Seal of Biliteracy, College Requirements, and Registration
Registration
There is no required prerequisite for a level 1 world language course. However, for middle school students it is highly encouraged that you successfully complete the World Languages and Cultures course before signing up for a level 1 class.
At GHS, to advance to level 2 or 3 of study in Spanish, a student must earn a grade of C or better for both semesters. To advance to level 4 or 5 of study in Spanish, a student must earn a grade of B or better for both semesters. Exceptions may be made on a case by case basis.
At GHS, Spanish courses levels 3 and higher are offered as concurrent enrollment courses through Red Rocks Community College.
College Admission Considerations
Although world language is not a graduation requirement of Jefferson County Public Schools, admissions counselors at many colleges look for this on a student's transcript. For example:
The University of Colorado at Boulder College of Arts and Sciences, Leeds School of Business, and the College of Engineering & Applied Science expect 3rd year high school level proficiency, 3 years of study of the same language.
Colorado State University at Ft. Collins looks for 2 years of high school study in the same world language.
The University of Northern Colorado follows the minimum Colorado Higher Education Admission Recommendations for world language requiring 1 year of high school language study.
Jefferson County Public Schools High School Graduation Requirements
High school students need 8.5 elective credits to graduate.
Seal of Biliteracy
The Jeffco Seal of Biliteracy and the Colorado Seal of Biliteracy serve to recognize students who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in at least one world language and English by high school graduation.
All students who complete 3 Honors, Level 4 or AP courses with an unweighted average of 3.0 or higher for those classes are considered candidates.
Candidates will receive a certificate and a graduation cord. This certificate can be used on job applications and when applying to colleges.
Candidates will be recognized at graduation and/or senior award ceremonies
Final Recipients: In Fall after graduation, you will receive a certificate and your transcripts will be updated to reflect that you have been awarded the Jeffco and/or the Colorado Seal of Biliteracy.
High School Credit for World Language Courses taken in Middle School
This is the first year that middle school students enrolled in a "high school equivalent" world language course may have that high school credit added to their high school transcript! The Spanish classes we offered at JRLP this year are the "high school equivalent" courses! Congratulations, middle schoolers!
The credit will automatically be awarded to students for successfully completing the course (grade of A, B, C, or D) while enrolled at a Jeffco middle school.
The credit(s) the student is transferring from middle school and the grade earned will be seen on their high school transcript but will not be calculated in their overall GPA.
Colleges and universities will be able to view all the completed courses through student transcripts. However, neither the school nor the district can guarantee that this will fulfill a particular college or university’s admissions and/or credit requirements.
The credits earned in middle school will count toward the 8.5 elective credits required to graduate from Jeffco Public Schools.
If the student and their family wish to opt-out of receiving the credit and grade on the high school transcript, they will complete an opt-out form available during their 9th grade year.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.