Academic Policies

Academic Policies

Audits

Students may choose to audit a class for the purpose of enrichment or to repeat a course that is a prerequisite to another. The audit agreement is made between the student and teacher once the semester has begun but no later than the end of the third week. Teachers are not required to accept auditors. Acceptance is based on enrollment only and if seats are available. If an audit agreement is made, teachers are not required to evaluate student work or progress. The course audit, when completed, will appear on the permanent record but no credit will be issued and audited courses do not fulfill graduation requirements.

Financial Assistance

Any student unable to pay any special course costs or purchase required workbooks may apply for financial assistance in the Principal’s office.

Remediating Courses

When a student earns a grade of D or E, he/she is entitled to remediate the course through an approved summer school. Both grades will appear on the transcript and calculate into the GPA.

(Please note that only RHS’s summer school grades will be calculated into the GPA. Other approved summer schools will be honored for credit but not GPA weighting.)

New Work for Credit

New work for credit courses given by an accredited high school can be used for transcript purposes. Only courses given by Ridgewood High School can be used for calculating a GPA. This must be approved by a supervisor prior to enrolling.

College courses or special programs taken during the year can be used for credit toward high school graduation. The Department Supervisor must approve credit for those seeking acceleration in the curriculum pattern.

Online Courses

Financial Literacy will be the only course that will be permitted to be taken online for new credit. The program must be approved by the department supervisor.

Student Records

The Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1975 permit parents/guardians to access their child’s school records. Copies of the procedures regarding student records are available upon request.

1. A student’s school records may be examined upon request by natural parents/guardians or any person designated as a representative by them. Students 14 years or older may examine their records. Younger students must have parental consent.
2. Official student records may not be released to other persons or institutions without written permission of the parent/child, except as otherwise authorized by law.
3. Procedures for challenging the contents of student records are included in the policy.

Any questions regarding this law or the school’s policy should be directed to the High School for clarification.

Transferring Credit

1. Credit earned by Ridgewood High School students in educational programs outside the High School District is subject to review prior to acceptance.
2. Coursework taken by students at another Bergen County District high school prior to their matriculation as freshmen shall not receive high school credit.
3. Evening high school, foreign study programs and junior college coursework may be accepted as credit toward graduation with the prior approval of the Principal.

The practice for grade transfers for students who enter Ridgewood High School mid-term directly from another school is as follows:

• The counselor will inform each teacher of the grade earned by the student in the similar course at the previous school.
• The teacher will use that grade in conjunction with the grades earned at Ridgewood High School to determine quarter and semester grades.

4. The practice for grade transfers for students who enter mid-term without having attended school previously that semester is as follows:

• A student who enters school during the first three weeks of the semester without having attended school previously that semester will be required to do make-up work in each of his/her courses.
• A student who enters after the third week but before the end of the twelfth week without having attended school previously that semester can get credit for courses if:
• he/she satisfactorily passes required work for the date of entry,
• he/she passes the final examination, and
• the teacher recommends that full credit be awarded. The teacher will recommend that full credit be awarded if the student is judged to be ready to move onto the next course in the sequence, by having achieved a level of learning similar to other students in the course.