Students at Peters Township High School may receive high school credit for approved courses taken outside of the high school. This option is available for students who have progressed beyond the courses offered at the high school or who wish to explore subjects not included in the current curriculum. Through dual enrollment, students can take college-level classes and earn credits toward graduation.

Before enrolling in any college or online course, students must obtain prior authorization to ensure the credits will transfer. Online courses must be from accredited institutions and will not receive weighted credit. All expenses related to these courses, including tuition, transportation, materials, and supplies, are the responsibility of the student and their family. To gain approval for dual enrollment or online credit, students must follow the outlined procedures.

Applying for credits taken outside the district:

1. Complete the Enrollment Application for Courses Offered Outside of PTHS for each course offered outside Peters Township High School. This form must be completed in its entirety for approval to be considered. Approval is not guaranteed.

2. When completing the application, please list only one requested course per form.

3. Submit the application to your school counselor.

4. Source schools offering online courses must be accredited educational institutions. Evidence of accreditation must be provided. The curriculum and expectations of the online course must match those of Peters Township High School.

5. If the course is approved and successfully completed, all “official” transcripts from the source school must be submitted to the student’s school counselor on or before the close of the school district’s grading period. Failure to meet this deadline will result in a disqualification of eligibility for graduation credit and inclusion of any information on the student’s official high school transcripts. If there are issues or problems with grading, it is the student’s responsibility to meet with his/her School Counselor immediately upon the issue being discovered.

The Peters Township School District recognizes that a student may benefit from diverse learning experiences that are beyond the scope and sequence of the curriculum offered by the District. This policy provides qualified students with the opportunity to enrich their education through an independent study process. Independent study shall be granted under exceptional circumstances to enhance a student's learning experience or shall be granted in the event a student cannot participate in a course offered by the District due to an unavoidable scheduling conflict. An independent study program requires special effort and commitment on the part of the student, parent, and school district to meet the individual educational interest of the student.

Procedures for applying for independent study:

1. Application and Proposal: Submit an independent study application (from Counseling Office) by the 10th day of the semester, including a written proposal developed with a mentor teacher outlining specific objectives.

2. Approval Process: A committee (mentor teacher, school counselor, administrator) reviews the plan and submits it to the superintendent for final approval.

3. Completion Timeline: All work must be finished by the 85th day of the semester to earn credit.

4. Credit and Records: Independent study courses appear on transcripts as pass/fail unless a grade is approved. Pass/fail courses are excluded from GPA calculations. Plans and assessments are stored in the student’s permanent record until graduation.

5. Course Limits: Students may take one independent study course per semester.

6. Additional Guidelines: Brief non-credit courses for skill remediation or preparation may be developed but do not count toward graduation requirements or GPA.

7. Transportation: The district does not provide transportation for independent study.

Seniors in good academic standing may qualify for a non-credit work release program. The District does not provide transportation.  To be considered, students must follow the Application Requirements.

Application Requirements:

1.       Verifiable job at the time of application.

2.       Employer letter on company letterhead confirming the student’s work schedule during the school day.

3.       Completed Work Release Application (from Counseling Office) signed by a parent/guardian.

4.       School counselor’s signature confirming the student has enough credits to graduate.

Work Release Student Requirements:

1.       Work a minimum of 15 hours per week during school release time (Monday–Friday).

2.       Sign out at the attendance desk and leave through the front door.

3.       Notify the School Counseling Office if employment ends or changes.

Restrictions:

1.       Students may not be self-employed, work for family members, or work “under the table” without employer liability and workers' compensation insurance.

2.       Work release may be revoked due to attendance, academics, behavior, or non-compliance with monthly requirements.

The high school offers mentorships through Medical Mentorship for students who meet course prerequisites, secure a teacher recommendation, and maintain good attendance, grades, and discipline. Students must provide their own transportation. Mentorships must be requested during course selection and students must complete the Application Form for Mentorship from the Counseling Office.

Peters Township Middle School students may qualify to enroll in high school courses during the school day. These courses will count toward both high school graduation credits and the student’s high school GPA. The middle school counselor will coordinate the enrollment process.

To be eligible for enrollment in high school courses, middle school students must meet the following criteria:

1. Completion of prerequisites: Provide documented evidence that all prerequisites have been met and successfully complete any required academic screening mechanisms.

2. Recommendations: Obtain a recommendation from the middle school academic team.

3. Parental Consent: Secure parental approval prior to placement.

All Learning Support Services are provided for students who, according to state guidelines, have qualified for learning support services. Qualifying students will be scheduled through their respective school counselors, along with careful recommendations and considerations from their case manager. Potential Learning Support classes include but are not limited to the following: Fundamental English, Essentials of Math, Computational Math, Language Arts, and Directed Study.

Intentions for early graduation must be made through the counseling office prior to the first day of the school year in which graduation is intended. The student must submit their plan to meet graduation requirements in writing to their counselor for review and approval. Within School Board Policy 217 Graduation Requirements: “The fourth year of high school shall not be required for graduation if a student has completed all requirements for graduation and attends a post-secondary institution as a full-time student. A student may qualify for graduation by attending a District school part-time when lawfully employed part- time or when officially enrolled part-time in a postsecondary institution.” If you are interested in this path, please contact your counselor. 

Students may enroll in credit recovery courses at their own expense to improve grades or recover credits for failed or "D" grades. Information on course options is available through the school counseling office and website. Both the original and recovery grades will appear on transcripts and factor into GPA calculations. Courses may be completed at area high schools, accredited online programs, or colleges, with a three (3) credit college course equaling one (1) high school credit. High school courses must meet a 120-hour minimum for credit.