Graduation Requirements

Units of Credits - one unit of credit is earned for each term completed with a passing grade.

  • Credit requirements per class: 28
  • Pass reading, writing, and mathematics requirements
  • Completion of essential skills requirements
  • Students must pass AIMS Test to graduate
  • Four credits of English to include Rhetoric or courses that have Rhetoric components
  • Three credits of mathematics (should complete Algebra I)
  • Two credits of science
  • One credit of World History/World Geography (recommended for grade 10)
  • One credit of U.S. History which must include a section of Arizona History (recommended for grade 11)
  • One credit of American Government/Economics which must include a section of Arizona government (recommended for grade 12)
  • One unit of either Fine Arts or Vocational Education

Graduation requirements established by the Governing Board may be met by a student who passes courses in the required or elective subjects at a community college or university. Such courses must be determined to be at a higher level than the course taught in the high school attended by the student, or if the course is not taught in the high school of attendance, the course must be at a level equal to or higher than a high school course. The board shall award one-half high school credit for each three credit hours earned in an accredited community college or university. All of the above is subject to the student meeting the requirements for admission to a community college or university and prior approval by the appropriate building principal.

Grades

Grades will be as follows:
A = 4 Points - Outstanding
B = 3 Points - Above Average
C = 2 Points - Average
D = 1 Point - Below Average, but Passing
F = Failing

Contact teacher for specific grading procedures

  • Grade Point Average (GPA) will be figured on the above scale
  • Advanced Placement classes with weighted grades are included in GPA. See your specific counselor for admission requirements and Advanced Placement course offerings.

 Honor Roll

Students who earn grades with an overall average of “B” or greater with no grade less than a “C” for the semester will be on the Honor Roll.

Report to Parents

It is the policy of the high school to inform parents if their child is doing unsatisfactory work in any class. Students and parents are encouraged to request conferences with a counselor or teacher as soon as they see indications of possible failure rather than waiting for failure or a grade report to arrive.

Parents are encouraged to discuss with appropriate school officials any problems they or their children are having with school.

Note to College Bound Students

  • Discuss college with your counselor. College catalogs may be obtained from the counseling office, library or career center.
  • Attend meetings at school with college representatives
  • Be familiar with required admission tests, financial aide, scholarships and application procedures.
  • Visit colleges if possible
  • Write to the college of your choice for admission applications, scholarship, housing information and a general catalog.
  • To apply for scholarships or financial aid see your guidance counselor at the end of your junior year or beginning of senior year.
  • To attend an out-of-state institution, secure information for admission requirements early in your high school career. This improves your chance of being accepted at the college of your choice. If interested in attending an out-of-state college or university, you should follow the requirements stated in the catalog of the school you plan to attend.

STUDENTS FROM NORTH CENTRAL ACCREDITED SCHOOLS

Entrance Requirements for Arizona Universities

  • Four years English
  • Four years math: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Advanced Math
  • Three years lab science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science
  • Two years social studies including U.S. History
  • Two years foreign language
  • Fine arts
  • Recommended : computer awareness

Additional Requirements

Students must rank in the upper 50 percent of their high school graduating class or have an overall high school grade point average of a least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or achieve a minimum composite ACT score of 22 (in-state applicants) or 24 (out-of -state applicants); or achieve a minimum composite SAT score of 1040 (in-state applicants) or 1110 (out-of-state applicants).

Entrance Requirements for Arizona Community Colleges

High school diploma or GED (Graduation Equivalency Degree) is required. Contact individual colleges for any additional information.

Concurrent Enrollment and Correspondence Course Work

Student and/or parent should schedule an appointment with a guidance counselor to discuss feasibility. Both concurrent enrollment and correspondence course work require administrative approval.

Transfer from Non-Accredited High School

Students enrolling from a non-accredited high school will be admitted. Recognition of credits earned at a non-accredited high school may be dependent upon the student successfully passing courses during a probationary period of their initial full term in the high school district. Students transferring in during second term of their senior year will be evaluated on an individual basis. Classes for release time do not count towards graduation.

Student Transfers (Open Enrollment Law)

FUSD permits a transfer of students when both the principals and parents consider it advisable. Transfers must be approved by the sending and receiving principals.

If a student enrolls in a high school and is approved to transfer back to another school, he/she may be ineligible for AIA athletic competition for one calendar year. Once a student enrolls and attends a school as a freshman, his/her eligibility is established in that attendance area. A student is considered officially enrolled upon attendance at the first class in a school.

All students entering a four year college or university will be required to take either the American College Test ACT) or the Scholastic Achievement Test (SAT). Information concerning costs and date of administration will be announced in the school bulletins.

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test is available for juniors. It assists in predicting college success and is good “practice” in preparing for future admission tests. Recommended for students with a “B” average or better.

Scholarships

College catalogs are the best single source of college information. The guidance office will attempt to have on hand as much information as possible on local, state, and national scholarships. This process should begin during the student’s junior year and no later than the beginning of the senior year.

Since the costs of a college education are increasing every year, it becomes necessary for more and more students to have financial help to continue their education after high school. Those to whom the best scholarships are awarded, however, do not receive them on the basis of one or two years of hard work in high school. These students start their preparations at the beginning of ninth grade and continue working hard all the way through school.

Guidance and Counseling

The purpose of a guidance and counseling program is to help students with personal and educational matters. Students are urged to use counseling services to help answer questions, resolve personal conflicts, and improve school adjustment. If there is a crisis, the district has specially trained teams and personnel to serve the students needs. Appointments may be arranged with the secretary. Make the effort to contact your counselor.

Career Planning Center

The purpose of the Career Planning Center is to help students become more aware of their need for career planning and to provide counseling and materials for independent research in order to make realistic choices concerning careers.

Class Load for Students

Freshmen, sophomores and juniors must be enrolled for four (4) periods daily. Seniors should be enrolled for four (4) periods unless enrolled in a Co-OP program that includes a released work program.

Registration Fees

Students in high school are required to pay registration fees to cover such costs as locker rentals, physical education and other class fees.

Student Information

The reporting of correct and accurate student information is essential in maintaining proper school records. Students providing false information will be subject to disciplinary measures.

Removal of an Incomplete Grade

A student must complete his/her specified amount of work within two weeks after theend of the grading period unless prior arrangements have been made with the school.

If the grade is not changed within the specified time period, it will become a failing grade. It is the student’s responsibility to make up the work and remove the incomplete. Once the final grade is awarded, it cannot be subsequently changed.

Schedule Change Policy

The student is most likely to get into classes desired by giving thoughtful consideration to the decisions made during registration. This will give the student the most positive experience for next year.

  • Anticipated schedule changes for first or second term must be done prior to the beginning of school.
  • All requests for schedule changes after the first day of school must have administrative approval and parent involvement. No schedule changes after the first (1 st) week of the term is allowed.
  • After school starts, any student considering a schedule change for second semester or has received a WF (withdraw failing) for a class, must initiate the change before winter break.
  • If the student is going on vacation during regular registration days, parents must notify the school, and the student must come after registration but before school starts to verify the schedule and obtain books and supplies. Classes chosen will otherwise be lost.
  • Absences from classes will be counted on the record from the first day of school for everyday the student is not in class, unless the student is a transfer from another school.

Transcripts and Student Records

All transcripts are mailed directly from school to school through the Registrar’s office. Student records are considered confidential. They contain information of a personal nature and are retained for future use by the school.

Student records shall be available under the following circumstances:

  • When they are used by the professional staff of the school district in which the student is in attendance
  • When they are requested by a school district, employer, or institution, if approved by the parent or guardian of the student
  • When they are requested by a state or federal agency, as long as the records do not identify the student
  • When they are requested by a parent or guardian, upon confirmation of identity
  • When they are requested by the pupil or person who is over the age of eighteen and whose records are maintained by the school.

The parent or guardian has the right to attach a written response to any item in the records when the accuracy is disputed.

Leaving School Early

Students are encouraged to complete the entire term. Sometimes circumstances dictate that a student must leave before a term is completed. Students who find themselves in this situation must realize that leaving early might cause a lower grade, even a failing one.

When a request is made to leave early, two guidelines are followed:

  • A student is granted “withdrawal grades” which are used only to transfer to another school. These are not final grades.
  • In special circumstances, judged on an individual basis, the principal may allow a student to terminate early without taking semester exams. Failure to take them may affect the final grade.

Release Time

Any group to which the board grants release time will observe the following rules and regulations.

  • The parent must submit written consent for each student .
  • The student must meet academic eligibility requirements.
  • Students’ regular schedules may fluctuate from day to day because of assemblies, testing, programs, flexible scheduling, practice for programs, special projects, make up work, team teaching, counseling, immunization clinics, health services and other school centered activities.
  • It is understood that the groups, organizations and parents will abide by the principal’s decisions as to daily schedules.
  • It is understood that the district is not liable or responsible for students during release time.
  • Tardiness, truancy and related problems will be just cause for withdrawing a student from the release time program.

 Homework

Homework is a valuable and necessary application, and an extension of classroom experience. Homework should not be assigned to students as either busy work or punishment. Homework teaches the skills of independent study and learning outside the school. Assignments will be given clearly and concisely. It is recognized that some classes will require more practice in developing skills and comprehension and will necessitate more study at home.

The primary function during school years is the student’s academic program. Parents are encouraged to evaluate with students after school commitments at home, employment and extra-curricular activities which may conflict with the student’s ability to complete homework.

Homework at the junior and senior high levels shall be considered a necessary part of the learning process and a legitimate demand on the non-class time of students. At the secondary level, completion of required class work, application of skills required in class, preparatory reading, research and development, or long term projects are all to be considered appropriate and necessary homework assignments.

Students carrying a full load of four classes should anticipate at least two hours of homework per night, with some variation to be expected depending on the program of the individual student. Students involved in advanced academic courses can expect, by the nature of their programs, to spend more than this amount of time on homework.

Make-Up Work

Assignments missed due to truancies cannot be made up. Assignments missed due to out of school suspensions must be made up. Credit for the completed make-up work will be awarded at the discretion of the faculty and administration. Generally, a student has an equal number of days in which to make up the missed assignments as the number of days absent due to unavoidable circumstances but if an assignment has had an advance notice due date (research papers, some tests), the assignment will need to be turned in by the due date unless some unusual circumstances occur.

It is the student’s responsibility to ask his/her teachers for make-up work upon return from an absence. It is the student’s responsibility to keep informed of his/her academic progress, absences and tardies in each class.

Student Teachers

Some classes will be taught by student teachers under supervision of regularly assigned teachers. These student teachers are here to learn and gain experience in actual classroom situations.

Student teachers are very helpful to the administration, faculty, and student body. The school expects students to cooperate with student teachers and assist them as much as possible. Problems with student teachers should be reported to the student teacher’s supervising teacher.

Substitute Teachers

All teachers assigned to any classroom are certificated teachers. Substitute teachers are also certificated and they are entitled to the same respect and courtesy as regular teachers.

The school expects students to show patience and understanding with a substitute teacher. Keep in mind these teachers are asked to take over in the middle of a lesson and they may not have all the preparation they needed for this lesson. Good conduct and cooperation with substitute teachers is very important. Substitute teachers teach in several schools and are in a position to compare schools. Positive and/or negative comments about a school are often based on student behavior.

Honesty and Integrity

Cheating and dishonesty need to be addressed by an educational institution because society has high expectations for schools. Any action that may be construed as dishonest or cheating is a serious matter. Each violation will be handled on an individual basis and may result in discipline.