Warren County High School

“Well Educated + Career Driven + High Expectations = Successful Citizens ”

Class Rank and Graduation Recognitions

GPA CALCULATION
Beginning with the class of 2021 an unweighted grading scale will be used for the calculation of GPA for graduation recognition.  The following scale will be used:
A = 4    B = 3    C = 2    D = 1    F = 0


CLASS RANK
Beginning with the class of 2021, WCHS will not rank students other than to identify the Valedictorian and Salutatorian.  The Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be determined by meeting all the following criteria:
(1) 4.0 Cumulative Unweighted GPA
(2) Completion of, or enrollment in, 4 Honors Courses AND 10 Advanced Courses *
(3) Highest overall ACT composite score of those seniors having met the above two criteria.


GRADUATION RECOGNITIONS
WCHS shall not rank students numerically, instead for the purpose of academic recognition, WCHS will use the following Latin System:


SUMMA CUM LAUDE
Students will be recognized as Summa Cum Laude having met all of the following criteria:
(1) 4.0 Cumulative Unweighted GPA    
(2) Completion of, or enrollment in 4 Honors Courses AND 10 Advanced Courses * 
(3) Minimum 21 ACT Composite Score


MAGNA CUM LAUDE
Students will be recognized as Magna Cum Laude having met all of the following criteria:
(1) 3.75-3.99 Cumulative Unweighted GPA
(2) Completion of, or enrollment in 4 Honors Courses AND 7 Advanced Courses*
(3) Minimum 21 ACT Composite Score


CUM LAUDE
Students will be recognized as Cum Laude having met all of the following criteria:
(1) 3.5-3.74 Cumulative Unweighted GPA
(2) Completion of, or enrollment in 3 Honors Courses AND 5 Advanced Courses * 
 (3) Minimum 21 ACT Composite Score


GRADUATE WITH HONORS
Students will be recognized as graduating with Honors having met all of the following criteria:
(1)    Cumulative Unweighted GPA of 3.0
(2)  Score at or above all of the subject area college readiness benchmarks on the ACT or equivalent score on the SAT.   

GRADUATE WITH STATE DISTINCTION
 Students will be recognized as graduating with state distinction having met all of the following criteria:
(1)    Cumulative unweighted GPA of 3.0

(2)    Complete at least ONE of the following:
Earn a nationally recognized industry certification
Participate in at least one of the Governor’s Schools
Participate in one of the state’s All State musical organizations
Be selected as a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist
Attain a score of 31 or higher composite score on the ACT
Attain a score of 3 or higher on at least two advanced placement exams
Successfully complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
Earn 12 or more semester hours of transcripted postsecondary credit

 GRADUATE WITH WORK ETHIC STANDARDS

Students earning 20 points on the Career Readiness Diploma Standard checklist will be recognized as graduating with work ethic standards.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

All other recognitions at graduation must receive written approval from the WCHS Executive Principal.

*Advanced Courses include the following: AP Courses, Dual Enrollment Courses, State Dual Credit Courses, and National Industry Certification Courses


No grades are to be carried over to the next 9 weeks and no grades can be over 100.


Only courses posted to the high school transcript will be calculated in a student’s GPA.


Students attending Warren Academy or the VIP during their 12th grade year will not be eligible for academic recognition at graduation.


Time Frame:
Valedictorian, Salutatorian and academic recognitions will be determined at the end of the 7th semester for the purpose of graduation recognition.


Calculations necessary for the determination of Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Sum Cum Laude will be completed no later than three weeks after the end of the 7th semester.


The Executive Principal is responsible for the following:
1.    All high school teaching staff have accurately reported 7th semester grades on all students by the end of the 7th semester. 
2.    The Data Entry office have completed the necessary input of credits to ensure accurate and up to date transcripts no later than one week after the end of the 7th semester.
3.    The Data Entry office have ensured that the set up within the high school software system reflects accurate and up to date credits and GPA calculations no later than one week after the end of the 7th semester.
4.    The Data Entry office will provide accurate and up to date transcripts to the guidance office no later than one week after the end of the 7th semester, sorted by unweighted GPA.


The Guidance office is responsible for the following:
Upon receipt of accurate and complete 12th grade transcripts sorted by unweighted GPA, the school counseling staff will review the transcripts for the determination of Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Sum Cum Laude students based upon the above stated criteria.


The names of these students will be submitted to the Executive Principal for release no later than three weeks after the end of the 7th semester. 


The school counseling staff will also be responsible for surveying the eligible 12th grade students for the acknowledgement of Honors, Distinction, and Work Ethic Standards.  These determinations will be made in April of the 8th semester.  Many of these recognitions require 8th semester data to determine eligibility.

Appeals Process:
In the event of an appeal, the following protocol will be followed:
1.    The student and/or parent will request verification of a student’s academic status from the high school guidance office. The office will provide a verbal explanation and a written  copy of the student’s high school transcript, test scores, and any additional supporting documents relative to academic recognition, as well as a copy of the board approved policy relative to rank in class. Transcripts and test scores of other students are confidential and will not be provided.  If a student and/or parent is in need of additional verification, they will be directed to the executive principal.
2.    The guidance office will provide the executive principal copies of transcripts, test scores, and supporting documents for all students identified as receiving academic recognition.  If the student in question was not identified as receiving academic recognition a copy of their transcript and supporting documents will also be given to the executive principal.  All requested information will be provided in order that he/she may provide additional verification as requested to the student and/or parent. 
3.    In the event that a student and/or parent require further verification the documents provided to the executive principal will also be provided to the Director of Schools.  Any additional documents requested will also be provided in order that he/she may provide additional verification as requested.