PACT Charter School

Original Creation Date: June 16, 2015
Last Approved By: PACT Charter School Board of Directors
Last Approved Date: July 11, 2023
Year Reviewed: 2023-2024

PURPOSE

This policy explains how grades will be calculated to identify academic achievement recognition and advancement/promotion.

GRADING

Weighted grades will be used for all grades 7-12 students to determine Grade Point Averages (GPAs). Weighted grades will be used to calculate Honor Roll in grades 7-12. It will also be used in grades 9-12 to calculate Cumulative Grade Point Averages, Graduation Honors, Class Ranks, and Academic Letters. Non-weighted grades will be used for the Direct Admissions Program.

A. Grading Scale

Grades for Honors, College in the Schools (CIS), and Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) courses are weighted differently in GPA calculation. 

Honors courses receive an additional 0.2 added to the earned grade value, so an "A" is worth 4.2. This weight is applied through a grade of “C+.” A “C” or lower grade in an Honors course will not carry additional weight. 

CIS and PSEO courses receive an additional 0.4 added to the earned grade value, so an “A” is worth 4.4. This weight is applied through a grade of “C+.” A grade of C receives an additional 0.2 more than the traditional class. A “C-“ or lower grade will not carry additional weight.

GRADE SCALE AND WEIGHTED GRADE VALUES TABLE

A passing grade earned in a pass/fail class is converted to a letter grade equivalent to the average of all grades earned by the student for the semester and will be reflected by a small letter grade on the student’s transcript.

B. Incomplete

A student will receive an Incomplete if they have been unable to complete assignments due to extenuating circumstances and they have made special arrangements with their teacher(s).

1. The teacher(s), parent, and Principals or Assistant Director of Education will agree to a timeline for work to be completed on a case-by-case basis. Timely receipt of incomplete grades for the first semester may impact class rank.
2. Students who fail to complete assignments will not be eligible to receive an Incomplete. They will receive a zero for those assignments, and the grade will be calculated accordingly.
3. Parents will be notified of any grades or Incompletes given at the end of the semester.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

A. Honor Roll

PACT recognizes students’ academic efforts and awards honor roll in the following manner:

1. “A” Honor Roll = 3.667-grade point average and higher (per semester)
2. “B” Honor Roll = 2.667-grade point average and higher (per semester)

Weighted grades, as detailed above, will be used to calculate GPAs.

B. Honors Program

Honors courses, when offered, may be available to all secondary students. These courses require more challenging work within the regular classroom. Students are required to complete an application process to participate. Only two courses per student at the Honors level are recommended at a time. Honors courses are calculated according to the weighted grading scale. A student must receive a grade of “C+” (77%) or higher to earn Honors credit in any given class.

Prerequisites

 To qualify for enrollment in an Honors course, a student must have all of the  following:

1. a) Earned a "B" or better in the last related course (whether standard or Honors) for which they are applying for Honors credit.
2. b) At least one teacher recommendation indicates proven self-motivation and the ability to work independently.
3. c) Honors contract signed by student and parent/guardian.

Benefits of Honors

1. Students are challenged beyond the standard curriculum.
2. Students have the opportunity to earn a higher GPA.
3. Students have an enhanced high school transcript.

General Expectations

1. Students have until the end of the first week to elect into the Honors section of the course in compliance with current PACT schedule change guidelines.  At the teacher’s discretion, Honors students may be reassigned to the standard section of the course at any time before the first progress report (typically 3-4 weeks into the semester). Any Honors student determined to have participated in academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism will automatically become ineligible for the Honors course in which the incident occurred.
2. Honors students may be assessed with different rubrics for similar activities or be assigned alternate assignments/projects.
3. Honors students will do more challenging work than the standard course expectations to earn an elevated GPA.

Logistics

1. Class lists will reflect students choosing Honors.
2. Each teacher will do the following:

• Provide an Honors syllabus (including a calendar/timeline of due dates).

Note: This may be an attachment to the standard syllabus.

• Facilitate parent/teacher communication (ensuring the return of the signed Honors contract and distribution of progress reports).
• Work with the other teachers to provide consistency between other Honors courses within the department.

Honors work will be integrated into the standard classroom through the differentiation of instruction in the following three ways:

• Content - Honors students will cover more advanced material than the students enrolled in the standard section of the course. They may be required to choose from alternative lists of assignments and book lists.
• Process - Honors students will complete activities that typically reflect higher-level thinking skills.
• Product - Honors students will complete different assignments/projects than the standard course. This may include but is not limited to, tiered assignments, project menus, and integration matrixes.

C. Academic Lettering

The MAEF (Minnesota Academic Excellence Foundation) was created by Minnesota Statute 121.612 to promote and recognize academic excellence in Minnesota schools. Programs now exist which recognize the potential of students and educators who are allowed to step beyond typical expectations, to risk, and to achieve. Academic lettering programs contribute substantially to the affirmation of individual student achievement and to the institutionalization of a culture that values academic excellence.

PACT Charter School continues to promote high academic standards in our efforts to prepare students for college and lifelong learning.

PACT Charter School Academic Lettering Goals:

• To improve student self-esteem
• To reward excellence
• To provide peer and community recognition
• To improve societal and cultural views of academic excellence
• To raise curricular expectations for all students
• To provide academic role models
• To validate the efforts of academic achievers
• To increase pride in academic achievement

The primary purpose of the Academic Recognition program at PACT Charter School is to make superior academic achievement an integral part of our students’ value system. We believe this recognition will give students a greater desire to reach for and attain academic success and increase the number of students who can perform at superior levels in our school.

Athletics and the arts have traditionally lettered in their respective events. Academic letters will be awarded for superior achievement in academic endeavors.

Academic lettering requirements

Students will be recognized and awarded an academic letter in the fall. Students earning a letter will have a cumulative weighted GPA calculated at the end of the previous school year.

The GPA standards are as follows:

• 3.90 for freshmen (presented fall of grade 10).
• 3.85 for sophomores (presented fall of grade 11).
• 3.80 for juniors (presented fall of grade 12).
• 3.75 for seniors at the end of semester 1 of their senior year* 

* = This will be denoted at commencement.

These are the district standards for academic lettering. Students need to meet the GPA requirements exactly. There is no rounding of the student's GPA.

ADVANCEMENT AND GRADE PROMOTION / RETENTION

If a student fails to make academic progress as determined by the administration, the Principal may recommend the student to retake classes or repeat a grade level.