Information and Reference
BLOCK SCHEDULE
The Block Schedule is based on four semester-long courses that meet each day until the end of the term. Students will take four courses in the fall and four different courses in the spring. Generally, students are scheduled for courses so that at least two academic required core courses are taken each semester. Students will register for a math, science, English, and history course each year. Students commit to completion of 18-week and/or 9-week courses respectively. If a student registers for an 18-week and/or 9-week remote course, the student commits to completion of the course virtually. If a student commits to an 18-week and/or 9-week traditional, face-to-face course, the student commits to completion of the course. Electives or additional core courses may complete the remaining blocks in the schedule each semester. Consideration will be given to the student's diploma option.
CREDIT RECOVERY
In accordance with Alabama State Department of Education guidelines, Athens High School offers students who have received failing grades in any core courses that are required for graduation an opportunity to recover the lost credit through a standards-based approach that targets specific knowledge and skill deficits instead of requiring the student to repeat the entire course. Such students must meet eligibility requirements to apply, and the credit recovery program is operated under board-approved and established guidelines. Instruction is delivered through computer-based instructional software and may also include targeted instruction supervised and managed by a teacher certified in secondary education. Students who complete their individualized remediation plans by demonstrating minimal proficiency in all required standards will receive a grade of 70 for the recovered course credit. For students who fail to complete the remediation plan by demonstrating minimal proficiency in all required standards, there will be no grade change and no recovered credit for the failed course. (It should be noted that Credit Recovery courses may not be accepted through the NCAA Clearinghouse.)
GRADING SCALE
A-100-90
B-89-80
C-79-70
D-69-60
F-59-0
GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA) SCALE
Students electing to participate in rigorous academic courses such as Honors, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement (AP) are given additional weight in the GPA calculation.
Due to increased expectations, grades earned in Honors, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement Courses are weighted for class ranking purposes only as reflected in the overall numerical (GPA) grade point average. The actual grade earned in the Honors, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement courses shall appear on both the report card and the official transcript.
The following system shall be utilized as the method of weighting numerical grades that will be reflected in the numerical GPA used for class ranking only:
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Honors/Dual Courses: GPA Points +.5 added value
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AP Courses: GPA Points + 1 added value
To accommodate those colleges and universities whose scholarship guidelines require a standard GPA (Grade Point Average) instead of a numeric GPA, each transcript will include the weighted standard GPA (i.e., a passing grade in an Honors/Dual Enrollment class receives a weight of .5, while the passing grade earned in an Advanced Placement (AP) course receives a weight of 1). The weighted standard GPA shall be used for class ranking purposes.
Secondary credits for regular, Honors, Dual Enrollment, and AP shall be awarded GPA Quality Points according to the following scale:
|
Letter Grade
|
Regular Classes
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Honors/Dual Courses
|
AP Courses
|
|
A
|
4.00
|
4.50
|
5.00
|
|
B
|
3.00
|
3.50
|
4.00
|
|
C
|
2.00
|
2.50
|
3.00
|
|
D
|
1.00
|
1.50
|
2.00
|
|
F
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
NCAA REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Not all courses offered at Athens City Schools meet the NCAA eligibility requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to review the requirements, schedule classes accordingly, and make sure the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse has the documents to certify eligibility. Courses taken through the Credit Recovery Program are not accepted by the NCAA Eligibility Center.
POWER SCHOOL PARENT PORTAL AND STUDENT ACCOUNTS
Parents will receive information regarding accessing student records online at the beginning of the school year.
REGISTRATION FORMS
A grade-level specific AHS Registration Form is provided. Students should use the appropriate grade level form to select their individual class schedule. Completion of this form DOES NOT GUARANTEE classes at any specific time, only that students will have the class or an alternate selection.
REMOTE COURSE OPPORTUNITIES
Remote course opportunities exist for students at Athens High School. Remote courses are available for students who are participating in remote learning. These courses are facilitated through online instruction. Students should be self-motivated, possess time-management skills, and be able to work independently. Courses are offered through a variety of software programs. These courses require a nine-week commitment.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
To provide the greatest probability for students to receive requested courses, students are given an opportunity to review the AHS Curriculum Catalog and complete a Student Registration Form. From there, a master schedule is constructed and teachers are hired to ensure that what was requested would be received. Knowing that not every course request can be honored due to conflicts in the student’s schedule, the above procedure provides the greatest potential for requests to be honored. Student registration cards indicate a commitment to completion of the course requested. Once a schedule is assigned students commit to course completion as defined in the student schedule. Schedule changes should be requested during the first three days of each term. The principal may approve course changes due to extenuating circumstances.
SCHEDULE CHANGES AT 9 WEEKS
For students demonstrating unsatisfactory progress is defined as a numerical grade of 60 or below, a parent can request a conference with the teacher, counselor, and administrator to discuss student progress and determine placement in a regular course of equal value.
SCHEDULE CORRECTIONS
Schedule corrections will be made and only when approved by the following criteria: duplication of courses, courses out of sequence, or Sports PE/Band, etc. to be entered due to auditions.
OUT OF DISTRICT TRANSFERS
Counselors will evaluate student transcripts for completed coursework and coursework in progress.
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Completed Coursework:
Counselors will match the course name with the courses from ALCOS and record others as indicated when the course cannot be matched. Transfer grades are recorded based on grading scales of the sending school. Credits are recorded as indicated on transfer transcript, content/subject areas are honored per previous school. Athens High School will contact the previous school for issued credits.
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Coursework In Progress:
When schools use different credit conversion scales, Athens High School will use dates of attendance/course enrollment dates to determine credit and placement. When information is unclear, Athens High School will contact the previous school for clarification
Athens High School will work to recognize the work the student has accomplished to date in an effort to prevent the student from starting the course from the beginning upon transfer.
ATHENS RENAISSANCE SCHOOL OR RENAISSANCE VIRTUAL SCHOOL TRANSFERS
Students who transfer to ARS or RenV should commit to a full year residency in these programs.