Requirements for Graduation

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REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

Graduation from McKeesport Area High School requires satisfactory completion of at least 24 credits.

Any subject which meets one period daily for the entire year will grant one credit. Any subject which meets daily for one semester will grant one-half credit. Satisfactory completion of health and physical education (Grades 9, 10, 11, 12) will be required and will grant one half credit each.

The minimum of 24 credits will be distributed as follows:

English	4 credits
Mathematics	3 credits
Science	3 credits
Social Studies	3 credits
Arts or Humanities or both	2 credits
Health and Physical Education	2 1/2 credits
Electives, school district approved	6 credits
Integrated Computer Usage	1/2 credit
Senior Service Learning: All seniors are expected to complete a service learning experience.

ADVANCED COURSES

MAHS students are offered opportunities to enroll in advanced courses. For those courses a special weighted grading is used. These courses include AP American Literature, AP Literature and Composition, AP United States History, European History, Biology II and Lab, Chemistry II and Lab, French IV, German IV, Spanish IV, and AP Calculus. The Calculus course is taught in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh and may be taken for college credit. Grading for these courses follow the advanced course grade system.

In addition, special arrangements have been made with the McKeesport Campus of Penn State University for students to enroll in college level courses. A liaison has been established between the Guidance Office of the school and the Admissions Office at Penn State whereby qualified students are permitted to take courses at Penn State McKeesport Campus. Students are permitted to take entry level college courses after a review and acceptance of their high school transcripts by Penn State Admissions Office. Courses taken in the past by McKeesport students include Introduction to Algorithmic Processes, Elementary Calculus, and Calculus II. Students receive college credit upon successful completion of the course. The cost of the course is shared equally by the students and the McKeesport Area School District. The grades obtained in these courses are not counted in determining the student's grade point average or class rank. Scholarship support information for Penn State McKeesport is available upon request.

ENROLLMENT STANDARD

ALL STUDENTS MUST ENROLL IN A MINIMUM OF CREDITS AS FOLLOWS:

9th Grade	- 5.5 + Physical Education and Health
10th Grade	- 5.5 + Physical Education
11th Grade	- 5.5 + Physical Education
12th Grade	- 5.5 + Physical Education

NO MORE THAN SEVEN CREDITS WILL BE SCHEDULED.

DUAL ENROLLMENT WITH CCAC

What is the Dual Enrollment Program?
The Dual Enrollment Program at CCAC provides high school students with the opportunity to take college courses while still in high school. Students wishing to take advantage of the Dual Enrollment Program must have the approval of their high school principal, counselor, and their parents. The number of courses, as well as the type of courses taken, will be determined through a joint approval process. In some cases, students may be required to take the CCAC placement test before being approved to take certain courses at the college. The grades obtained in these courses are not counted in determining the student's grade point average and class rank.

What are the requirements to participate in the Dual Enrollment Program?
Students interested in participating in the Dual Enrollment Program must have a 2.0 GPA or greater from high school. Students must have the approval for participation in the Dual Enrollment Program from their high school principal, counselor, and their parents. Students must meet all CCAC program and/or course prerequisites. Students must complete all necessary forms as required by the college.

Dual Enrollment at other Educational Institutions

Must be pre-approved by the principal.

Must be taken at a college or university.

1/2 Credit course must equal 60 hours; a credit course must equal 120 hours.

Any course taken will be counted as an elective.

Maximum of two credits can be applied to graduation requirements.

Fees and tuition are the responsibility of the student.

The grades obtained in these courses are not counted
in determining the student's grade point average and class rank.

PASS - FAIL GRADES

A student in grades 10, 11, and 12 may elect to take one credit per year for a pass-fail grade in any elective course that is not in a major area of interest. For example, an academic student can take pass-fail only in elective courses. A business student could take pass-fail in art, music, or foreign language, but not in any of the business subjects. The student must inform the teacher NOT LATER THAN THE 10TH CLASS DAY if he wishes to exercise the pass-fail option. A signed agreement will be placed in the student's permanent record. Once the option has been selected, the decision may not be changed, and the system will remain in effect until the course ends. Although successful completion of the course will result in credit toward graduation, the passing grade in the pass-fail system will not be included in the determination of class rank. However, a failing grade in a pass-fail course will be included when determining a student's grade point average and also his/her class rank. The teacher will determine the numerical value of the failing grade. Students who decide to withdraw from a pass-fail course will receive a failing grade to be determined by the subject teacher.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

A student may take one credit of independent study per year with the approval of his/her grade level principal and the participating teacher. All independent study courses are graded pass/fail. The agreement must be entered into no later than the 10th day of the selected course. Although successful completion of the course will result in credit toward graduation, the passing grade in the pass-fail system will not be included in the determination of class rank. However, a failing grade in an independent study course will be included when determining a student's grade point average and also his/her class rank. The teacher will determine the numerical value of the failing grade. Students who decide to withdraw from a pass-fail course will receive a failing grade to be determined by the subject teacher.

ON-LINE COURSES

Must be pre-approved by a principal.

Can only count as an elective.

Student must be able to pass a district mastery test
and provide documentation of successful completion of course.

Maximum of two credits.

Fees and tuition are the responsibility of the student.

Grade is not reported in the grade point average nor class rank.

CLASS RANK

The first ranking for senior students takes into account all subjects taken in grades 9, 10, and 11. Final rankings are determined at the conclusion of the 12th grade. Students are ranked according to the student's overall numerical average carried out to three decimal places. Physical Education and Health are not considered in the determination of a student's numerical average, and therefore, grades in those subjects do not affect class rank. Courses taken pass-fail by the student are considered as follows:

Pass grades in a pass-fail course are not used in
      determining the numerical average.
   Grades in an Independent Study Course are recorded as
      pass-fail and therefore, as mentioned above, are not
      used in determining the numerical average.
   Should a student fail in a pass-fail or independent study course,
     the teacher will convert that failure to a numerical grade,
     and it will be considered in the numerical average and the class rank.

VALEDICTORIAN - SALUTATORIAN

The highest ranking student in the Senior Class will be honored as valedictorian. All grades from all subjects which are scheduled for five or more periods a week in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades will be used, with the exception of those mentioned in the above section. The valedictorian will be the student who has the highest numerical average carried out to three decimal places. The student with the next highest numerical average will be honored as the salutatorian. A student must be enrolled at MAHS for at least four semesters to be considered for these positions.

GRADUATION HONORS

Honors at graduation will be determined by the grades earned in 9th, 10th, 11th, and the first semester of 12th grade. Graduation honors are as follows:

93 average and above	............	Highest Honors (Gold Cords)
88 - 92.999	............	High Honors (Silver Cords)
81 - 87.999	............	Honors (White Cords)

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