The Heights School

Graduation Requirements

• Minimum Credits Required: 28

• English 4 credits

• Mathematics 4 credits

• History 4 credits

• Science 3 credits

(Includes 1 year of biology and 1 year of chemistry)

• Foreign Language 5 credits

(2 credits of Latin and 2 credits of either Greek or Spanish plus a third credit in at least one language)

• Religion or Ethics 4 credits

(Religion is required for Catholic students; non-Catholic students may choose either religion or ethics)

• Electives 4 credits

• Athletics 4 years

(Students are required to participate in at least one varsity, junior varsity, or intramural sport per year.)

Students who successfully complete Algebra II H, Latin II, or Spanish II (usually in their freshman year) will automatically earn credit for Algebra I, Latin I, or Spanish I, respectively. These credits will not impact a student’s grade point average (GPA).

With the approval of the Head of the Upper School, a student may take a course at another institution for credit. The Heights can note on the transcript that a course has been taken elsewhere, and that credit has been received. This course, however, will not be factored into the student’s grade point average for The Heights School.

The Head of the Upper School can, with good reason, modify the above requirements for particular situations. Any student who successfully completes four years of an approved academic program can assume he has met all necessary graduation requirements unless he specifically is informed otherwise.

Course Weightings and GPAs

While grades for each quarter, the mid-year exam, and the final exam show up on a student’s report card, only the final course grade or current average is shown on the transcript that is sent to colleges. A student’s final grade in a course is determined by averaging the two semester grades with each semester grade being the weighted average of the two quarters counting 37.5% each and the exam (either mid-year or final) counting 25.0%.

GPAs are given separately for each academic year and a cumulative GPA is given at the bottom of the transcript. In calculating these GPAs a standard 4.0 scale is followed:

A+ 4.33 B+ 3.33 C+ 2.33 D+ 1.33 F 0.00

A 4.00 B 3.00 C 2.00 D 1.00

A- 3.67 B- 2.67 C- 1.67 D- 0.67

Some courses are weighted and contribute to higher academic year and cumulative GPAs:

Honors courses are weighted +0.5 Two AP courses are weighted +0.5

Algebra II Honors 1. AP Statistics
Geometry Honors 2. AP Economics
Pre-Calculus Honors
Latin Language Honors
Spanish III Honors

Other AP classes, Calculus III, Latin Literature Honors, Latin Seminar: Lucretius, and Greek classes are weighted +1.0

Calculus AB AP, Calculus BC AP, Calculus III: Differential Equations
Latin Literature Honors, AP Latin: Vergil, Latin Seminar: Lucretius
Greek I, II, III, and IV
Spanish IV Language AP, Spanish V Literature AP
Biology AP, Chemistry AP, Physics AP
US History AP, European History AP, Art History AP, US Government AP
Computers II AP
English AP

Passing Grades and Advancement in Cumulative Honors Courses

The lowest passing grade at The Heights School is a C-. Students who score below a C- in any required or sequential course must retake the course for credit, either over the summer or during the next school year. A final grade of B- or better is required for a student to advance into the next honors course in math, Latin, or Spanish. Students whose grades are below B- may advance if they earn a B- or better in an approved summer school program.




The Heights Approach Lower School Middle School Upper School Overview Curriculum Graduation Requirements English Mathematics Classics History Religion Science Spanish Art Computers Music Crescite Week Summer Reading Faculty Library College Counselling Advisory	Graduation Requirements • Minimum Credits Required: 28 • English 4 credits • Mathematics 4 credits • History 4 credits • Science 3 credits (Includes 1 year of biology and 1 year of chemistry) • Foreign Language 5 credits (2 credits of Latin and 2 credits of either Greek or Spanish plus a third credit in at least one language) • Religion or Ethics 4 credits (Religion is required for Catholic students; non-Catholic students may choose either religion or ethics) • Electives 4 credits • Athletics 4 years (Students are required to participate in at least one varsity, junior varsity, or intramural sport per year.) Students who successfully complete Algebra II H, Latin II, or Spanish II (usually in their freshman year) will automatically earn credit for Algebra I, Latin I, or Spanish I, respectively. These credits will not impact a student’s grade point average (GPA). With the approval of the Head of the Upper School, a student may take a course at another institution for credit. The Heights can note on the transcript that a course has been taken elsewhere, and that credit has been received. This course, however, will not be factored into the student’s grade point average for The Heights School. The Head of the Upper School can, with good reason, modify the above requirements for particular situations. Any student who successfully completes four years of an approved academic program can assume he has met all necessary graduation requirements unless he specifically is informed otherwise. Course Weightings and GPAs While grades for each quarter, the mid-year exam, and the final exam show up on a student’s report card, only the final course grade or current average is shown on the transcript that is sent to colleges. A student’s final grade in a course is determined by averaging the two semester grades with each semester grade being the weighted average of the two quarters counting 37.5% each and the exam (either mid-year or final) counting 25.0%. GPAs are given separately for each academic year and a cumulative GPA is given at the bottom of the transcript. In calculating these GPAs a standard 4.0 scale is followed: A+ 4.33 B+ 3.33 C+ 2.33 D+ 1.33 F 0.00 A 4.00 B 3.00 C 2.00 D 1.00 A- 3.67 B- 2.67 C- 1.67 D- 0.67 Some courses are weighted and contribute to higher academic year and cumulative GPAs: Honors courses are weighted +0.5 Two AP courses are weighted +0.5 Algebra II Honors 1. AP Statistics Geometry Honors 2. AP Economics Pre-Calculus Honors Latin Language Honors Spanish III Honors Other AP classes, Calculus III, Latin Literature Honors, Latin Seminar: Lucretius, and Greek classes are weighted +1.0 Calculus AB AP, Calculus BC AP, Calculus III: Differential Equations Latin Literature Honors, AP Latin: Vergil, Latin Seminar: Lucretius Greek I, II, III, and IV Spanish IV Language AP, Spanish V Literature AP Biology AP, Chemistry AP, Physics AP US History AP, European History AP, Art History AP, US Government AP Computers II AP English AP Passing Grades and Advancement in Cumulative Honors Courses The lowest passing grade at The Heights School is a C-. Students who score below a C- in any required or sequential course must retake the course for credit, either over the summer or during the next school year. A final grade of B- or better is required for a student to advance into the next honors course in math, Latin, or Spanish. Students whose grades are below B- may advance if they earn a B- or better in an approved summer school program.