.  Students who fail the course and fail to receive credit for the course for reasons beyond their control, including, but not limited to, the student’s incapacity, death in the family or a move to another district, may not be responsible for the costs of the course. The school board may waive reimbursement of costs to the school district for the previously listed reasons. Students dissatisfied with a school board’s decision shall appeal to the AEA for a waiver of reimbursement.

The superintendent shall be responsible for annually notifying students and parents of the opportunity to take courses at post-secondary educational institutions in accordance with this policy. The 

superintendent shall also be responsible for developing the appropriate forms and procedures for 

implementing this policy.

Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256.11, .11A; 261C; 279.8; 280.3, .14 (1997).

281 I.A.C. 12, 22.

Cross Reference: 505 Student Scholastic Achievement

604.4 Program for Talented and Gifted Students

REVIEWED 12.15.08

APPROVED 7.15.13

APPROVED 11.27.17

APPROVED 9.27.21