Graduation Requirements & Academics

The Minnesota Graduation Standards define what it is students should know and be able to do as a result of a Kindergarten through 12th grade education. The Graduation Standards provide the goal towards which both teachers and students are working. They become the focus on which assessment, curriculum and instruction are designed to ensure that all students receive a variety of educational opportunities which move them closer to the goals of being: purposeful thinkers, effective communicators, self-directed learners, productive group participants and responsible citizens.

Saint Peter High School requires students to earn 27 credits for a diploma. All students must satisfactorily complete all credit and course requirements before they will be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony for graduation. These requirements include:

• All schedule changes need to be done within the first four days of the semester.

• All schedule changes need to be made by a school counselor. Some changes must be approved by the principal.

• Requests for schedule changes will be considered individually based on course availability, open seats, credit requirements and reason for request. Examples of cases where changes are most often granted include a mistake in registration entry, duplicate enrollment, error in course sequencing (Spanish II before Spanish I) or unmet prerequisites.

• Read and understand course descriptions before enrolling in a course. Make sure you have met prerequisite requirements and get instructor approval when required (Advanced, AP, MSU, etc).

• Register for courses you are interested in. Student interest is an important factor in determining the number of sections offered for each course.

• Work with your parent(s)/guardian(s), homeroom teacher and counselor to make sure you are taking the appropriate classes and staying on track to graduate.

• All students must attempt a minimum of seven credits per year and may enroll in a maximum of eight credits.

• Credits are awarded on one (1.0) or one-half (.5) credit increments or at the discretion of the counselor and principal.

• A grade of “F” for a quarter block course or semester skinny course will result in loss of credit. Any student failing a required course will be encouraged to make-up the deficiency during the succeeding nine weeks if possible. Credits may also be made up through summer school, night school, adult basic education or a correspondence course in order to receive a diploma.

• Students that withdraw from a course after the first two weeks of the course may receive one of the following grades: WP (withdraw pass) or WF (withdraw fail). Students passing at the time of withdrawal (60% or higher) will earn a WP. Students failing at the time of withdrawal will earn a WF. This will not impact GPA.

• Students may repeat any course for which they have received a failing (F) grade, no credit (NC) or withdraw fail (WF).

• All incomplete grades must be made-up within three weeks after the end of the class. An incomplete mark not made-up within three weeks will be changed to an F. This grade may be changed to a NC (no credit) or WF (withdraw fail) at the discretion of the principal.

• All credits required for graduation are subject to change by the Board of Education.

Block courses meet two periods each day for two quarters (one semester). Students earn half credit each quarter. Successful completion of a course will result in one credit.

Skinny courses meet one period each day for the entire year. Students earn half credit each semester and the semester grade is posted to the transcript. Successful completion of a course will result in one (1.0) credit.

Concurrent course credit is awarded at the end of the course. The student will receive 1.0 high school credit and the grade will be cumulative for the entire course and therefore consistent with the grade on the college transcript.

Required courses refer to courses that must be satisfactorily completed to qualify for graduation.

Elective courses are courses that are not specifically required for graduation. However, students must earn elective credit in order to meet the 27 credit minimum for graduation.