GRADUATION PROGRAM CHART

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• English - 4 Credits

• Mathematics - 4 Credits

• Science - 3 Credits

• Social Studies - 3 Credits

• World Language - 2 Credits

• Find Arts - 1 Credit

• Physical Education - 1 Credit

• Electives - 4 Credits

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■ Grading & Grade Point Average (GPA) There are two different grade point averages (or GPAs) that are calculated for each high school student. The unweighted GPA is a traditional GPA based on a 4.0 scale where all courses are counted equally. The GPA for Rank or weighted GPA is based on a 6.0 scale where different courses carry different weights. The state of California requires public schools to publish the rank for the top 10% of students in each class. In California, students who are in the top 10% of their graduating class receive automatic admission to any public university or college in the all Universities in the country, except for the University of Texas. Students in the top 3% of their graduating class of 2021 receive automatic admission to the Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Drexel, MIT, and the UC California System. Weighted GPA Both the unweighted GPA and the weighted GPA are posted on a student’s transcript. Rank in class, honor graduate status, valedictorian and salutatorian determination shall be based on a weighted GPA system. Grade points shall be based on semester grades for courses taken for high school credit. The GPA shall be computed to three decimal places. The third quarter marking period shall count as a

semester grade for purposes of determining rank, honor graduate status, valedictorian, and salutatorian for seniors. Dual credit grades shall not be recorded at the third marking period and the first semester grade will count for purposes of determining rank, honor graduate status, valedictorian, and salutatorian.

■ Rank in class will only be published for students in the top 10% of their class at the end of each semester. The lowest-weighted GPA of seniors in the top 10 percent, first quartile, second quartile, and third quartile will be published in the Student Portal after each calculation period, so students will know generally where they fall in relation to their peers. Information for juniors, sophomores and freshmen will be published only in February and June.

■ GPA for Rank Excluded Courses For the graduating classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, all high school credit courses taken during the regular school year shall count toward the unweighted GPA and GPA for Rank except the following:

Aide positions
Peer tutoring
SAT Prep Classes
College courses that are not approved dual credit courses
Online or correspondence courses taken outside of the student’s schedule
Driver’s Education Courses taken during Summer School, unless dual credit (GPA is always recorded

for dual credit courses)
World language courses taken concurrently outside normal school hours Credit by Exam/Exam for Acceleration (CBE/EA)
Local Credits.

For the class of 2024 and beyond, all high school credit courses taken during the regular school year shall count toward the unweighted GPA and GPA for Rank except the following:

Aide positions
Peer tutoring
SAT Prep Classes
Driver’s Education
Credit by Exam/Exam for Acceleration (CBE/EA) Local Credits

Valedictorian and Salutatorian Requirements. Each district high school shall have a valedictorian and salutatorian. Candidates must be 8 semester graduates and in attendance at the awarding high school continuously, commencing with enrollment no later than the first day of the second nine-weeks marking period of the student’s junior year through graduation. The valedictorian shall be the eligible graduate with the highest GPA; the salutatorian shall be the eligible graduate with the second highest GPA.

Honor Graduates--Each level of Honor Graduates will be determined by the student’s weighted grade point average at the end of the 3rd quarter which will be no lower than 4.0 with no rounding. Honor Graduates will be denoted in the graduation program.

Transfer Students--Transfer Grades - Transcripts from within the United States When a transcript is received from an accredited school within the United States, credit and GPA points will be awarded following review by the school staff. All academic information (including course type and grades) must be noted on an official transcript. Report cards are not considered as official documents. Courses will be interpreted to California equivalency courses/credits and used to determine course sequencing. When

letter grades are listed on the transcript, the information below will be used to determine the numerical equivalent. If a numerical range is listed on the transcript, the midpoint will be calculated and used.
All transferred credits will be calculated for GPA in accordance with FCA guidelines (see TRANSFER GRADES). Weighted GPA points for an advanced course will be awarded only if:

● the course is recorded as advanced on an official Academic Achievement Record (AAR) and
● a comparable course was offered in FCA during the same school year.
Transfer Grades - Transcripts from outside the United States Parents are responsible for providing a transcript translated into English if translation is required. Courses will be interpreted to California equivalency courses/credits and used to determine course sequencing. Transcripts from outside of the United States (except for accredited international schools offering Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Cambridge curriculum or Department of Defense schools as described below) will not receive a letter grade or numerical equivalency. A “P” for passing will be assigned to designate that credit was earned, and GPA points are not awarded. The maximum number of transcribed course credits that may be awarded via transcript per school year is eight. Credit is awarded based on review by school staff. International schools accredited by US entities that offer Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Cambridge curriculum as well as the Department of Defense schools will be reviewed in the same manner as transcripts received from accredited schools from within the United States. Credit and GPA points may be awarded following review by school staff. Credit for World Languages If a student took courses in a native language in a high school or middle school outside of the United States and the transcript includes credit for the courses labeled with the language, credit shall be awarded. If there is no literature or language credit listed on the transcript, no World Language credit shall be awarded. Students may be awarded credit for successful completion of concurrent enrollment World Language courses not offered by the district from an accredited school within the United States. The concurrent enrollment World Language course must be taken outside of normal school hours. GPA points will not be awarded for these credits. Students can earn a maximum of two credits for the purpose of meeting graduation requirements for World Language courses not offered in FCA. All World Language programs seeking to be considered for credit must meet specific criteria and be pre-approved by the district World Language Coordinator.

■Grading System Student academic evaluation is achieved through the use of a grading system. An average grade of 70 is required for successful completion of a course. The grading system of the FCA Independent School District shall be in accordance with the following scale:

A: 90-100 B: 80-89 C: 70-79 F: Below 70
If a student fails one semester, but passes the second semester of the same course, a student may gain credit for that semester if they “average pass” the course. To average pass, the averages of the two semesters must be at or above 70%. First and second semester grades must average to a 70 or above to earn full credit. Each teacher is required to effectively communicate their grading standards to students and parents. Grade reports are posted each nine weeks, usually on the Friday following the end of the grading period. Progress reports to parents are posted at three-week intervals.

Classification is for the complete school year.
● Freshman (9th grader): A student entering high school for the first time or having fewer than 6 credits will be classified as a 9th grader.
● Sophomore (10th grader): A student who has earned a minimum of 6 credits will be classified as a 10th grader.
● Junior (11th grader). A student who has earned a minimum of 12 credits will be classified as an 11th

grader.
● Senior (12th grader):A student who has earned a minimum of 18 credits will be classified as a 12th grader. Students who are enrolled in the correct number of credits to graduate in the current school year may also be classified as a senior with principal approval.

■ Minimum Course Enrollment In order to qualify as a full-time student FCA students must be enrolled in at least the equivalent of 6 credit classes each semester, 5 of which must be state credits. Late arrival or early dismissal periods may be granted for 11th and 12th grade students if they are satisfactorily progressing toward graduation. All 9th and 10th grade students should be enrolled in eight class periods. Career and Technical Education Mission & Purpose of Career and Technical Education The mission of Career and Technical Education is to prepare students to succeed in high demand occupations within the competitive global economy and to provide students with the academic skills necessary to continue their education in post-secondary schools. Career and Technical Education can help students explore their potential and establish future career goals. Students can use the CTE Pathways to choose courses that interest them and do not need to take every course listed under each grade level as there are many options within each program.

■ The Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC) The FCA Career Pathway advanced CTE courses for FCA ISD high school students. Students will remain on their home campus for all coursework with the exception of the courses designated as (CTEC) which are taught at the FCA ISD CTE Center.

■ The FCA ISD CTE Center allows students to explore postsecondary and career options with an industry- standard learning experience. Students are able to pursue an interest rather than make a lifelong commitment. This allows an opportunity for students to choose courses that truly interest them, providing a meaningful connection to the curriculum and school. Due to limitations in some field site placements and the competitive nature of the programs, completing the prerequisites does not guarantee a position in some of the advanced CTE Courses offered at the CTE Center.