Academic Planning
Scheduling
Students will select courses for the following school year during the month of January. As in the past, every effort will be made to accommodate all student requests for classes. It is for this reason that students and parents should take time to familiarize themselves with the Student Planning Book, and make decisions based on interests and aptitudes. There is no question that proper planning can and does benefit students in the long run.
When scheduling for courses, students are encouraged to talk with school counselors, teachers, and students that have taken courses previously in order to find out more about them. ALL STUDENTS are required to maintain a class load of eight classes. Pay close attention to graduation requirements in order to complete these requirements in a timely fashion. Twenty-eight (28) credits required for graduation.
Add/Drop Policy
Fall Semester:
1. Schedule adjustments for error changes can be by appointment during the summer before the first teacher in-service day.
3. Students will follow their regular schedule until the necessary drop/add slips have the required signatures and have been turned in.
4. There will be no drop/add period at the start of the first semester.
Spring Semester:
1. All schedule adjustments for the second semester, whether for a semester course or a year-long course, must be completed
before the end of the first semester.
2. There will be no drop/add period at the start of the second semester.
Dropping a Year-Long Elective Process
1. If a student would like to drop an all-year class before the start of the second semester, he or she must complete the appropriate
paperwork soon after winter break. The forms are available only from the school counselor.
2. The form requires comments and signatures from the student, parent/guardian, and the teacher. There also needs to be a viable
replacement class to fit into that time period.
3. Only students with a grade of F for first semester may drop a year-long class.
*The administration retains the right to meet the needs of the students based on individual circumstances
Grading Policy
1. A report card will be issued for each nine week period. The criteria for grades for the high school are as follows:
A = 93%-100% B+ = 87%-89% C+ = 77%-79% D+ = 67%-69% F = 0%-59%
A- = 90%-92% B = 83%-86% C = 73%-76% D = 63%-66%
B- = 80%-82% C- = 70%-72% D- = 60%-62%
2. In addition to the normal grading scale, a student may receive a P, a special mark to indicate that the student has tried his/her best and carries all the credit of a passing grade but is not used when calculating grade point averages.
student. If the work remaining is not made up to the satisfaction of the teacher within two weeks following the end of the semester,
the grade on the student’s transcript will be recorded as an F.
Class Rank
At the end of each semester, the school counseling office computes grade point averages and determines class rank. This information becomes important in applying for admission to colleges and searching for scholarships. Students should check periodically with the school counseling office for an updated rank.
Valedictorian & Salutatorian
To be considered for valedictorian or salutatorian, the student must have completed seven semesters at an accredited high school. The valedictorian of the class will be the student with the highest cumulative grade point average after seven semesters and the salutatorian will be the student with the second highest cumulative grade point average after seven semesters.
Tie Breaking Procedure
In the event that a tie occurs of grade point average, at the end of the seventh semester, the following procedure, in the sequence listed, will be used to determine Valedictorian status for the purpose of scholarships:
1. The eligible students must show evidence of application to a participating Wisconsin institution of higher education by the beginning
date of the eighth semester.
2. The student with the highest number of Advance Placement and honors courses will be selected.
3. The student with the highest number of credits from the core academic areas (i.e. Math, Science, English, and Social Studies).
4. The student with the highest ACT score.
5. The recommendation of the scholarship committee.
Advanced Placement Classes
The School Board has approved AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Physics 2, AP U.S. History, AP European History, AP Literature and Composition, AP Language and Composition, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics as “Advanced Placement” classes. An additional grade point will be added to each grade on the grade scale e.g. (A=5, B=4, etc.)
Study Halls
Honors Study Hall:
Expectations:
Regular Study Hall:
Advisory Study Hall:
Honor Rolls
High Honors: 3.75 – 5.00
Honors: 3.25 – 3.749
The honor roll will be compiled at the end of each quarter. A list of honor roll students will be published in The Sounder. For purposes of recognition at graduation, honors and high honor status for graduating seniors will be determined following the seventh semester. Students are encouraged to monitor progress in each class as it relates to grades. Please take time to set goals for academic improvement each quarter.
Middle School Students Taking High School Courses
By consent of the instructors and administration, middle school students may be allowed to enroll in mathematics courses offered in the high school. Middle school students shall receive credit(s) for successfully completing a high school mathematics course(s), however, per Wisconsin State Statute 118.33 students must take at least two credits of mathematics in grades 9-12 to meet the state high school graduation requirements. Any mathematics course taken by a middle school student must be taught by a certified mathematics teacher in order for the course to count as a high school credit.
Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, in compliance with recommendations from the Department of Public Instruction, grades received for high school courses taken by middle school students should be noted on the transcript and credit will be awarded, but the grade(s) will not be factored into their high school grade point average.
REF: State Statute 118.33
Report Cards
Report cards will be issued to students and parents at the end of each grading semester. The grading system will be employed unless individual teachers have explained an alternative method of grading to their students. The report will not only include grades, but also attendance and tardy information. This report will become part of the permanent record. These records may be made available to schools of higher education. MANY employers consider the attendance record of the report card to be as important as scholastic achievements.
Academic Honors
This program is designed to recognize students with outstanding scholastic performance. Students qualify for an academic letter by accumulating points for honors and high honors. Three points are awarded for high honors and two for honors each semester. Six points earns an academic letter. A student who falls off the honor roll during the accumulation of points will revert back to zero. After receiving a letter, a student may accumulate an additional six points in order to obtain a plaque or bar for the student’s letter.
Early Graduation
Students wishing to graduate ahead of their class must follow all guidelines set forth in the School District of Random Lake Early Graduation Policy. It is the policy of the Board of Education of the School District of Random Lake that any student requesting early graduation adhere to the following guidelines.
1. Prior to the end of the third quarter of the student’s Junior year, the student will request a conference with the building principal and
school counselor. The meeting will serve to evaluate credit and academic standing, as well as the appropriate procedure for
requesting early graduation.
2. After the principal and counselor have had a conversation with the student and his/her Parent/Guardian, a recommendation will be forwarded to the curriculum committee of the Board of Education.
3. The curriculum committee will make a recommendation to the full Board of Education no later than the May board meeting of the
student’s junior year.
Student Records
In accordance with the Board of Education procedures regarding student records, the following summary is submitted to inform the parent or guardian of minor pupils and adult pupils of the rights accorded them pursuant to the law. From time to time the schools within the School District of Random Lake publish or release student lists recognizing achievements or in some manner identify pupils as members of various groups. This information might include the student’s name, his/her participation in school activities, honors or awards received, rosters of athletic teams (including physical statistics), programs for musical performances, graduation exercises, and other similar activities that might be covered in a typical news article pertaining to school events. Unless the parent or adult student files a written request prior to the first Friday of the school year that such personal information as described above is not to be made public, the schools will release this information in a customary manner concerning activities of the schools in response to such requests which may be deemed to have a legitimate interest.
All School District of Random Lake schools maintain both academic records and behavioral records for each student enrolled. (1) The academic record is a record of courses taken, grades, attendance dates, and a record of the pupil’s extracurricular activities. Academic records are maintained on a permanent basis for all students attending Random Lake schools. (2) Behavioral records include psychological test results, personality evaluations, anecdotal reports, written statements relating specifically to an individual pupil’s behavior, tests relating specifically to achievement or measurement of ability. Behavioral records are generally destroyed one year after the student has graduated or last attended school. Parents or guardians as well as adult students have the right to inspect and review all official records, files, and data directly related to their child, or in the case of adult students, that relate to himself/herself.
It is important for each student to check and review his or her academic record at the time it is being officially recorded. Once the record becomes official, it cannot be altered. Parents, guardians, or adult students making requests for review of student records are asked to contact the building principal where the individual student is presently enrolled. Upon receipt of such request from parents for access to their child’s records (or adult student for his/her records), arrangements shall be made to comply with the request within 45 days.
Copies of complete Board Policy pertaining to student records are available for inspection at the office of the District Administrator.
Students will select courses for the following school year during the month of January. As in the past, every effort will be made to accommodate all student requests for classes. It is for this reason that students and parents should take time to familiarize themselves with the Student Planning Book, and make decisions based on interests and aptitudes. There is no question that proper planning can and does benefit students in the long run.
When scheduling for courses, students are encouraged to talk with school counselors, teachers, and students that have taken courses previously in order to find out more about them. ALL STUDENTS are required to maintain a class load of eight classes. Pay close attention to graduation requirements in order to complete these requirements in a timely fashion. Twenty-eight (28) credits required for graduation.
Add/Drop Policy
Fall Semester:
1. Schedule adjustments for error changes can be by appointment during the summer before the first teacher in-service day.
- Errors are open spots in the schedule
3. Students will follow their regular schedule until the necessary drop/add slips have the required signatures and have been turned in.
4. There will be no drop/add period at the start of the first semester.
Spring Semester:
1. All schedule adjustments for the second semester, whether for a semester course or a year-long course, must be completed
before the end of the first semester.
2. There will be no drop/add period at the start of the second semester.
Dropping a Year-Long Elective Process
1. If a student would like to drop an all-year class before the start of the second semester, he or she must complete the appropriate
paperwork soon after winter break. The forms are available only from the school counselor.
2. The form requires comments and signatures from the student, parent/guardian, and the teacher. There also needs to be a viable
replacement class to fit into that time period.
3. Only students with a grade of F for first semester may drop a year-long class.
*The administration retains the right to meet the needs of the students based on individual circumstances
Grading Policy
1. A report card will be issued for each nine week period. The criteria for grades for the high school are as follows:
A = 93%-100% B+ = 87%-89% C+ = 77%-79% D+ = 67%-69% F = 0%-59%
A- = 90%-92% B = 83%-86% C = 73%-76% D = 63%-66%
B- = 80%-82% C- = 70%-72% D- = 60%-62%
2. In addition to the normal grading scale, a student may receive a P, a special mark to indicate that the student has tried his/her best and carries all the credit of a passing grade but is not used when calculating grade point averages.
- P grades are given in a few classes which score students on a pass/ fail model. (example: Community Service and Work Experience)
student. If the work remaining is not made up to the satisfaction of the teacher within two weeks following the end of the semester,
the grade on the student’s transcript will be recorded as an F.
Class Rank
At the end of each semester, the school counseling office computes grade point averages and determines class rank. This information becomes important in applying for admission to colleges and searching for scholarships. Students should check periodically with the school counseling office for an updated rank.
Valedictorian & Salutatorian
To be considered for valedictorian or salutatorian, the student must have completed seven semesters at an accredited high school. The valedictorian of the class will be the student with the highest cumulative grade point average after seven semesters and the salutatorian will be the student with the second highest cumulative grade point average after seven semesters.
Tie Breaking Procedure
In the event that a tie occurs of grade point average, at the end of the seventh semester, the following procedure, in the sequence listed, will be used to determine Valedictorian status for the purpose of scholarships:
1. The eligible students must show evidence of application to a participating Wisconsin institution of higher education by the beginning
date of the eighth semester.
2. The student with the highest number of Advance Placement and honors courses will be selected.
3. The student with the highest number of credits from the core academic areas (i.e. Math, Science, English, and Social Studies).
4. The student with the highest ACT score.
5. The recommendation of the scholarship committee.
Advanced Placement Classes
The School Board has approved AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Physics 2, AP U.S. History, AP European History, AP Literature and Composition, AP Language and Composition, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC and AP Statistics as “Advanced Placement” classes. An additional grade point will be added to each grade on the grade scale e.g. (A=5, B=4, etc.)
Study Halls
Honors Study Hall:
- GPA Requirement: Previous quarter GPA 3.75 or higher (beginning 2nd quarter of the 2017-2018 school year)
- Assignment Completion: No more than three missing assignments in one particular class
- Grade Requirement: No quarter class grades will not be lower than a D+
Expectations:
- Students will be on time and work quietly
- Talking quietly with other students will be permitted
- Students may watch TV at a low, reasonable level
- Students may listen to music on their personal devices
- Students may get passes from advisory study hall teachers to work in their rooms if they have questions
Regular Study Hall:
- GPA Requirement: Previous quarter GPA between 3.749 – 2.0 (beginning 2nd quarter of the 2017-2018 school year)
- Assignment Completion: No more than three missing assignments in one particular class
- Grade Requirement: Class grades will not be lower than a D+
- Students will be on time and work quietly individually
- Listening to music on individual student devices will be prohibited
- Students may work quietly in groups with teacher permission
- Students may get passes from advisory study hall teachers to work in their rooms if they have questions
Advisory Study Hall:
- Location: Individual teacher rooms
- GPA Requirement: Previous quarter GPA 1.999 and below
- Assignment Completion: Three or more missing assignments in a single class
- Grade Requirement: One class of more of grades lower than a D+
- Students will be on time and work quietly
- Students will receive individualized attention on class work or concepts that are not being understood or are incomplete
- Listening to music on individual student devices will be prohibited
- Students may receive help from advisory study hall teachers after communication has taken place between their assigned teacher and other course teachers
- Students will be prioritized (if numbers allow) in the following order for advisory study hall placement: Math/ Language Arts/ Science/ Social Studies
Honor Rolls
High Honors: 3.75 – 5.00
Honors: 3.25 – 3.749
The honor roll will be compiled at the end of each quarter. A list of honor roll students will be published in The Sounder. For purposes of recognition at graduation, honors and high honor status for graduating seniors will be determined following the seventh semester. Students are encouraged to monitor progress in each class as it relates to grades. Please take time to set goals for academic improvement each quarter.
Middle School Students Taking High School Courses
By consent of the instructors and administration, middle school students may be allowed to enroll in mathematics courses offered in the high school. Middle school students shall receive credit(s) for successfully completing a high school mathematics course(s), however, per Wisconsin State Statute 118.33 students must take at least two credits of mathematics in grades 9-12 to meet the state high school graduation requirements. Any mathematics course taken by a middle school student must be taught by a certified mathematics teacher in order for the course to count as a high school credit.
Beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, in compliance with recommendations from the Department of Public Instruction, grades received for high school courses taken by middle school students should be noted on the transcript and credit will be awarded, but the grade(s) will not be factored into their high school grade point average.
REF: State Statute 118.33
Report Cards
Report cards will be issued to students and parents at the end of each grading semester. The grading system will be employed unless individual teachers have explained an alternative method of grading to their students. The report will not only include grades, but also attendance and tardy information. This report will become part of the permanent record. These records may be made available to schools of higher education. MANY employers consider the attendance record of the report card to be as important as scholastic achievements.
Academic Honors
This program is designed to recognize students with outstanding scholastic performance. Students qualify for an academic letter by accumulating points for honors and high honors. Three points are awarded for high honors and two for honors each semester. Six points earns an academic letter. A student who falls off the honor roll during the accumulation of points will revert back to zero. After receiving a letter, a student may accumulate an additional six points in order to obtain a plaque or bar for the student’s letter.
Early Graduation
Students wishing to graduate ahead of their class must follow all guidelines set forth in the School District of Random Lake Early Graduation Policy. It is the policy of the Board of Education of the School District of Random Lake that any student requesting early graduation adhere to the following guidelines.
1. Prior to the end of the third quarter of the student’s Junior year, the student will request a conference with the building principal and
school counselor. The meeting will serve to evaluate credit and academic standing, as well as the appropriate procedure for
requesting early graduation.
2. After the principal and counselor have had a conversation with the student and his/her Parent/Guardian, a recommendation will be forwarded to the curriculum committee of the Board of Education.
3. The curriculum committee will make a recommendation to the full Board of Education no later than the May board meeting of the
student’s junior year.
Student Records
In accordance with the Board of Education procedures regarding student records, the following summary is submitted to inform the parent or guardian of minor pupils and adult pupils of the rights accorded them pursuant to the law. From time to time the schools within the School District of Random Lake publish or release student lists recognizing achievements or in some manner identify pupils as members of various groups. This information might include the student’s name, his/her participation in school activities, honors or awards received, rosters of athletic teams (including physical statistics), programs for musical performances, graduation exercises, and other similar activities that might be covered in a typical news article pertaining to school events. Unless the parent or adult student files a written request prior to the first Friday of the school year that such personal information as described above is not to be made public, the schools will release this information in a customary manner concerning activities of the schools in response to such requests which may be deemed to have a legitimate interest.
All School District of Random Lake schools maintain both academic records and behavioral records for each student enrolled. (1) The academic record is a record of courses taken, grades, attendance dates, and a record of the pupil’s extracurricular activities. Academic records are maintained on a permanent basis for all students attending Random Lake schools. (2) Behavioral records include psychological test results, personality evaluations, anecdotal reports, written statements relating specifically to an individual pupil’s behavior, tests relating specifically to achievement or measurement of ability. Behavioral records are generally destroyed one year after the student has graduated or last attended school. Parents or guardians as well as adult students have the right to inspect and review all official records, files, and data directly related to their child, or in the case of adult students, that relate to himself/herself.
It is important for each student to check and review his or her academic record at the time it is being officially recorded. Once the record becomes official, it cannot be altered. Parents, guardians, or adult students making requests for review of student records are asked to contact the building principal where the individual student is presently enrolled. Upon receipt of such request from parents for access to their child’s records (or adult student for his/her records), arrangements shall be made to comply with the request within 45 days.
Copies of complete Board Policy pertaining to student records are available for inspection at the office of the District Administrator.