High School Grade Criteria and Credit Accrual

High school students at Olive Crest Academy (OCA) have an individualized academic program designed to meet the graduation requirements of their respective school districts. The following constitute the criteria for issuance of grades and credits.

CREDIT CRITERIA

It is assumed that each pupil will earn five (5) credits per semester, per period of instruction.
Unless programmed into a course that meets less than one period per day, five days a week, it is assumed that each course which meets daily will result in five credits per semester.
When circumstances arise that result in excessive absences or non-productive work in the classroom, variable credit is an option, and may be utilized. When it is determined during a team meeting that variable credits are necessary, the following guidelines are to be utilized.
Policy: If it is deemed through a team meeting that variable credits may be an option, it is the policy of the school that the parents be notified in writing during the fifth week of the quarter. If the matter does not correct itself, a parent conference will be held at the quarter where the parents will be asked to sign a statement that they are aware that their child is in jeopardy of earning less than five units of credit for a particular course.
One unit of credit will be given toward graduation for 18 periods of successful academic performance in one subject. Successful academic performance is based on a five-point scale of:
1. Starting on Time
2. Staying on Task
3. Best Effort/85% Accuracy
4. Active Participation
5. Task Completion

Credit is given based on productive work periods.

Partial credit is based on the following:

90-100% productive periods = 5 units (90 periods)
80-90% productive periods = 4 units (80 periods)
70-80% productive periods = 3 units (70 periods)
60-70% productive periods = 2 units (60 periods)
50-60% productive periods = 1 unit (45 periods)
Less than 50% productive periods = 0 units

The periods of productive work do not have to be consecutive. It is the teacher’s responsibility to keep an accurate record of work performance on a period-by-period basis throughout the day.

Credit is given based on attendance. The maximum number of credits that a pupil can earn a semester is 5 per class. Requests to earn additional credits must be submitted to the Director in writing at least three weeks before the beginning of the course. The course may not begin until written permission is given to the teacher, pupil, and parent.

Academic grades are based on the quality of assigned work accurately completed and the general progress of completion towards established curriculum frameworks. The following grade criteria are utilized at the middle and high school level:

Grades 6 – 12

90% of work completed accurately – A grade
80% of work completed accurately – B grade
70% of work completed accurately – C grade
60% of work completed accurately – D grade
Less than 60% of work completed - F grade

An incomplete grade and credit approval will be determined on an individual basis, based on attendance performance and work completed. Incomplete grades are to be cleared within four weeks of the end of the quarter in which they occurred. Incompletes not cleared result in the reduction of credits and grades.