Grading/Honor Roll Practices

Acceleration Opportunities

SCVS aims to prepare each student for their journey after high school. Whether that journey takes our students to a post-secondary education institution, the military, or the workforce, our goal is to help you prepare. SCVS expects that every high school student participates in at least one “Acceleration Opportunity” prior to graduation. Acceleration Opportunity classes help prepare students for their post-high school experience by A) earning college credit by taking an AP course & passing the AP Exam or taking Dual Enrollment and passing the Dual Enrollment Exam; B) earning a state-approved Industry Certification or C) participating in a JROTC program with a sister school and taking the ASVAB.

Grade Point Average 

Cumulative GPAs are based on final semester grades and determined by dividing the total number of courses attempted into the total number of quality points earned. Any other course for which no letter grade is given is excluded. High School students have several cumulative GPAs, including a Florida GPA, which is unweighted and used for graduation, and a District GPA, which is used for various grades.

Pass/Fail Grading

Driver’s Education is the only Pass/Fail course at SCVS. Students must inform the teacher within 20 days of being active in the course.

Course Waviers/Substitutions

Students using a wavier or substitution may need to substitute other courses to meet the required number of courses each year/credits if you are a high school student. Please consult the SCPS Progression Plan for information on waivers for physical education, fine arts, and specific science courses.

Classification of High School Students

• 9th Grade- Student promoted from 8^th grade.
• 10^th grade- Student who has earned 6 high school credits.
• 11^th grade- Student who has earned 12 high school credits.
• 12^th grade- Student who has earned 19 high school credits.
• Graduated- Student who has earned 26 credits aligned with FL/SCPS Graduation Requirements.

Seat Time/Minimum Course Length

To ensure adequate time for comprehension and mastery, students must work in a course segment consistently for a minimum of 14 days starting from the date of the first submission. There is a separate 14-day time period for each segment, and these time periods cannot overlap. Twenty-eight days of work is required, at minimum, for a two-semester course. Based on content, some courses have longer seat time policies. For example, Health Opportunities through Physical Education (HOPE) and Personal Fitness have a seat time policy of 21 days per segment. Consistent submission of assessments will ensure the student is engaged and learning. The Instructional Leadership Team reserves the right to evaluate a student’s gradebook to determine when the work habits show consistent progress, thus beginning the count towards the 14-day minimum and may require a student to take a proctored exam in order to complete the class. All assignments must be completed prior to taking the segment exam. Students/Parents with questions about a specific course’s seat-time policy are encouraged to contact their instructor for details.

Standard Honors Advanced Placement (AP): Standard level courses meet all state required B.E.S.T. course standards. Post high school plans for students taking standard level courses commonly range from attending a state or community college, attending a career technical school, pursuing an apprenticeship, or entering the workforce. Standard courses can also be used as a stepping stone to Honors courses for students who feel they need more preparation.

Honors courses are considered a level higher than standard level courses, generally proceed at a faster pace and cover additional state required B.E.S.T. course standards. Grades in Honors courses earned at a C or higher will receive 0.5 additional quality points toward the high school GPA calculation (i.e. A = 4.5 quality points, B = 3.5 quality points, C = 2.5 quality points).

Advanced Placement (AP) is a national program created by the College Board which offers college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American colleges and universities may grant placement and course credit to students who obtain scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the examinations. Grades in AP courses earned with a C or higher will receive 1.0 additional quality points toward the high school GPA calculation (i.e. A = 5.0 quality points, B = 4.0 quality points, C = 3.0 quality points).

GRADUATION HONORS DISTINCTIONS

Students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement will be recognized on the graduation program with the following graduation honors:

• Cum Laude (3.80 – 3.99 GPA)
  Awarded to students who have shown consistent academic excellence and strong dedication to their studies.
• Magna Cum Laude (4.00 – 4.19 GPA)
  Awarded to students who have achieved superior academic performance and exemplify a high level of scholarly commitment.

• Summa Cum Laude (4.20 and above GPA)
  The highest academic honor, awarded to students whose exceptional performance reflects outstanding scholarship, effort, and mastery across all subject areas.

Please note that students must have been enrolled as a full-time SCVS student and earned at least 14 credits at SCVS or been enrolled at another SCPS and earned 14 credits from that SCPS school in order to graduate with Honors from SCVS.