Grades will be based on a 40%/40%/20% grading system for the final semester grade calculation. Each 9-week marking period constitutes 40% of the student's grade within the semester. The final semester assessment will count as 20% of the total semester grade.
All students will take some form of a written semester assessment on the designated finals day in each class
Credit is awarded by semester.
No early finals will be given. All finals must be taken within the two weeks following the semester for a student to earn a grade other than an F. Any later time period is up
Grades awarded in classes are A, B, C, D, and F. An Incomplete (I) is assigned if a student has not completed the requirements of the course as determined by the teacher. All Incomplete grades must be made up no later than two weeks after the end of the marking period. After that, the grade automatically
Report Cards and Grades
At the end of each nine-week period students will receive a report card for each course they are taking. Cards are given out during the week following the end of nine-week period. Marks are as follows:
- A Excellent work.
- B Achievement above average.
- C Average
- D Below average work, bordering on failure.
- F Failure or unsatisfactory.
- I Incomplete work. Incomplete work not made up within four weeks will be recorded as a “F”.
- P Credit awarded.
The grade point average for students will be computed on the system used by Arizona universities. The conversion table is as follows:
Grade / Grade Points
A / 4 (Top)
B / 3
C / 2
D / 1
F / 0 (Bottom)
Weighted Grading means certain classes will receive more points in the Grade Point Average system (not more credits). The objective of the weighted grading is to encourage students to take the more difficult Advanced Placement classes because it takes more effort to obtain a high grade in an Advance Placement class. Below is a summary of how grad points will be awarded for advanced placement and regular high school classes:
| Grade = | A | B | C | D | F |
| Advanced Placement Class Points = | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Regular Class Points = | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Weighted Grades will be calculated only for Advanced Placement classes, which are taught under the jurisdiction of the College Board.
Transfer of Weighted Grades will be granted from an accredited high school under the jurisdiction of College Board.
All AP courses will be weighted and calculated for transcripts sent or colleges or universities. This would also be the GPA that a student would claim when applying for scholarships.
PHS will only accept the transfer of AP courses that are taught at PHS. The GPA will be used to calculate “Graduates with Distinction” students.
PHS does not establish class-ranking lists. For scholarship or post-graduate enrollment requests, which absolutely require such a ranking determination, an approximate ranking number will be reported and indicated as an approximate ranking. The Registrar will be able to determine percentage placement and that figure will be offered as an alternate to class ranking.
FINALS AND SEMESTER GRADE POLICY
The teachers at Prescott High School administer a final assessment for their courses. The purpose may be to determine what the student learned that semester in the course, to allow the student to demonstrate mastery of the subject material, or to set benchmarks of knowledge gained in the course. Because of the value placed on these important assessments, Prescott High School has established guidelines for all students and teachers to follow with regard to finals. These guidelines are:
1. All students’ grades, no matter what the courses are, will be based on a 40%/40%/20% weighted grading system for the final semester grade calculation. Each nine week marking period constitutes 40% of the student’s grade within the semester. The final semester assessment will count as 20% of the total semester grade.
2. All students will take some form of a written semester assessment on the designated finals day in each class.
3. Students may request early finals for emergencies only. FAMILY VACATIONS ARE NOT CONSIDERED EMERGENCIES. The procedure for the request to take early exams must be filed with the principal no later than ten (10) days prior to the exam schedule, and is as follows:
- The parent must submit a letter to the principal explaining the reason for the request and identifying the days the request is for.
- The principal will check the student’s current attendance to determine if credit will be lost in any class as a result of the requested absences.
- The principal will notify the student’s teachers identifying the days requested for an early exam.
- The teachers have the right to either honor the request for early finals or reject the request for early finals. If the request is rejected, the student must make an appointment with the principal to determine when the administration of the final will occur.
4. Students not excused through the proper procedures of request, or through the correct attendance procedures, may not take the final and will receive a grade of zero for the final.
5. Students who missed the final on the designated finals day must take a make-up final within two weeks of the originally scheduled day (vacation time during Christmas holiday is not counted in the two weeks).