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Students are mandated by Washington State attendance laws to be enrolled in school full time between the ages of 8 and 18. At Tahoma High School this means students must be registered for 8 courses each semester to meet this requirement. The revised code of Washington (RCW 28A.225.010) provides some exceptions to this requirement for certain small segments of our student population.
These exceptions would be if a student is:
Homeschooled. Intent to Homeschool would need to be on file with the district for each school year.
Attending an approved Private School. Shared enrollment verification would be required for this exception.
Student is age 16 and is regularly and lawfully employed and either the parent agrees that the child should not be required to attend school or the child is emancipated. Minor work permit paperwork from the state department of Labor and Industries would need to be on file at school for this exception. Minors get this form from their employers.
Full school day attendance is required for students. Depending on student academic progress, credits and coursework there may be one or more semesters where full time, eight period enrollment is not required. For most students this would apply to their second semester of senior year. Therefore, only seniors will be allowed to request consideration for a free period, early release period or late arrival period. These requests will be made through the student’s assigned school counselor and provided to the building principal or designee for a decision. Students being served by 504 services and or Special Education services will work with their case managers and school counselors in reference to the school day best aligned with the services that are required to be provided per IDEA in reference to FAPE and LRE.
Student Schedule Requests
Student schedule requests are the focus when the main schedule is created each year by our school administrators. Students hear from staff each year about what they need to consider as they select courses. Each student should keep in mind the following priorities when requesting classes for the next school year:
Graduation Requirements: Tahoma High School's graduation requirements ensure that each student will attain a certain level of development and complete a well-rounded program.
Future Plans: Students who have an idea of what they want to do after graduation should select courses that will prepare them to pursue that path. For students who are unsure about what they want to do, high school is an excellent opportunity to try different things in a relatively low risk environment. Throughout high school, students will be asked to think about their future plans, but it is important to acknowledge that plans often change. Students will be asked periodically to document their future education and career plans, but it is normal for students to change their plans as they learn new things about themselves.
Interest and Abilities: Students should be realistic about their ability level and interests. Success indicators are included with some course descriptions to help students make informed decisions. Students should seek individual assistance with course choices from parents, teachers, and school counselors.
College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADR)
If post high school plans include applying to enroll directly at a four year college or university students will want to review application requirements for each school. These are not universal and vary school to school. The College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs) are the minimum number of high school credits required in six subject areas by Washington’s public 4-year colleges and universities. The six subject areas addressed by CADR are: English, Math, Science, Social Sciences, Fine Art, and World Language. Students planning to apply for direct admission to a 4-year college or university should enroll in classes each year that have the CADR acronyms listed as part of the course description in this guide. Details on the CADR requirements can be found here: https://wsac.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Minimum.College.Admission.Standards.Policy.pdf
Schedule Adjustments
Schedule Changes
Tahoma High School staff expect students to make thoughtful decisions about meeting graduation requirements and selecting classes that align with being college and career ready and meeting their post secondary goals. We work hard to give students their first choices for classes, identifying the number of sections for each class based on student requests and then hiring staff to teach those classes. Significant shifts in staffing are not possible during the school year and for these reasons, we limit all schedule changes. When students receive the courses or alternate courses they request, they should not expect to be allowed to make any schedule changes. If a student’s school schedule, viewable in August, contains errors or incorrect placements, school counselors start the schedule correction process during grade level Bear Days and in the first few days of the school year. It is the student’s responsibility to check to be sure they have eight classes in both semesters of their schedule. The schedule should also contain core academic classes in English, Math, Social Studies and Science at minimum most years of high school.
Schedule Corrections
Students will be allowed to correct classes which they did not request during the first four days of the semester. Corrections during this time will allow students to join another class in that spot. If a student corrects a class during the first four days of the semester, no record will appear on the transcript. All schedule corrections that meet this criteria should happen during Bear Days so students start the right classes when the semester begins. “W” grades are posted to the transcript for corrections made after the fourth day.
Withdrawal from a Class
If a student drops a class prior to the end of the sixth week of the semester, the dropped course will appear on the transcript with a “W” grade. The “W” grade will be a matter of official record on the transcript and will not be computed in the grade point average. Students who withdraw from a course will not be provided a new course.
A “W” will also be given to students who are misplaced and their teacher recommends a change of level (e.g. drop Spanish 2 and add Spanish 1 or drop Algebra 2 and add Intermediate Algebra. This “W” will remain on the transcript even if the student retakes the course at a later date.
Courses that are dropped after the sixth week will result in an “F” grade on the transcript. “F” grades are computed into a student’s overall cumulative grade point average.
Teacher and Grade Procedures
Requesting a Teacher Change
We are fortunate to have excellent teaching staff at Tahoma High School. We have confidence that in whatever classroom your student is placed, they will encounter a professional and competent teacher who is committed to student learning. We believe strongly in a growth-mindset helping both our students and teachers work together to find a common ground supportive of student learning.
If your student is struggling with a teacher the following steps are required:
Parents/Students should initiate contact with the instructor directly by phone or email. This allows for open communication about what the experience is for the student and what the teacher can offer to support better understanding. In this communication exchange an in person meeting might be suggested for active dialog and discussion.
This direct communication allows for a plan to be set up where the student and teacher try new ways of working with each other during class.
While other school staff are not often needed at these meetings, counselors and/or divisional administrators are happy to mediate a resolution and support the group in finding a solution-based approach to working together. Learning to work with others, adapting styles and communicating concerns are life skills we want our students to develop before they leave our school.
After all steps have been completed, and thoughtful time given for any plans made to work for improvement, the parent can inquire with the divisional administrator about a request for an instructor change.
Repeating Course and Grade Improvement Policy
Students who earn a final semester grade of F in a required course for graduation must repeat the same course at THS during their high school career. After retaking the course, the higher grade can be used to improve the GPA upon a student's request. The lowest grade will remain on the transcript, but the impact of the grade will no longer be calculated into the GPA. It is the student’s responsibility to request this improvement from their school counselor.
Previously attempted courses with a final grade of D or lower can be repeated for grade improvement by taking the same course at THS. Students who earn a final semester grade of D in a course may repeat one or both semesters of that course. The higher grade can be used to improve the GPA upon a student's request. It is the student’s responsibility to request this improvement from their school counselor. When requested, the lower grade will remain on the transcript, but the impact of the grade will no longer be calculated into the GPA. The higher grade and grade impact will be calculated in the GPA.
Letter Grades and Grade Points
Student grades from the end of each semester are posted on the Washington State Transcript. Letter grades posted on the transcript are awarded a point value on the 4.0 scale. Washington State does not apply a “weight” to letter grades. The grade point table is included on every copy of the transcript at the top of the document. That table is included to the left for reference. A semester grade of a D or better will award a student credit for that course. Letter grades of F indicate that credit was not achieved in that class for that semester. F grades impact the GPA and, in some cases, means a student will need to retake the course to stay on track for graduation.
In rare instances you will see additional marks listed as “grades” for classes. A “P” grade indicates that credit has been earned in a course but extenuating circumstances have impacted that student’s situation. P grades do not impact the calculation of the grade point average. It is a mark used in rare circumstances only. Additional marks used include “I” and “NC” and “W”
I grades denote a course that is not complete. Instructors use this again, rarely, and in situations where students have had extenuating circumstances impacting their completion of key items from the course. Students are given additional time by course instructors to complete the work needed to issue a final grade. I grades are temporary and have to be converted by the district before the end of the following, consecutive semester. If a student does not complete tasks as outlined by the instructor I grades can be converted to the letter grade the student had when the I was issued. This can result in an F or an NC.
NC grades indicate a student was not awarded credit for a course when final grades were issued. The teacher of the course is the best contact for questions about any grade issued but especially I and NC grades. W grades denote a student who has started a course in a semester but was withdrawn prior to completing the course. W grades are GPA neutral and do not award credit.
A 4.0
A- 3.7
B+ 3.3
B 3.0
B- 2.7
C+ 2.3
C 2.0
C- 1.7
D+ 1.3
D 1.0
F 0.0
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