Attendance & Grading

VI.  Attendance and Grading

Each marking period, a student’s final grade may be based on classroom participation as well as the student’s performance on homework, tests, papers, projects, etc. Consistent with the importance of classroom participation, unexcused absences, tardiness or early departures will affect a student’s class participation grade for the marking period and could result in the student’s failure and/or retention in his or her current grade level.

At the high school level, students are expected to attend each of their assigned classes for at least 90% of the course. Furthermore, high school students may be denied credit for courses when they exceed, in total, the following numbers of (A) unexcused absences and/or (B) excused absences for which make-up assignments were not submitted in a timely manner:

·         7 absences in a ½ credit course

·         14 absences in a one credit course

·         21 absences in a one credit lab course

Each situation will be evaluated by the House Administrator in consultation with the subject area teacher. To ensure that parents and students are aware of the implications of this attendance requirement, the teacher or other designated staff member(s) will advise the student and contact the parent by telephone and/or mail at appropriate intervals prior to the student reaching 7, 14 or 21 absences as applicable.

Further absences could disqualify high school students from attending summer school.

The decision to deny course credit to a student will be made by the House Administrator. If dissatisfied, the student and/or parent may appeal the House Administrator’s decision to the High School Principal within five school days after the date of the decision. Any student and/or parent who wishes to obtain review of the High School Principal’s decision must do so by filing an appeal in writing to the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services within five school days after the date of the decision.

All students with an excused absence are expected, upon their return, to consult with their teachers regarding missed work. Any student who is absent, tardy or leaves early from school or a class due to illness or any other excused reason will be afforded the opportunity to make up a test or other missed work. Make-up assignments must be completed by a date specified by the student’s teacher for the class in question.