ACADEMIC PLANNER
AND
COURSE DESCRIPTION BOOK
2015-2016
East Porter County Mission Statement
It is the mission of the East Porter County School Corporation to educate each child in preparation for the future.
THIS PLANNER AND COURSE DESCRIPTION BOOK SHOULD ANSWER MOST QUESTIONS YOU WILL HAVE REGARDING
SCHEDULING PROCESSES, CURRICULAR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, AND FUTURE CAREER PLANNING.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Brandie Muha
766-2214 ext 4331
GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING STAFF EAST PORTER COUNTY SCHOOL CORPORATION
Celeste Robinson: Kouts School
766-2231 ext 4312
Kim Lambka: Morgan Township
462-5883 ext 3306
Jennifer Symer: Washington Township
464-3598 ext 5367
The guidance department provides a variety of services to help the students to be prepared for their goals after high school.
Among the services provided are:
Program Planning: The guidance department tries to help each student appraise his/her abilities and then plan a high school program that will help his/her vocational and educational choices.
Post-High School Education: There is extensive information (entrance requirements, addresses, costs, scholarships) on four-year colleges, trade schools, technical schools, business schools, correspondence and home study courses available.
Career Awareness: The guidance office has a number of books and resources available about careers. Also, available are several computer-based occupational searches. These systems match potential interests with potential careers.
Personal/Social: The door is always open to students with any personal concerns. Referrals are recommended when deemed necessary.
Academic Monitoring: Students are monitored as to how they are doing academically. Progress reports, assignment sheets, study skills, etc., are provided. Students can also obtain their GPA, class rank, credits, test scores, etc.
East Porter County
Graduation Requirements - Class of 2016 and beyond
English - 8 Credits / English - 8 Credits / English - 8 Credits
Math - 6 Credits earned in grades 9-
12:
2 Credits in Algebra 1
2 Credits in Geometry
2 Credits in Algebra 2
*Students must be enrolled in a math
course or a quantitative reasoning
course each year of high school / Math - 8 Credits, 6 of which must be
earned in grades 9-12:
2 Credits in Algebra 1
2 Credits in Geometry
2 Credits in Algebra 2
2 Credits in Probability/Statistics,
Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus
*Students must be enrolled in a math course
or a quantitative reasoning course each year
of high school / Math — 6 Credits earned in grades 9-12:
2 Credits in Algebra 1
2 Credits in Geometry
2 Credits in Algebra 2
*Students must be enrolled in a math course or a
quantitative reasoning course each year of high school
Science - 6 Credits:
2 Credits in Biology
2 Credits in Chemistry, Physics, or
Integrated Chemistry/Physics (ICP)
2 Additional credits from above or any
Core 40 science i.e. E/S Science,
Chemistry 2, or Biology 2 / Science - 6 Credits:
2 Credits in Biology
2 Credits in Chemistry, Physics, or
Integrated Chemistry/Physics (ICP)
2 Additional credits from above or any Core
40 science i.e. E/S Science, Chemistry 2, or
Biology 2 / Science — 6 Credits:
2 Credits in Biology
2 Credits in Chemistry, Physics, or Integrated
Chemistry/Physics (ICP)
2 Additional credits from above or any Core 40 science
Social Studies - 6 Credits:
2 Credits in US History
1 Credit in US Government
1 Credit in Economics
2 Credits in Geography & History of
the World, World History, or AP World
History / Social Studies - 6 Credits:
2 Credits in US History
1 Credit in US Government
1 Credit in Economics
2 Credits in Geography & History of the
World, World History, or AP World History / Social Studies — 6 Credits:
2 Credits in US History
1 Credit in US Government
1 Credit in Economics
2 Credits in Geography & History of the World, World
History, or AP World History
Physical Education - 2 Credits / Physical Education - 2 Credits / Physical Education — 2 Credits
Health - 1 Credit / Health - 1 Credit / Health — 1 Credit
World Languages - 6 or 8 Credits:
6 Credits in one language or
8 Credits in two different languages / College/Career Pathway — 6 or more related credits
Fine Arts - 2 Credits
Directed Electives - 5 Credits:
World Languages or
Fine Arts or
Career/Technical
Other- 1 credit: Consumer Economics / Other - Must have one of the following:
●2 AP courses (4 credits) and 2
corresponding AP exams
●2 DC courses with 6 college
credits
●1 AP course and exam and 1
DC course for 3 college credits
●1750 SAT, including writing,
with no less than 530 in each
section
●26 ACT composite, withwriting
•
Must have Consumer Economics: 1 credit / Other — Must have ONE of the following:
●Any one of the Core 40 with Academic Honors options
●Score at or above the following levels on WorkKeys:
Reading - level 6, Applied Math - level 6, Locating
Info - level 5 or earning a minimum score on the
Accuplacer or Compass test
●Complete 6 college credit courses in a technical area
AND one of the following:
●Earn a state-approved, industry-recognized
certification or credential, or
●Pathway dual credits from the approved dual credit list resulting in 6 transcripted college credits.
Must have Consumer Economics: 1 credit
Grade/GPA Requirements:
"C" or above in all courses that count
toward the Core 40 with Honors diploma
and an overall "B" average. / Grade/GPA Requirements:
"C" or above in all courses that count toward the Core 40
with Technical Honors Diploma and an overall "B"
average.
5 Electives - For a total of 40 credits / 8 Electives - For a total of 47 credits / 10 Electives —For a total of 47 credits
SAMPLE FOUR-YEAR PLAN for CORE 40 Diploma
The following plan is suggested to ensure that all required courses are completed:
Grade Nine / Grade Ten / Grade Eleven / Grade TwelveEnglish 9 / English 10 / English 11 / English 12
Algebra I / Geometry / Algebra II / Gov’t/Econ
Biology I / Int. Chem./Physics or Chem. I / U.S. History / Directed Elective
World History or Geography / Health or Speech / Science / Directed Elective
PE / Directed Elective / Consumer Econ/Speech / Elective
Directed Elective / Elective / Directed Elective / Elective
Elective / Elective / Elective / Elective
SAMPLE FOUR-YEAR PLAN for Academic Honors Diploma
The following plan is suggested to ensure that all required courses are completed:
Grade Nine / Grade Ten / Grade Eleven / Grade TwelveEnglish 9 / English 10 / English 11 / English 12
Algebra I / Geometry / Algebra II / Gov’t/Econ
Biology I / Int. Chem./Physics or Chem. I / U.S. History / Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning
World History or Geography / Health or Speech / Science / Elective
Physical Education / World Language / Consumer Econ//Speech / Elective
World Language / Elective / World Language / Elective
Fine Arts / Elective / Elective / Elective
SAMPLE FOUR-YEAR PLAN for Technical Honors Diploma (Beginning w/Class of 2016)
The following plan is suggested to ensure that all required courses are completed:
Grade Nine / Grade Ten / Grade Eleven / Grade TwelveEnglish 9 / English 10 / English 11 / English 12
Algebra I / Geometry / Algebra II / Gov’t/Econ
Biology I / Int. Chem./Physics or Chem I / U.S. History / Science
World History or Geography / Health or Speech / Consumer Econ/Speech / Elective
Physical Education / Elective / Elective / Vocational
Elective / Elective / Elective / Vocational
Elective / Elective / Elective / Vocational
GRADING POLICY
Semester average grades are determined using the following procedure:
First nine weeks = 40% of the final semester grade
Second nine weeks = 40% of the final semester grade
Final exam = 20% of the final semester grade
Grades within each of these categories are determined by percentages for the specific category.
If a nine-week or final exam grade falls within one of the ranges listed below, the letter grade will correspond with that percentage.
Grade / Point ValueA+ / 99-100
A / 93-98
A- / 90-92
B+ / 88-89
B / 83-87
B- / 80-82
C+ / 78-79
C / 73-77
C- / 70-72
D+ / 68-69
D / 63-67
D- / 60-62
F / 59 and below
When calculating a student’s grade at the end of a marking period, percents ending with 0.5 or higher are to be rounded to the next higher percent. For example, 87.5% should be rounded to 88%.
Each of the final percentages will be averaged together according to the 40/40/20 formula to determine the percentage for the semester grade. The percentage will be used to determine the letter grade.
Below are the key points as to how calculation works.
- Quarter (Term) grades are rounded to nearest whole number.
- Semester Exam grades are rounded to nearest whole number.
- Final semester grades are calculated from the rounded quarterly grades and the rounded semester exam grade, however the final semester grade is not rounded.
Example student has the following grades:
Q1 - 94
Q2 - 85
Semester Exam - 87.5 (rounded up to 88)
To calculate final grades we use the following which is based on the 40-40-20 calculation method - ((94*2) + (85*2) + (88) / (5)) = 89.2 which is what Skyward lists as the final grade and then applies our grading scale to assign a letter grade of 'B+'
Semester average grades, not nine-week grades, are used to determine class rank at the high school level.
Final semester grades are given point values. The grading system as the following point values for grades:
A+ / 4.0 / B+ / 3.33 / C+ / 2.33 / D+ / 1.33 / F / 0A / 4.0 / B / 3.0 / C / 2.0 / D / 1.0
A- / 3.67 / B- / 2.67 / C- / 1.67 / D- / .67
QUANTITATIVE REASONING COURSES
From the IDOE Web Page
In November 2011, the State Board of Education passed new graduation requirements that affected
incoming freshman in 2012-13.
●For the Core 40, Academic Honors (AHD), and Technical Honors (THD) diplomas, students must
take a mathematics course or a quantitative reasoning course each year they are enrolled in high
school.
●For the General Diploma, students must earn two credits in a mathematics course or a quantitative reasoning course during their junior or senior year.
●Go to to view Indiana’s diploma requirements.
A quantitative reasoning course is a high school course that "advances a student's ability to apply
mathematics in real world situations and contexts" and that "deepens a student's understanding of high
school mathematics standards." The Indiana Department of Education will provide an annual review to
determine the high school courses that meet these criteria.
DUAL CREDIT COURSES
Not all Dual Credit classes are offered each year due to staffing requirements. In Indiana, dual credit courses are those which high school students may take to earn both high school and college credits. Dual credit courses are taught by regular high school faculty or by adjunct college faculty either at the high school, or at the college or university. Dual credit is one of several options in which a high school student may fulfill Core 40 with Academic or Technical Honors. Students wishing to fulfill Core 40 with Academic or Technical Honors diploma requirements are encouraged to choose dual credit courses from the Core Transfer Library (CTL). If there is a charge, the student pays directly to the university for the dual credit classes. Indiana colleges and universities provide many opportunities for students to earn college credit while still attending high school. The university may have additional requirements for entry into Dual Credit Courses. For further information, please visit the following website:
WEIGHTED CLASSES
The rigor of the class determines whether Advanced Placement (AP) classes and dual-credit classes will be weighted using the 5.0 scale. Therefore, some AP classes or dual-credit classes may not qualify for the weighted scale. AP online classes will not qualify for the weighted scale. Vocational Dual Credit courses will not qualify for the weighted scale. No other classes aside from AP and dual-credit classes will qualify for the weighted scale. Students enrolled in AP classes are required to take the corresponding AP exam. The exam may be paid for by the Indiana Department of Education or by the student’s parents. The percentages within the weighted classes are determined according to the grading policy (40/40/20) and .99 – 100 = A+. Final grades in weighted classes are determined using a 5.0 scale instead of a 4.0 scale. Any course grade D+ or below will not be weighted.
Point Values for Weighted Classes
A+ / 5.0 / B+ / 4.33 / C+ / 3.33 / D+ / 1.33 / F / 0A / 5.0 / B / 4.0 / C / 3.0 / D / 1.0
A- / 4.67 / B- / 3.67 / C- / 2.67 / D- / .67
CREDIT RECOVERY
A student earning an F, D-, D, or D+ may retake the class one time. The grade originally earned from the class will remain on the student’s transcript, but the grade will not count in the student’s GPA. The grade earned from the second attempt at the class will appear on the student’s transcript and will count in the student’s GPA. Credit cannot be awarded for both the first and second attempts at the same class.
ON-LINE CLASSES
High school students are able to take on-line classes under certain circumstances.
Circumstances for Enrollment -
High school students will be permitted to enroll in online classes in the following circumstances:
1. The class is not offered at any school in East Porter County;
2. There is a conflict in the student’s schedule that cannot be resolved by rearranging the student’s schedule and the conflict would prevent the student from graduating at the expected time or from qualifying for an Academic Honors Diploma or a Technical Honors Diploma;
3. Due to the student’s health, the student cannot regularly attend school;
4. To graduate before completing eight semesters of high school;
5. To meet Indiana graduation requirements when a student transfers from another state.
A student may not enroll in an online class to avoid a particular teacher.
Application for Enrollment –
Students will be required to complete an enrollment application, which is to be signed by the student’s parent(s), guidance counselor, and principal. The completed application must be submitted to the guidance counselor by May 1 for summer school and the upcoming school year.
Enrollment requires the approval of the guidance counselor and principal.
Length of the Student’s Day –
The student’s school day shall not be shortened in compensation for enrolling in an online class. The student will be expected to attend school during regular school hours, unless a shortened day is medically necessary as substantiated by a physician’s written statement.
Setting –
The student may access the online class at his or her school if the student has an open period during the day. The student may also access the class outside of the school day from home or any other location where Internet access is available.
Finals –
All students taking an on-line class will be required to take the final at school under the supervision of school personnel. Additionally, the student must pass the final to pass the class and to earn credit for the class regardless of other grades earned during the term of the class.
Equipment and Materials –
If the student’s schedule permits him or her to access the class during the school day, the student may use a computer at school. The school corporation will not provide computer equipment in the student’s home or provide an Internet connection or pay for an Internet connection in the student’s home. The cost for materials (i.e., textbooks, reference books, etc.) will be charged on the textbook rental form.
Approved Providers –
1. East Porter County School Corporation A+ Academy
2. Indiana University High School
3. Indiana Virtual Academy
4. Ball State Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities
5. Valparaiso High School After-School Options Program
Allowable Number of Credits –
High school students will be permitted to earn twenty-percent of the number of credits required for graduation and diploma requirements. For a Core 40 Diploma, a student may earn eight (8) credits online. For an Academic Honors Diploma or a Technical Honors Diploma, a student may earn ten (10) credits online. Students transferring in with credits from an accredited online high school are an exemption to credit limits.
Grade Point Average –
Letter grades from online classes will be used in the calculation of grade point average, class rank, or awards such as valedictorian or salutatorian.
Cost of Classes –
There will be no cost to students enrolling in the East Porter County School Corporation A+ Academy or in summer classes through the Indiana Virtual Academy. There will be a $45 fee for each class, which will be refunded if the student completes the class with at least a grade of C.
If the class is required for graduation or to qualify for an Academic Honors Diploma or Technical Honors Diploma, and the class or another class that would satisfy graduation or diploma requirements is not available in the School Corporation, the School Corporation will pay for the class. If the School Corporation pays for the class, the School Corporation will choose the provider of the class. In all other cases, the student’s parent will pay for the class(es).
4000
GRADUATION
In order to graduate from high school, a student shall meet all of the academic requirements of the State Board of Education and the East Porter County School Board.
A student must attend at least six (6) semesters in high school, but will be permitted to graduate in fewer than eight (8) semesters if the student:
1. has a grade point average of at least 3.0 at the time of graduation,
2. has earned at least forty-two (42) credits,
3. is recommended for early graduation by the high school principal and guidance counselor; and,
4. meets the eligibility requirements for the Mitch Daniels Early Graduation Scholarship (IC 21-12-10), with the exception of the number of credit hours (refer to item #2 above).
The student must make application for early graduation during the student's fourth semester of high school.
The student and parent must meet with the principal and guidance counselor before the end of the student's third semester in high school to discuss the necessity for early graduation and the potential adverse effects.
Students graduating after six (6) semesters may only participate in commencement exercises occurring in the year the student graduates.
Students graduating after seven (7) semesters may elect to either receive the diploma at the end of the seventh semester and not participate in commencement exercises or receive the diploma and participate in commencement exercises. No student shall be permitted to be in commencement exercises unless such student has completed all
academic requirements of the State Board of Education and has also met in full such regulations or requirements as have been adopted by the East Porter County School Board. Foreign exchange students may participate in commencement and receive an honorary diploma or a certificate of attendance if they have successfully completed a year of senior level work. This policy shall be effective with the commencement of the 2012-2013 school year.