Grading Procedures/Honors Programs
Marking System
MARKING SYSTEM
The high school marking system is based upon numerical grades.
The high school marking system is based upon numerical grades.
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*Students will be allowed two weeks to make-up an incomplete grade. Report cards will be issued every 45 school days.
Weighted Grades
Honor courses are weighted courses using a percentage value of 5% of the earned grade for Honors courses or 8% of the earned grade for advanced placement and Project Lead the Way courses taken in grades 9-12. Weights will be added quarterly and to the mid-term and final examinations.
Enrichment Courses/Dual Enrollment
Students may choose to enroll in high school enrichment programs during the summer months and/or enroll in college course in special areas of interest.
Dual enrollment is an effort to encourage a broader range of students to experience postsecondary coursework and its increased academic rigor, while still in the supportive environment of their local high school. Students will have the opportunity to earn college credit while completing their high school requirements. Students may take Dual Enrollment classes through established agreements at Lakeland or at a local College or University.
* Families will assume all costs associated with dual enrollment courses.
Dual enrollment is an effort to encourage a broader range of students to experience postsecondary coursework and its increased academic rigor, while still in the supportive environment of their local high school. Students will have the opportunity to earn college credit while completing their high school requirements. Students may take Dual Enrollment classes through established agreements at Lakeland or at a local College or University.
* Families will assume all costs associated with dual enrollment courses.
Project Lead The Way
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) is a national non-profit organization established to help schools give students the knowledge that they need to excel in high-tech fields. PLTW’s goal is to increase the number, quality, and diversity of the engineers graduating from our educational system through providing a curriculum that gives students meaningful, hands-on experience in problem solving, teamwork, and project-based learning. The high school program specifically focuses on developing better problem solving skills by immersing students in real-world problems in Engineering, Computer Science, and Biomedical Studies. Project Lead The Way courses in grades 9-12 are weighted the same as AP courses.
Honors/AP/PLTW Philosophy
Lakeland Junior Senior High School offers courses designated as Honors/AP/PLTW that are open to academically curious and self-motivated students who desire a greater challenge, an accelerated pace and a deeper exploration of the course content than is available through regular college preparatory curriculum.
Honors/AP/PLTW courses demand that students manage difficult course material, engage in higher-level thinking and discuss ideas at length to form connections between academic disciplines. Students enrolling in these classes should expect to be held accountable for a variety of advanced readings, analysis of complex ideas, and different types of assessments. Excellent time-management, organizational, and study skills are vital to student success in our Honors/AP/PLTW program. In many cases - summer work is also part of an Honors/AP/PLTW course. Students are responsible for obtaining summer work based on your prospective schedule at the end of the year. Students changing into AP/Honors/PLTW will still be held responsible for summer work at the start of the school year.
Honors Courses: Honors courses offer much of the same curriculum as general education courses of similar title. Honors courses differ from their general education counterparts by providing students with higher rigor challenges within the design of the course and within the level of material presented. Students are expected to employ higher level thinking and explore topics in depth. Projects and coursework will require students to demonstrate broader, deeper and more complex thought processes. Honors courses are weighted by 5% for the purposes of course average and grade point average calculations.
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: AP course curricula is provided by The College Board. The College Board is company that administers PSAT, SAT, SAT Subject, and AP exams. The courses at Lakeland are preparatory for the exams. AP exams give students the opportunity to earn college credit for their high school course creating greater flexibility and cost savings in their higher education pursuits. In essence, AP courses are designed to prepare students to skip the basic level college courses in that subject and so, AP courses are basically college level courses that a student takes in high school. The expectations of AP courses exceed the advanced rigor and complexity of honors courses. Not all students are prepared, in high school, to be enrolled in a college course, so it is especially important that students and their families carefully consider their time and commitment to these courses before enrolling. AP courses are weighted by 8% for the purposes of course average and grade point average calculations. There are numerous reason why taking an AP course can be beneficial but here is something from the college admissions perspective: The Impact of AP credit and placement on the college experience
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Courses: Project Lead The Way is a non-profit organization that develops STEM curricula for schools. Lakeland currently offers three PLTW course sequences, Engineering, Biomedical Science and Computer Science. The PLTW courses empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges. Students need to be prepared to be very active and self-motivated participants within the course. Minimal teacher-led instruction is followed by extensive individual and group hands-on challenges. These courses are project/lab based and require students to work independently and actively both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition, PLTW courses and completion of the End-of-Course exam give students the opportunity to earn college credit for their high school course creating greater flexibility and cost savings in their higher education pursuits. The opportunity for college credit is based on the student’s End-of-Course exam score. Students are responsible for researching, applying for, and pursuing these college credits. Based on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) nature of these courses students who enroll should have strong skills and interest in mathematics and science. PLTW courses are weighted by 8% for the purposes of course average and grade point average calculations.
Honors/AP/PLTW courses demand that students manage difficult course material, engage in higher-level thinking and discuss ideas at length to form connections between academic disciplines. Students enrolling in these classes should expect to be held accountable for a variety of advanced readings, analysis of complex ideas, and different types of assessments. Excellent time-management, organizational, and study skills are vital to student success in our Honors/AP/PLTW program. In many cases - summer work is also part of an Honors/AP/PLTW course. Students are responsible for obtaining summer work based on your prospective schedule at the end of the year. Students changing into AP/Honors/PLTW will still be held responsible for summer work at the start of the school year.
Honors Courses: Honors courses offer much of the same curriculum as general education courses of similar title. Honors courses differ from their general education counterparts by providing students with higher rigor challenges within the design of the course and within the level of material presented. Students are expected to employ higher level thinking and explore topics in depth. Projects and coursework will require students to demonstrate broader, deeper and more complex thought processes. Honors courses are weighted by 5% for the purposes of course average and grade point average calculations.
Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: AP course curricula is provided by The College Board. The College Board is company that administers PSAT, SAT, SAT Subject, and AP exams. The courses at Lakeland are preparatory for the exams. AP exams give students the opportunity to earn college credit for their high school course creating greater flexibility and cost savings in their higher education pursuits. In essence, AP courses are designed to prepare students to skip the basic level college courses in that subject and so, AP courses are basically college level courses that a student takes in high school. The expectations of AP courses exceed the advanced rigor and complexity of honors courses. Not all students are prepared, in high school, to be enrolled in a college course, so it is especially important that students and their families carefully consider their time and commitment to these courses before enrolling. AP courses are weighted by 8% for the purposes of course average and grade point average calculations. There are numerous reason why taking an AP course can be beneficial but here is something from the college admissions perspective: The Impact of AP credit and placement on the college experience
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Courses: Project Lead The Way is a non-profit organization that develops STEM curricula for schools. Lakeland currently offers three PLTW course sequences, Engineering, Biomedical Science and Computer Science. The PLTW courses empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges. Students need to be prepared to be very active and self-motivated participants within the course. Minimal teacher-led instruction is followed by extensive individual and group hands-on challenges. These courses are project/lab based and require students to work independently and actively both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition, PLTW courses and completion of the End-of-Course exam give students the opportunity to earn college credit for their high school course creating greater flexibility and cost savings in their higher education pursuits. The opportunity for college credit is based on the student’s End-of-Course exam score. Students are responsible for researching, applying for, and pursuing these college credits. Based on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) nature of these courses students who enroll should have strong skills and interest in mathematics and science. PLTW courses are weighted by 8% for the purposes of course average and grade point average calculations.
Please read the criteria and course descriptions for each course in which you are planning to enroll. You and your parent/guardian must sign the Honors/AP/PLTW Agreement to acknowledge that you have read and understand the Honors/AP/PLTW expectations.
School Wide Expectations of an Honors/AP/PLTW Student:
Self Motivated:
Ability is a strong component of placement, but attitude is a bigger factor. If a student is capable but unwilling to do the work, they will be unsuccessful. Don’t procrastinate.
Organized:
Students must be able to manage their time. Get a school planner to write down all assignments. Make sure to communicate with your teachers when you do not understand something. You need to know where to find assignments and when they are due. Use the school website to assist with this information.
Hard Working:
Be prepared for at least 45 minutes of homework/class preparation per Honors/AP/PLTW class. Always put forth your your best effort.
Efficient:
You have a variety of things going on in high school. You need to learn to prioritize and find extra time within a day to complete assignments (i.e. library at lunch, in between activities,etc.)
If a student is absent because of a school sponsored activity, it is the responsibility of the student to turn in their homework/project before leaving for the event. The student must also check-in with the teachers before leaving campus to ensure that they are aware of any classwork/homework they may miss.
School Wide Expectations of an Honors/AP/PLTW Student:
Self Motivated:
Ability is a strong component of placement, but attitude is a bigger factor. If a student is capable but unwilling to do the work, they will be unsuccessful. Don’t procrastinate.
Organized:
Students must be able to manage their time. Get a school planner to write down all assignments. Make sure to communicate with your teachers when you do not understand something. You need to know where to find assignments and when they are due. Use the school website to assist with this information.
Hard Working:
Be prepared for at least 45 minutes of homework/class preparation per Honors/AP/PLTW class. Always put forth your your best effort.
Efficient:
You have a variety of things going on in high school. You need to learn to prioritize and find extra time within a day to complete assignments (i.e. library at lunch, in between activities,etc.)
If a student is absent because of a school sponsored activity, it is the responsibility of the student to turn in their homework/project before leaving for the event. The student must also check-in with the teachers before leaving campus to ensure that they are aware of any classwork/homework they may miss.
