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GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
 
It is the intent of the School Committee that valid and reliable forms of assessment be developed that ensure that a Deer Isle-Stonington High School diploma signifies competency in specified subject areas. The following requirements for high school graduation are established:
 
A. GRADUATION CREDITS
   
  1. Students must earn twenty-three (23) credits in 9-12 with 14.5 required credits in the following subjects:
       
    English 4 credits
    Mathematics 3 credits
    Social Studies 2 credits (1 must be U.S. History)
    Science 3 credits (1 must be a lab science)
    Physical Education 1 credit
    Health 1/2 credit
    Fine Arts 1 credit
    Computer Literacy incorporated in grade 8 or 1/2 credit
    Maine Studies incorporated in grade 8 or 1/2 credit
    Community Service 40 hours of community service approved by the guidance department
       
  2. For the graduating Class of 2002, completion of the 13.5 required credits and 7.5 elective credits will provide a student with the necessary 21 credits for graduation.
       
  3. Starting with the graduating Class of 2003 and all subsequent classes, students must earn twenty-three (23) credits in grades 9-12 with 14.5 credits required and 8.5 elective credits.
   
  4. The requirement for the third science credit shall be implemented with the graduating class of 2003.
   
  5. Waivers of specific courses and requirements other than those required by the state, may be approved by the School Committee upon presentation of compelling evidence by the Principal and Superintendent.
   
  6. Only students who have completed all requirements prior to the date of graduation will be permitted to participate in graduation ceremonies
   
B. PROMOTION
       
  1. The following number of credits must be accumulated before promotion to the grade level indicated: Grade 10 - 5 credits; Grade 11 - 10 credits; Grade 12 - 16 credits
  3. Students will only be changed from the one level to another only at the start of each
semester.
   
C. COURSE LOAD
  1. All regular, full-time day students shall carry a minimum of five credit courses each semester plus physical education during 9th and 10th grade. Partial schedules may be arranged through an approved home schooling program, through the Alternative Program, or with specific approval of the School Committee based on Administrative recommendation.
   
  2. A student who requests part time status must appear before the School Committee to present the reasons supporting approval of part-time status. The School Committee strongly encourages all students to participate in a minimum of five courses per semester unless compelling and substantial reasons are presented for part time status.
   
D. SUMMER SCHOOL AND ITV CLASSES
  1. Attendance at summer school is strongly recommended for all students who fail more than three semester courses in one academic year and expect to graduate with their class. State-approved correspondence courses may be taken with the approval of the Guidance Counselor and the Principal.
   
  2. These courses may be taken as an elective if the course is not normally offered at school or as a make-up for failure in lieu of summer school courses.
   
  3. A limit of three correspondence credits will be applied toward the required 23 credits for graduation. The student must pay tuition for summer or correspondence courses
   
  .4. Interactive television (ITV) courses may be taken toward a high school diploma. Payment for these courses is determined by Policy 3.17 - Post-Secondary Enrollment Options.
       
E. EARLY GRADUATION
       
  1. Normally, students progressing through the school system will be enrolled for four years in the Deer Isle-Stonington High School. It is recognized, however, that there may be exceptional students who complete their high school program in less than four years.
   
  2. Students wishing to graduate early shall petition the School Committee through the Principal and Superintendent, for a hearing on this matter by September 30 of the year prior to early graduation. Each case of early graduation will be considered on its own merit, provided that parents of minor children agree and that all graduation requirements are met.
   
  3. Students who have not earned a high school diploma will be granted a diploma upon successful completion of one year of full-time study at an accredited degree-granting institution of higher education.
   
F. PARTICIPATION IN GRADUATION CEROMONIES AND CLASS RANK
   
  1. A student must earn a passing grade point average (70.0) in order to participate in graduation. To be awarded an honor part in the graduation ceremonies, a student must maintain at least a B average (85.0).
   
  2. The Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and other graduation honor parts will be determined from individual students' class rank based upon grades earned in course work taken over seven semesters* at state approved secondary schools. These seven semesters include two semesters each from grades 9, 10, and 11 and the first semester from grade 12. At least 50% of the course work taken must be from non-modified college preparatory courses.
   
  3. In addition, a student must fulfill an attendance requirement of two semesters for grade 11 and two semesters for grade 12 as a full-time day student at Deer Isle-Stonington High School. The attendance requirement shall include enrollment in programs approved by the Guidance Counselor and Principal but which are not available at Deer Isle-Stonington High School. Class ranking for students transferring from unapproved secondary schools or not meeting the attendance requirement will be provided for college admissions purposes only. Since a precise rank is unavailable, an approximate rank to the nearest tenth from the top will be given to the college, with a letter from the guidance counselor explaining how this approximation was determined.
   
  4. Students who have attained an average of 85 or above from their seven semesters of approved course work are eligible to wear a gold tassel on their graduation cap during the commencement ceremonies providing at least 50% of their course work was taken from non-modified college preparatory courses.
   
  5. Any student from CSD #13 who successfully completes a program of studies at a state approved magnet school (i.e. Maine School of Math and Science at Limestone) may request approval from the Deer Isle-Stonington High School Principal and the Superintendent of Schools to participate in the CSD #13 graduation ceremonies. In lieu of a diploma from Deer Isle-Stonington, the magnet school students will be honored with a Certificate of Recognition for academic accomplishment.
   
G. HOME SCHOOL CREDIT FOR GRADUATION
   
  1. Any student who has been home schooled and does not meet the seven semester requirement at the time of enrollment at Deer Isle-Stonington High School, shall be given the option of being assessed for the purpose of confirming his/her home school transcript for the ninth and tenth grade only.
   
  2. The Deer Isle-Stonington High School staff together with the student and the student's parent(s) or guardian(s) shall determine the method of assessment.
   
  3. After the assessment is completed, grades from a home schooling program judged to be equivalent to those earned in a public school program will be given full and equal standing in determining class rank for honor part selection.
   
  4. The assessment decision of the Deer Isle-Stonington staff shall be final. Students transferring from a home schooling program must be enrolled for at least two semesters as a full-time student during Grade 12 to be eligible for a Deer Isle-Stonington diploma.
       

Student Status

All regular full-time day students shall carry a minimum of five full time classes* (i.e., 2 1/2 credits) each semester, plus health and physical education as required.  (* Physical Education courses, Independent study programs, teacher aide positions, or correspondence classes do not count as one of these classes.)  In exceptional cases a reduced academic program may be arranged for a student.  To do so a student must petition the School Committee for approval.  This process shall be initiated first through the Guidance Counselor and then referred to the Principal for recommendation to the Superintendent.

The following number of credits must be accumulated to be eligible for entry into these classes:

                                          Sophomore                                               5 credits

                                          Junior:                                                    10 credits

                                          Senior:                                                   16 credits

                                          Graduation:                                              23 credits

Summer School

Attendance at summer school is expected for all students who fail more than 3 semester courses in one academic year.  Successful completion of 2 courses is expected prior to re-admittance in September if the student expects to move to the next grade level.  The student must pay tuition for summer school.

Correspondence Courses

State approved correspondence courses may be taken with the approval of the Guidance Counselor and the Principal.  These courses may be: (1) as an elective, if the course is not normally offered; or (2) as a make-up credit for failures in lieu of summer school attendance.  A limit of 3 credits may be taken during high school.  The student must pay tuition for correspondence courses.  All correspondence courses must be completed by February 28 of the senior year to count for the spring graduation ceremony unless a written exception is made.

Certificate of Attendance

A certificate of attendance shall be approved for pupils who meet the following qualifications:

1.  Attend the high school, grades 9-12, for five years.

2.  Have insufficient credits to graduate at the end of the fifth year.

The certificate of attendance does not carry with it the privilege of participating in graduation and Baccalaureate exercises.

Early Graduation

Students progressing normally with other students will be enrolled for four school years at Deer Isle-Stonington High School where they may participate as high school students in the total high school program.

It is recognized there may be exceptional students who will complete their high school program in fewer than 4 years.  Such cases are believed to be rare and very special (such as early admission to college as described below).  Therefore, requests for completion of high school in fewer than four school years will be considered on the merit of each request.

A student may bring a request for such an exception to the School Committee by petitioning the Principal for a School Committee hearing on his/her request.  The Principal, through the Superintendent of Schools, shall see that the request is heard at the earliest possible date.

Students applying for early graduation shall have met the following criteria by the anticipated date of graduation:

1.     Completion of all course requirements.

2.     If 17 years of age or younger, must have parental or guardianship approval.

If a student is granted early graduation by the School Committee, that student forfeits participation in senior activities which include class ranking for class parts, class trip, etc., but may attend all commencement activities and rehearsals (includes class night, baccalaureate, and graduation).

Early Admission to College/University

In exceptional cases, a student with the recommendation of the Principal and acceptance to a college or university, may be granted permission by the School Committee to take concurrently his/her first year in college with his/her last year in high school.  The student would graduate with his/her regular graduating class and may be accorded class privileges as defined by the School Committee at that time.

Waivers

The School Committee, when recommended by the Principal and Superintendent, may grant waivers of the above requirements other than those mandated by the State.

POST-SECONDARY ENROLLMENT OPTIONS

High school students from Deer Isle-Stonington High School may earn credits towards graduation by taking courses from public two-year and four-year post-secondary institutions such as the University of Maine System, the Vocational Technical Colleges or private institutions.

To be eligible for this option, a student must meet the following criteria:

a.                  meet the admission standards for the post secondary school

b.                 maintain at least a B average overall in his or her courses

c.                  meet with the Guidance Counselor and develop a plan to show how the courses will    

                meet graduation requirements

d.                  may not be enrolled in more than the normal semester load of high school courses.  

               (This limitation does not restrict students from taking courses during the summer.)

e.                  provide evidence of parent or guardian approval to the Guidance Counselor

f.                  receive final approval of the Principal

Students may take advantage of this option through the Interactive Television (ITV) program or the Satellite Educational Resources Consortium (SERC).  For more information on course offerings and registration, students should contact the ITV and SERC site coordinator at the high school.

Students who plan to take advantage of this option and have it paid for through the school must submit an ITV application prior to February 1 of the preceding year.  The school will only pay tuition for one ITV course during the student’s enrollment in high school provided the above criteria is met.