Our High School - Academic Program

The Our High School Program of Studies is the official guide to our academic program. Individual courses are described and various requirements are listed. Each student is required to pursue the equivalent of five academic credits at all times (2.5 credits each semester plus Physical Education).

Eighteen (18) credits are required for graduation {See Board of Directors Policy IKF (PDF)}. These eighteen credits must include the following:

Subject	Credits	Comments
English	4
Mathematics	3
Science	3	Vocational students must meet only a 2 credit requirement.
Social Studies	2.5	Includes 1 credit in World History and 1 credit in United States History.
Fine Arts	1	Art, music, or interdisciplinary humanities.
Physical Education	1
Practical Arts	.5	Industrial arts, home economics, or business education.
Health	.5
Maine Studies	.5	If not completed in grades 6, 7, or 8.
Computer Literacy		Students must demonstrate proficiency in the use of computers.

Our High School does not award certificates of attendance or unsigned diplomas. Generally, courses which meet for a full year are worth one credit; courses meeting one semester are worth a half credit. Semester averages will be computed for all courses. Students cannot receive partial credit in a course; exceptions are made only by the principal.

Registration for courses is done through the Guidance office. All course changes are made during special times announced by the Guidance office. After the beginning of a semester, all "adds and drops" must be approved by a counselor and work missed in new courses must be completed within one week of the date the new course is added. The add/drop period lasts 10 school days.

Occasionally a student may choose to audit a course for enrichment purposes. Audits are arranged between student and teacher and are available to seniors when space is available. Unique situations will be handled on an individual basis.

Audits are at the discretion of the teacher and can only be arranged if the class to be audited is a sixth class in the student's schedule. Decisions to audit must be made during the add/drop period. Audit contract forms may be obtained in the Guidance Office.

In the event it becomes necessary for a student to withdraw from a course after the add/drop period, the following procedure will be used:

1. A conference of student, parent, counselor, principal, and pertinent faculty members will be held to determine if the request is in the student's best interest. The conference will determine whether dropping the course will be approved and, if so, how grades and credit will be allocated.

2. If a course is dropped, the transcript will reflect the notation "W/P" (Withdrew-Passing) or "W/F" (Withdrew - failing). Year-long courses dropped prior to the end of the first semester will not affect one's cumulative average. If a year-long course is dropped after the first semester, the first semester average is computed into the student's cumulative average. The add/drop procedure for semester long elective courses is similar except that the time period is halved.

All students are required to take a full year of physical education. Occasionally a student will be excused from Physical Education due to medical reasons. A letter from the student's family physician requesting a partial or total waiver of physical education is to be presented to the P.E. teacher and then noted on the permanent record. If the student's medical status changes, the waiver may be reassessed and the student required to participate in physical education.

In the fall, each senior receives a letter from the guidance office stating his/her status toward graduation. Parents and students are responsible for reviewing the records and seeking any necessary corrections prior to the second semester.

The school year is divided into 4 quarters or 2 semesters. Grades are reported at the end of each quarter. For the current academic year, ranks close on November 6, January 22, April 2, and the last day of school. Report cards are issued approximately a week after ranks close. Final report cards are mailed home. Teachers report any cases warranting special attention through the Progress Report issued to students during the fifth week of each quarter.

An Honor Roll will be announced by the principal at the end of each academic quarter. To be eligible for Honor Roll consideration, a student must be pursuing a full course of study (i.e. 5 credits per year). Students earning grades of B and above are designated as "Honors" while those earning all A's are awarded "High Honors". Grades are computed according to the following scale:

Note: The Honor Roll is based on course grades available on the day report cards are issued. Incomplete grades, missing independent study grades, and withdrew-failing grades make the student ineligible for the current quarter's Honor Roll.

All students are required to take mid-term examinations. During the 1998-99 academic year mid-term exams will be given on January 19, 20, 21, & 22. Seniors may be excused from final examinations if they hold an 85 average or above in any given subject for the four quarters of work (or two quarters in semester courses). Each teacher will determine the specific weight a mid-term or final exam will have in determining a semester or final average.