Students and Families

Every student has different learning styles and different learning needs … which makes us amazing human beings! Along with this uniqueness comes the reality that, at some time or other, we all will need assistance to stay on track in class and earn grades of C or better. Earning grades of C or higher is important for several reasons:

• Grades of C or higher are proof that you learned the subject well and are ready for the next semester/year in that course.
• Grades of C or higher will improve your eligibility for 4-year college … and even if you aren’t sure about going to college right now, being prepared will give you more options that benefit you AND your family! Remember that some colleges and programs - like engineering and nursing - will have higher than "C" average requirements for admission. Whatever your goals are, be sure to talk to your counselor and check individual college websites for details.
  
• Grades of C or higher will increase your opportunities to get free money to pay for college, as in financial aid, awards, and scholarships.

Whether it’s tutoring or academic intervention you need, course extension or credit recovery, schools will find a way to help you. The great thing to know is that every school has various options – all you have to do is ask! Read the sections below for solutions that can help you, or someone you know.

Ask your teacher about intervention resources. Everyone struggles sometimes and it’s important to get help when you need it! Don’t wait, as the courses can move fast. Moving on to a new topic/learning standard if you don’t fully understand the current material will lead to more confusion later on in the semester, and can result in low or failing grades.

Some intervention resources can be assigned as part of your regular class. There can also be intervention labs and classes before/after school or on Saturdays. Also, you can access the tutor.com service via your Schoology home page for extra help outside of class. Each school has different options and you can check in with your counselor to find out how and where to get help.

Don’t worry if you get a grade of D on your final report. Talk your counselor and teacher as soon as final grades are posted and learn how and when to get help. Every student has unique learning needs, and so schools will have different academic course extension (ACE) options for additional time and assignments for students to improve a final low grade. These options will happen either during Spring, Summer or Winter break, or in the beginning of the next semester that follows when the final grade was issued.

When you complete ACE successfully, according to requirements, the low grade on your transcript will be replaced with a C or higher (depending on how your teacher graded the assignments).

In high school, staying on track and passing classes each semester is essential for graduating on time. But sometimes life happens! The important thing is not to let grades of F define who you are, or determine what your true potential is.

Talk to your teacher if you anticipate getting a grade of F, or ask your counselor right away if you see one on your report card. Taking action as soon as possible means that you can get back on track without letting problems accumulate.   

Schools will have lots of ways that students can re-take a class they didn‘t pass the first time around:

• In the school day: for students who will do best with the maximum amount of learning time and teacher support, the counselor will program them into the same class in the following semester or year.
• In Summer Term: this is a popular option for students to re-take a class needed for graduation. The summer program moves fast though, so it might not be the best fit for every student.
• In Winter or Spring break (intercessions): students can start a credit recovery class during the break, then have additional Saturday or after-school sessions to complete their learning if needed. Alternatively, if you started your credit recovery during the semester and need more time, coming to these intercession options will give you the space and time to finish strong.
• Outside the instructional day: some schools have a “zero period” credit recovery class, perfect for early birds to learn with their teachers in a small group setting. After-school and Saturday sessions are also an option at many schools.
• Independent study or Adult School: this is a great option for students who can learn mostly on their own, with some support each week from the teacher. Students who are confident in knowing the course topics and prefer independence can finish a course at their own pace in independent study settings.
• In a continuation high school: students who have several Fs on their transcript can be enrolled at a neighboring continuation school for a semester or more. Here they will find small classes and lots of personalized support to recover the classes. Once they have passed the required classes, they can return to their high school.