Academic Levels Information

Definition of Academic Levels

Bernards High School offers classroom instruction on various levels with different academic expectations. Students are grouped by level in English, Mathematics, Science, World Languages and Social Studies classes. Instructional levels are assigned on the basis of a teacher input form/recommendation, academic record, standardized test scores, and student motivation.

Student progress is monitored throughout the year so that adjustments in level placements may be made when academically appropriate and if space is available. If a level adjustment is made during the school year, the grades and absences earned in the previous course level are carried over to the new level.

The academic level categories are as follows:

• Academic: Courses with the core academic curriculum for all levels.
• Accelerated (A): College preparatory courses that have a high academic demand and requirements. This course of study will challenge students and prepare them well as they pursue a post-secondary education.
• Honors (H): Honors courses require a high level of academic maturity, interest, ability, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to study and work independently. The pace is rigorous and enrollment is selective.
• Advanced Placement (AP): Advanced Placement is the most academically demanding course level possible. Successful completion of the course may lead to college credit. Enrollment is highly selective and honors credit is earned. Students are strongly encouraged and expected to take the AP exams in May.

Honors and Advanced Placement Courses

Honors and/or AP courses are available in specified courses in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Visual Arts, and World Languages. These courses offer enrichment both in scope and exploration of material presented. Students who wish to request one or more of these very demanding and rigorous courses of study should read the following list of characteristics to ensure there is a clear understanding of what is required in each of the program’s courses.

• Students perform well on comprehensive exams.
• Students complete all assigned homework on time.
• Students independently manage multiple, concurrent and long-term projects.
• Students have the necessary skills for independently organizing collaborative group tasks.
• Students meet with the teacher individually for assistance and/ or enrichment when appropriate.
• Students reason analytically, deductively and inductively in order to synthesize and evaluate information and data.
• Students have demonstrated outstanding analytic and graphing calculator skills as well as the ability to express mathematical ideas clearly and concisely, using exact and appropriate mathematical language and notation.
• Students are able to read 20-30 pages of text as a one night homework assignment.
• Students earn scores of 85% or higher on quizzes on reading assignments.
• Students write multiple drafts of papers, lab reports and other assignments before submitting the document for final assessment

Statement of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities

Regarding Honors and/or Advanced Placement Courses:

Students Have The Right To:

• Full information relative to the policies and procedures concerning Honors and/or AP courses.
• Petition for any Honors and/or AP course for which they meet the prerequisites.
• Request a conference with appropriate school officials if denied admission to Honors and/or AP courses.

Students Have The Responsibility To:

• File a waiver for each Honors and/or AP course to which they seek entry. This applies only to students who are petitioning to move up to an Honors and/or AP course, and who fail to meet recommended minimums.
• Be aware of all policies, deadlines, and procedures regarding the Honors and/or AP course.

Statement of District’s Rights and Responsibilities

Regarding admission to Honors and/or Advanced Placement Courses:

The District Has The Right To:

• Establish the criteria, procedures, and deadlines for Honors and/or AP courses.
• Delete an Honors and/or AP course if an insufficient number of students are eligible and/ or interested.
• Review a student’s placement.

The District Has The Responsibility To:

• Utilize instructional approaches and curricular materials that provide stimulation through enrichment and acceleration.
• Provide students greater opportunities for in-depth studies that lead to discovery.
• Meet all deadlines.
• Notify students and/or parents when an Honors and/or AP course has been deleted due to insufficient enrollment or eligibility.

9th Grade Honors Courses

Ninth grade honors courses are available in English, Mathematics, Science, and World History. Please refer to the Application for Advanced Study (available in the back of the Program of Studies) to determine if you are required to submit an application. The information provided in the completed Application for Advanced Study will be reviewed and a decision for acceptance into the 9th Grade Honors courses will be made.

Honors Application Timeline

All Applications for Advanced Study must be submitted to the Guidance Office by February 15, 2019. Students will be informed of the results of their application by February 22, 2019. If a student does not meet the grade requirements for an Honors class, and does not receive a favorable review from the Application Committee, but is still interested in taking the class, he/ she may complete a waiver form. All Waiver forms are due by March 1, 2019.

10th, 11th and 12th Grade Honors and Advanced Placement Courses

Students who are already enrolled in an Honors and/ or AP course will remain in or be removed from their current programs based upon the following considerations:

• Students currently in an Honors level course who maintain an average of "B-" or higher in the 1st and 2nd marking periods are permitted to remain in their respective higher level course for the following year. For example, a student with a "B-“ average after marking periods 1 and 2 in English II Honors may continue to English III Honors without a waiver. However, to advance into AP English III, the student must have a "B+ or above" average in the 1st and 2nd marking period and in his/her Honors class, or complete the waiver. Students are expected to maintain their level of performance during marking periods 3 and 4.
• Students currently in an Honors level course who have an average grade of "C+", "C", or "C-" after the first two marking periods are required to complete a waiver to “re-enter" the next Honors level course, if there is room. For example, a student who earns a "C+" average in Honors must submit a waiver into the next year’s Honors/AP course.
• Students currently in an Honors level course who earn an average of D+, D, D- or F after the first two marking periods are precluded from the opportunity to waiver for any higher-level program in that subject area.
• Students currently in an A-level course who maintain an average of "B+" or higher in the 1st and 2nd marking periods are permitted to request placement in an Honors level course for the following year. For example, a student with a "A-” average after marking periods 1 and 2 in English II (A) may move to English III Honors without a waiver. However, to advance into AP English III, the student must have an "A or above" average in his/her class. If a student cannot meet this minimum standard, then (s)he must complete a waiver form to gain entrance, provided there is room in the class. Students are expected to maintain their level of performance during marking periods 3 and 4.

Important Date:

If a student does not qualify academically for an AP/Honors class, but is still interested in taking the class the class, (s)he may complete a waiver form and submit it by March 1, 2019.