Academics

Purpose: Westwood Regional students have the right to an education that promotes development into productive citizens through a variety of academic, social, and emotional supports. 

It is the policy of the Board of Education to ensure equal and bias-free access to all school facilities, courses, programs, activities, and services, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, or disability.  See more information with policy 5755.

Credit System

• The number of credits received by students for a subject is determined by the number of times a class meets per week and the length of time a subject is studied.

• Courses meeting for a full year will have a five (5) credit value.  Courses meeting less than a full year receive a portion of that credit.  Classes that are indicated as a semester (S) will receive two and one-half (2.5) credits while those indicated as a quarterly (Q) will receive one and one-fourth (1.25) credits.  A student earns a passing grade by earning a 65 or better for the course.

Final averages are computed using the numerical values that a student has earned throughout the year.  Report card and transcript grades will be converted from numerical grades to alpha grades.

If a student earns a grade that is lower than a fifty (50), and there is improvement in the subsequent quarter immediately following, then the case will be reviewed to determine whether or not the circumstances warrant accommodations.  Parents/ guardians should reach out to the individual teacher(s) to begin the process. 

For a full year course in the High School, the final average will be computed from the four (4) quarterly grades (21.25 percent each) and the final exam (15 percent).  For a semester course, the final average will be computed from the two (2) quarterly grades (42.5 percent) and the final exam (15 percent). Quarter Courses will remain the same and if an end of course exam is given it will count as part of the quarterly grade.  

In the event that a student fails a course, the prerequisite course must be completed with a passing grade before the student can move on to the subsequent course (i.e., Spanish II must be completed with a passing grade before the student can go on to take Spanish III).  English and Physical Education are the only exceptions to this rule. In the event a student chooses to take a course during the summer to make up credits, all summer course work must be completed by September 1.

Shared-time Programs

Students attending the Bergen County Technical High School, Capri Institute or Lincoln Technical School, on a shared-time basis (1/2 of the school day) must maintain passing grades in all of the courses in which they are enrolled.  If a student fails one or more courses for the school year, either at Westwood Regional High School, Bergen County Technical High School, Capri Institute or Lincoln Technical School, he/she will be ineligible to continue attending the Technical School and forfeit this privilege.  Appeals will be heard on a case-by-case basis.

Graduation Requirements – Seniors

High school diplomas will be granted to those students who have completed studies totaling one hundred thirty-five (135) credits including the required subjects correctly distributed.  Required subjects include twenty (20) credits in English, fifteen (15) credits in mathematics, fifteen (15) credits in science, ten (10) credits in United States and five (5) credits in world history, five (5) credits in world language, five (5) credits in health and driver’s ed., and the annual completion of physical education.

In addition, all students must meet the requirements listed below:

1. Ten (10) credits in fine, practical, and/or performing arts.

2. A minimum of ninety (90) hours in career exploration.  (Please note: career education exploration is infused throughout the student’s required classes and is not a separate course offering.)

Any senior who has not met all of the requirements for graduation may not walk at the graduation ceremony.

Students at Westwood Regional High School receive a decile rank beginning with the second semester of Junior Year.  The deadline for final determination of class rank is the end of the first semester of Senior Year.

Additional State High School Graduation Requirement

The attainment of proficiency in basic skills is an integral part of the Westwood Regional Board of Education’s responsibility to provide a thorough and efficient education to students in the State of New Jersey. In order to graduate from the Westwood Regional High School District, a student may need to pass the New Jersey Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). More grade-specific information can be found at the following URL: https://sites.google.com/wwrsd.org/hsguidance/parcc?authuser=0. 

Valedictorian/Salutatorian

In each high school graduating class, the student who has earned the highest grade point average shall be named valedictorian and the student who has earned the next highest grade point average shall be named salutatorian, provided that any student so names shall have been enrolled in this district for at least two (2) years immediately prior to high school graduation.

Grade point average is calculated at the end of the seventh semester.  In the event the highest or next highest grade point average has been earned by two or more students, both or all the students who have tied for first or second place shall be name co-valedictorian or co-salutatorian, as the case may be.

Honor Rolls

Westwood Regional High School recognizes an Honor Roll with Distinction and an Honor Roll.  To be eligible for Honor Roll with Distinction, a student must achieve grades no lower than “A-.”  To be eligible for Honor Roll, students must achieve grades no lower than “B.”

Unprepared for Class

Certainly a student will have difficulty learning if he/she is not in class or not prepared for class.  Therefore, each student is expected to attend all of his/her classes daily, and to bring the necessary materials as required by each teacher.

If a student is continuously unprepared for class, his/her teacher may choose to assign detention, and/or contact the student’s parents/guardians.  Additionally, a parent/guardian and teacher conference may be requested with the student’s school counselor.

Report Cards/Progress Reports

Genesis is accessible by going to the following link Genesis and then “Take Me to Parent Access” at the bottom of the page.  Sign in with your username and password.

To view your child’s most recent Progress Report or Report Card in Parent Access, go to “Grading” and click on “Please click here to view.”

Graded student work is also meant to serve as progress reports on a more regular basis.  It is very important that each student bring home all graded work in order to help parents/guardians and each student keep track of his/her progress.