Wtdreq

Requirements and Policies
Graduates

The School District of Palm Beach County Pupil Progression Plan
Graduation Requirements
Pupil Progression
Grades
State University Requirements
Attendance Policy
Student Dress and Appearance Policy
Grading System
Assessment Program -Palm Beach County School Information
Grading Florida Public School

**Graduation Requirements**
**For a complete listing of requirements refer to:**
**The School District of Palm Beach County Pupil Progression Plan**

**Students must pass the**
**Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test for Graduation**
F.C.A.T. Information

**A 2.0 GPA is required for graduation.**

**Florida High School Graduation Options**
Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, all students scheduled to graduate in 2004 and thereafter may select one of the three graduation options listed below. Students are encouraged to consider their postsecondary education or career plan goals when selecting an option.
For more information, please contact your school counselor.
Courses	General Req. for High School Graduation (4 yrs.)	Standard College Prep. Program (3 yrs.)	Career Prep. Program (3 yrs.)
English	4 credits (major consentration in composition and literature	4 credits (major consentration in composition and literature	4 credits (major consentration in composition and literature
Mathematics	3 credits(one of which must be Algebra ! or its equivalent	3 credits at the Algebra I level or above from the list of courses that qualify for state university admission	3 credits(one of which must be Algebra)
Science	3 credits including 1 credit in biology and 1 credit in physical science; all must include a laboratory component.	3 credits including 1 credit in biology and 1 credit in physical science; all must include a laboratory component.	3 credits including 1 credit in biology and 1 credit in physical science; all must include a laboratory component.
Social Studies	1 credit of world history l credit of American history 1/2 credit American government 1/2 credit economics	1 credit of world history l credit of Americanhistory 1/2 credit American government 1/2 credit economics	1 credit of world history l credit of Americanhistory 1/2 credit American government 1/2 credit economics
Foreign Language	Not required for high school graduation; required for admision into state universities	2 Credit or demonstrated proficiency in same second language *	2 Credit or demonstrated proficiency in same second language*
Practical Arts/Performing Fine Arts	l credit practical arts career education or exploratory career education or 1 credit performing fine arts or 1/2 credit in practical arts and 1/2 credit in performing fine arts.
Life Management Skills	1/2 credit
Physical Education	1 credit (including 1/2 credit of Personal Fitness and 1/2 credit physical education elective.
Electives	81/2 credits	3 Academic Credits *2	3 CTE Credits
Total	24 credits	18 Credits	18 credits
State Assessment Requirements	Earn passing scores on the FCAT (Grade 10)	Earn passing scores on the FCAT (Grade 10)	Earn passing scores on the FCAT (Grade 10)
Grade Point Average (GPA)	Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale	Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale	Earn a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale

* Students meeting foreign language proficiency are required to take two additional academic courses.
* 2 Must satisfy the course distribution requirements for the state university system.

**Diplomas**
Certificate of Completion Awarded to student who meet all criteria established by the School Board and state law except for passing the required state assessment and/or the required 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Students who receive a Certificate of Completion and subsequently satisfy the standards for a diploma may exchange the certificate for a diploma. Standard Diploma Awarded to students who meet all criteria established by the School Board and state law. Diploma with Academic Honors Awarded to students who meet all criteria established by the School Board and state law for a regular diploma and who have an unrounded cumulative honors grade point average of at least 3.5 and a minimum Scholastic Assessment Test I (SAT) score of 1270 or an American College Test (ACT) composite minimum score of 28. International Baccalaureate Diploma Awarded to students who meet defined standards and conditions as established by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) College-Ready Diploma Awarded to students who successfully completes the requirements for a standard high school diploma as prescribed by FL Statute 232.246. Among the courses taken to fulfill the 24 academic credit requirement, a student must take high school courses that are adopted by the Board of Regents and recommended by the State Board of Community Colleges as college-preparatory academic courses. Takes the postsecondary education common placement test prescribed in s 240.117, or an equivalent test identified by the State Board of Education, before graduation and scores at or above the established statewide passing score in each test area. A College-Ready Diploma entitles a student to admission without additional placement testing to a public postsecondary education program that terminates in a technical certificate, an applied technology diplom, an associate in applied science degree, and associate in acience degree or an associate in arts degree if the student enters postsecondary education within two years after earning the college-ready diploma Vocational Certificate of Program Completion Awarded (in addition to a diploma) to students successfully completing a vocational job-preparatory program as outlined in the Department of Adult, Vocational and Community Community Education guideline. Special Diploma Awarded to students who complete an appropriate course of study and satisfy all applicable School Board and state requirements for exceptional education students. Special Certificate of Completion Awarded to student who meet all state and district criteria for a Special Diploma Option 1 except for demonstrating mastery of state minimum student performance standards or Sunshine State Standards for Special Diploma and/or attaining the required 2.0 cumulative grade point average. Student who receive a Certificate of Completion and subsequently satisfy the standards for a diploma may exchange this certificate for a diploma.

Pupil Progression
*The following requirements are used to determine grade classification to the next grade level.*
Promotion from grade 9 to 10	Earn 5 Credits and a GPA of 2.0. or At least 9 credits Note: For student entering the 9th grade during the 2000-2001 school year, the cumulative GPA requirement includes all credits earned except for those replaced through the distict forgiveness policy
Promotion from grade 10 to 11	1. Earn 11 Credits . 2. Attain a 2.0 cumulative GPA Note: For student entering the 9th grade during the 2000-2001 school year, the cumulative GPA requirement includes all credits earned except for those replaced through the distict forgiveness policy
Promotion from grade 11 to 12	1. Earn at least 17 Credits. 2. Attain a 2.0 cumulative GPA . At the time a student earns the appropriate number of credits and GPA he/she will be classified as a 12th grade student provided the student is eligible for a certificate of completion or graduation by the end of the grading period. 12th grade students who require less than 6 credits in order to graduate may opt to complete all needed credits through the district's dual enrollment program, if eligible. These students need not enroll in a full schedule of courses through the high school. However, if a student enrolls in a high school course offered at the high school campus, the students will be required to enroll in 6 courses (8 courses in schools on a 4 by 4 block schedule). Students intending to complete more than two post-secondary level courses during a semester may be required to submit an appeal with the respective post secondary institution.

Note: The school district will classify students to the 10th and 11th grades two times each year:

1. following the completion of the final grading period;
2. following completion of the first semester for students who have been previously retained in high school, in order to move to the grade level of their cohort class.

**Grade Scale**
A	100-90
B	89-80
C	79-70
D	69-60
F	Below 60
I	Incomplete
N	No Credit

Report Card

**Semester Grades**
A	3.6 or above
B	2.6 to 3.59
C	1.6 to 2.59
D	0.6 t0 1.59
F	Below 0.6

Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirements

GPA is defined as that numerical average represented by the point value of the letter grades earned divided by the number of courses. The point value is based on a standard scale of 4.0 with no weighting factor for levels of difficulty. The scale is based on a 4.0 (A), 3.0 (B), 2.0 (C), 1.0 (D) and 0 for any other grade.

There are three instances that require a specific grade point average:

1. Graduation requires a cumulative grade point average (G)A) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for the 24 credits required for graduation. For students who entered the ninth grade in the 2000-2001 school year and thereafter, any course not replaced according the Forgiveness Rule shall be included in the calculation of the cumulative grade point average required for graduation.
2. Promotion to grades 11 and 12 requireds a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale for all of the 24 credits required for graduation.
3. Promotion to grade 10 requires a cumulative GPA of 2.0 on all credits earned except for those replaced through the districts forgiveness policy.

**Point System**
Advanced Placement	Honors/Adv. Gifted	Regular Average
A=6.0	A=4.5	A=4
B=4.50	B=3.375	B=3
C=3.0	C=2.25	C=2.0
D=1.50	D=1.125	D=1
F=0	F=0	F=0

**State University Minimum Standards**
The State University System schools have stringent entrance requirements. Meeting these standards does not guarantee admission. Applicants selected for admission usually exceed eligibility requirements.

Graduation from a regionally accredited or state approved secondary school or the equivalent. Completion of 19 academic units in college preparatory courses to include: English 4 Credits Math (Alg.1, Geom., Alg. II) 3 Credits Nat. Science (2 with lab) 3 Credits Soc. Sci. 3 Credits Foreign Language (seq.) 2 Credits Academic Electives 4 Credits (From the areas of Math, Science, English, Social Studies or Foreign Language)

Attendance Policy
Bus

Students in grades 9-11 must take 7 classes each semester.
Some students in grade 12 must attend a minimum of 6 classes.
No student will be awarded credit in a course when the student has been in attendance for fewer than sixty eight hours in a semester, unless the student demonstrates mastery by passing the semester exam and at least one of the nine week marking periods.

Dress and Appearance Policy
2002 - 2003

Students

The primary responsibility for personal appearance of students rests with the students and parents. Personal appearance should not be disruptive to the normal educational or social process. However, when a student's appearance at school and/or a school activity becomes a disruptive factor, a safety hazard, or an issue of impropriety, the principal or designee shall take appropriate steps to correct and control these situations from the opening to the closing of the school day.

1. Students are expected to come to school with proper attention to personal cleanliness, grooming, and neatness of dress.
2. Students whose personal attire or grooming distracts the attention of other students, teachers, or administrators from their school work shall be required to make the necessary alterations to such attire or grooming before entering the classroom, or the student may be sent home by the principal to become properly prepared for school.
3. Students who fail to meet the minimum acceptable standards of cleanliness and neatness, as determined by the principal or an Assistant Principal, and as specified in these regulations, may be subject to appropriate disciplinary measures, including detention, in-school suspension, and/or out-of-school suspension.
4. Students are not allowed to wear clothing, jewelry, buttons, haircuts or other
items or markings which are offensive, suggestive or indecent, associated with gangs, encourage use of drugs, alcohol, or violence, or support discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, national orgin, marital status, race, religion, gender, or sexual orientaion.
5. Students who wear items of clothing, which, because of fit, design, color, texture, or inadequate coverage of the body, create classroom or school disorder, or which create a safety or health hazard, will be required to change the clothing to eliminate the disorder, distraction, or hazard. Special clothing may be required for health or safety reasons or for specific programs.
School dress codes shall include but not be limited to the following:

Shoes shall be worn at all times. Bedroom slippers are not acceptable.

Head coverings are not permitted on campus unless they are required for safety in specific programs.

Curlers and other hair-grooming aids are not permitted.

Undergarments shall not be worn as outer garments.

Pants shall be worn in an appropriate manner. Baggy pants that reveal undergarments are prohibited. Pants that have been purposely punctured, torn shredded, or written on are prohibited. Slacks, pants, or jeans that are extremely tight, short, or extreme in desgin are prohibited.

Tops and dresses that have straps of less than two inches wide shall not be worn. Plunging necklines that fall below ther sternal notch are not allowed. Sheer blouses, low cut tops, and sundresses are not appropriate for school wear. Tank tops, halter-tops, or blouses that expose the abdomen are prohibited.

Dresses, skirts, split skirts, or shorts shall present a modest appearance and fall no higher than mid-thigh. Girls shall avoid extreme fad dreses or skirt styles, such as mini-skirts, micro-skirts and mini-culottes. Rollup, athletic, bicycle, or other tight-fitting shorts are prohibited.

Sunglasses may not be worn indoors unless a doctor's permit is on file.

Articles of clothing or jewelry that may cause injury are not permitted.

Any article of clothing, hairstyle, or jewelry considered by the school administration to be disrumtive, inappropriate, or gang related is prohibited

7. Teachers will check for dress code violations during each period of the day. The teacher will assign students that fail to meet the dress code a dress code detention. If the appropriate dress cannot be immediately corrected, students will be sent to student services.
8. Students that miss class time for dress code violations will reveive an unexcused absence

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