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Curriculum Guidelines
Grade Codes Grade Point Average
Valedictorian Salutatorian
Schedule Changes Early Graduation
Repeating A Course Delayed Enrollment
A.L.P.S. Guidelines National Honor Society
Textbook Rental Fees NCAA Eligibility
IHSAA Eligibility

 

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Grade Code of Bloomington High School South
A - Superior
B - Above Average
C - Average
D - Below Average
F - Fail
W - Withdrawn:
      must be followed by A,B,C,D,F, or G
      to indicate student achievement at the time of withdrawal
R - Repeated: must be followed by A,B,C,D, or F to indicate student achievement
G - Non-credit: used only in teacher aide and study hall

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Grade Point Average (GPA)
Bloomington High School South calculates GPA for the following three reasons:
  • various high school organizations use the information for membership,
  • high school valedictorian and salutatorian candidates are selected by GPA, and
  • colleges request GPA.
The following procedures are used to determine GPA:
  • Only those courses which are recorded on the transcript and in which students earn letter grades of A,B,C,D, or F are eligible courses for calculation of GPA.
    (Grades prefixed with "W" or "R" are not used in calculating GPA.)
  • Plus and minus grades will be recognized on student transcripts and count towards student GPA configurations. This will begin with the 2003-2004 school year – it is not retroactive. Our grading scale is based on the Indiana University grading scale:
    Regular Honors AP
    A+ 97-100 4.0 4.5 5.0
    A 93-96 4.0 4.5 5.0
    A- 90-92 3.7 4.2 4.7
    B+ 87-89 3.3 3.8 4.3
    B 83-86 3.0 3.5 4.0
    B- 80-82 2.7 3.2 3.7
    C+  77-79 2.3 2.8 3.3
    C 73-76 2.0 2.5 3.0
    C- 70-72 1.7 2.2 2.7
    D+ 67-69 1.3 1.3 1.3
    D   63-66 1.0 1.0 1.0
    D- 60-62 0.7 0.7 0.7
    F  59 & below 0 0 0
    • Weighted grades: Students taking an AP or ACP class will receive one additional point toward the GPA. Students taking honor level classes will receive an additional 1/2 point toward their GPA for a grade of C- or better. For example, an A in an AP class warrants a 5.0, and an A in an honors class warrants a 4.5. Please note that ACP courses, since they are dual credit courses, will only be weighted on the high school transcript. College level classes offered at IU through the Open Program will not be weighted. IU courses (taken off the high school campus) will not be placed on the high school transcript unless the course is required for high school graduation.
  • Credit points for each eligible course are found by multiplying the number of credits attainable by the point value of the letter grade.
  • GPA is calculated by dividing a student's total credit points by the total number of credits attempted in the eligible courses. The result will be rounded to three decimal places.
    • The student with the highest GPA will rank in first place.
    • Only courses taken in grades 9-12 will be used in determining GPA. Credits earned through the ALP’s program prior to grade 9 will count toward graduation but will not be included in GPA calculations.
    • In order to be considered valedictorian or salutatorian, students must meet all necessary graduation requirements by the completion of their final term.
The following Honor courses will receive an additional 1/2 point:
Geometry HD 1,2
Algebra II HD II-1, II-2, II-3
Pre-Calculus 1, 2

English HD 9-1, 9-2, 9-3
English HD 10-1, 10-2
English HD 11-1, 11-2

World Studies HD
American Studies HD
World Geography HD 1,2
World History HD 1,2		 Biology I HD
Chemistry I HD
Physics I HD
Organic Chemistry

French III, IV, V
German III, IV, V
Japanese III, IV, V
Latin III, IV, V
Spanish III, IV, V
The following AP courses will receive an additional (1) point:
AP Language Composition 1,2
AP Literature and Comp. 1,2
Advanced Composition W131
ACP College Literature A202
AP American Literature 1, 2

AP American History 1, 2, 3
AP European History 1, 2
AP Micro-Economics		 AP Computer Programming 1,2
Math College Credit 1, 2
AP Calculus 1, 2
Advanced Calculus 1
AP Calculus 3, 4
AP Statistics 1,2
AP Biology 1, 2, 3
AP Chemistry 1, 2, 3
AP Physics 1, 2, 3

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Valedictorian
Valedictorian(s) will be determined at the end of the twelfth (12) official term of the graduating class. All students with the highest GPA will be named valedictorian. The valedictorian will be named at the graduation ceremony.

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Salutatorian
The salutatorian is the class member who has the next highest honor points in the graduating class.

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Schedule Changes
Student schedules are developed for an entire school year based on the student's academic plan with input from parents, teachers, and counselors. Changes in the schedule will not be entertained unless the student is misplaced in a course, a scheduling error has occurred, a change is needed to insure timely graduation, or another emergency situation exists.
There are established guidelines that all students must recognize which apply whenever changes are made on their daily class schedule. Students who desire schedule changes should pick up a schedule change request form in the Counseling Office. All schedule changes require parent/guardian approval under the direction of a school counselor. To meet with a counselor, you must pre-schedule an appointment with the guidance secretary. Here is a list of the important guidelines that will be followed for schedule changes:
  1. Schedule changes for returning students are to be initiated prior to the last day of school. After that date, changes will only be made if the student is misplaced, a scheduling error has occurred, a summer school class is completed or another emergency situation exists. Other general change requests will not be honored after that date.
  2. Schedule changes across discipline areas (e.g. changing a course in mathematics for one in language arts) must be completed by the end of the 8th school day of the term using the previously stated guidelines.
  3. Schedule changes may be made after the 8th day as long as the class to be dropped and the class to be added are within the same academic discipline. Permission from the department chair is required.
  4. Withdrawals from courses prior to receiving the first grade card will not be recorded on the official student transcript. Withdrawals from a course after that time will receive the combination grade of W accompanied by a letter of A, B, C, D, F, or G to indicate student achievement at the time of withdrawal. This combination grade will be entered on the student's transcript. After the first grade card, withdrawal from a course is permitted only when special circumstances warrant a withdrawal and require administrative approval.
  5. Withdrawal from an ALPS Independent Study course at any time after enrolling is permitted either two months after beginning the course or before taking the third test with permission from the ALPS coordinator.

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Early Graduation
If a student has attended at least 2 trimesters of their senior year and has met all graduation requirements, he/she may be an early graduate. A student with special circumstances may apply for early release after the first trimester of their senior year. All Winter and Spring Athletes must take and pass four classes during Term 1, Term 2 and Term 3.

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Repeating A Course
Any course offered at Bloomington High School South may be re-taken but only those courses designated in the course selection guide as repeatable may receive credit more than one time. When a course that is not designated as repeatable is repeated, each term grade earned in that course will appear on the transcript. Only one of those term grades, the highest if there is one, will be included in the GPA calculation and will be allowed to award credit. All other term grades in that course will be prefixed with an R to indicate that they were formerly used for both GPA and credit count but are no longer included in either. Subjects taken under the ALPS Independent Study Program may be re-taken, but the first term grade earned in that subject remains the GPA determinant and subsequent term grades in that subject will be prefixed with an R.

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Delayed Enrollment
With the exception of ALPS Independent Study, credit will not be awarded for any course in which a student enrolls after the first ten (10) school days of a regular term. This ten day time deadline for delayed enrollment does not apply to a change of sections within the same subject, to a change of levels within the same academic discipline, to students transferring from another school and taking a similar subject, or to an ALPS Independent Study course.

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ALPS Guidelines
Criteria for applying to the ALPS program are the following: standardized test scores above the 95th percentile; teacher, parent, or self recommendation; or entry from another program. Special waivers available to students in the program include 1) permit early high school graduation; 2) permit the earning of more than eight credits from correspondence courses; 3) exemption from minimum number of minutes weekly instruction for high school credit during regular school year or during summer school; 4) exemption from minimum and maximum days and hours normally required in summer school; 5) permit the earning of more than two credits in summer school; 6) permit non-standard educational programs such as internships, mentorships and clinical experiences.

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National Honor Society
The Bloomington High School Chapter of the National Honor Society is one of the oldest clubs in our school. Membership in the honor society is based upon election by member of the faculty council. After seven terms of work for juniors and nine terms of academic work by seniors, students who have cumulative averages of 3.5 are notified by the chapter advisor that they are academically eligible for election to the society. However, academic eligibility is only one of four criteria that the faculty council must consider.
In addition to the academic requirement, participation and leadership in school and / or community activities are required. Our school service component requires that you shall have participated in two school activities or one school and one community activity.
Another component of the selection criteria is character.
Character will be viewed as possessing integrity, demonstrating positive behavior, and exhibiting a posture of cooperation and a sense of ethics. Teachers who have you in classes and in activities will rate you on a scale of 1-4 in the areas of leadership and character. You must receive an average score of 2.0 in leadership and a score of 2.7 in character to qualify for membership.
In examining character, the faculty council will consider whether you have recorded incidents of cheating or intentional dishonesty and whether you have a record of skipping classes or of knowingly violating school rules. You must also have no record of civil offenses within the community. In examining leadership, the faculty council will determine whether you have demonstrated leadership in promoting school activities and whether you have been dependable in responsibilities which you have accepted.
We encourage you at all times to achieve academically and to volunteer your service to both your school and community. In your junior or senior year, we want to have you as a member of the Bloomington High School South National Honor Society.

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Textbook Rental Fees
The State of Indiana does require students to pay a book rental fee and an activity fee. These fees vary from student to student according to the classes they are taking. Textbook/fee bills are mailed home in late Sept. or early Oct. for the year.

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NCCA Eligibility Requirements
NCAA FRESHMAN – ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS QUICK REFERENCE SHEET
The NCAA initial-eligibility rules have changed. If you plan to enroll in any Division I or Division II college or university in fall 2005 or after, please read this information carefully.
For students entering any college or university on or after August 1, 2005, your NCAA initial eligibility will be evaluated under the new rules as described on this sheet.
For Students entering any Division I college or university on or after August 1, 2008, your NCAA initial eligibility will be evaluated under the 16 core-course rule as described on this sheet.
THE NEW RULE
• Increases the number of core courses from 13 to 14. This additional core course may be in any area: English, mathematics, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy. The breakdown of core-course requirements is listed below.
• CHANGES the Division I initial-eligibility index, or sliding scale. See the next page for the Core GPA/test score sliding-scale index.
• The 16 core-course rule INCREASES the number of core courses from 14 to 16 for Division I only. Students must complete three years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher), and four years of additional core courses. The additional core course may be taken in any area: English, mathematics, natural/physical science, social science, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy. The breakdown of the requirement is listed below.
DIVISION I
2005-2007
14 Core Courses:
4 years of English
2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher)
2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school)
1 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/ physical science.
2 years of social science.
3 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy).		 DIVISION I
16 CORE-COURSE RULE
2008 and after
16 Core Courses:
4 years of English
3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher)
2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school)
1 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/ physical science.
2 years of social science
4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy).		 DIVISION II
2005 and after
14 Core Courses:
3 years of English
2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher).
2 years of natural/physical science (1 year lab if offered by high school).
2 years of additional English, mathematics or natural/ physical science.
2 years of social science
3 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or nondoctrinal religion/philosophy).
PLEASE NOTE: For students entering college on or after August 1, 2005, computer-science courses may only be used for initial-eligibility purposes if the course receives graduation credit in mathematics or natural/ physical science and is listed as such on the high school’s list of NCAA-approved core courses.

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
• In Division II, there is no sliding scale. The minimum core grade-point average is 2.000. the minimum SAT score in 820
(Verbal and Math sections only) and the minimum ACT sum score is 68.
• Students first entering a Division I or Division II collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2005, must meet the new 14 corecourse rule.
• Students first entering a Division I collegiate institution on or after August 1, 2008, must meet the 16 core-course rule.
• The SAT combined score is based on the Verbal and Math sections only. The new writing section will not be used.
For more information regarding the new rule, please go to www.ncaa.org. Click on "Studentathletes and Parents" in the "Custom Home Pages" section. You may also visit the clearinghouse Web site at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT NCAA ELIGIBILITY, PLEASE CALL THE NCAA INITIAL-ELIGIBILITY CLEARINGHOUSE TOLLFREE AT  877/262-1492. YOU MAY ALSO CALL THE NCAA AT 317/917-6222.

Division II Academic Eligibility Requirements
If you’re first entering a Division II college on or after August 1, 1996, in order to be classified a “qualifier,” you’re required to:
• Graduate from high school;
•` Have a GPA of 2.000 (based on a maximum of 4.000) in a successfully completed core curriculum of at least 13 academic course units as follows:
English . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 years
Mathematics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 years
Natural or physical science (including at least one laboratory course, if offered by the high school) 2 years
Additional courses in English, mathematics, or natural or physical science 2 years
Social science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 years
Additional academic courses (in any of the above areas or foreign language, computer science, * philosophy or nondoctrinal religion (e.g., comparative religion) courses) 2 years
• Have a combined score on the SAT verbal and math sections of 820 (if taken on or after April 1, 1995) or a 68 sum score on the ACT.
A “partial qualifier” is eligible to practice with a team at its home facility and receive an athletics scholarship during his or her first year at a Division II school, and then has four seasons of competition remaining. In order to be classified a “partial qualifier,” you have not met the requirements for a qualifier, but you’re required to graduate from high school and meet one of the following requirements:
• Specified minimum SAT or ACT score; or
• Successful completion of a required core curriculum consisting of 13 core courses and a 2.000 grade-point average in the core curriculum.
A nonqualifier is a student who has not graduated from high school or who has presented neither the corecurriculum grade-point average and SAT/ACT score required for a qualifier.
A nonqualifier is not eligible for regular-season competition and practice during the first academic year in residence and then has four seasons of competition. A nonqualifier may not receive athletics-related aid as a freshman, but may receive regular need-based financial aid if the school certifies that aid was granted without regard to athletics ability.
Details of these general requirements are contained in the following sections.
New Requirements
If you plan to enter college in 2005 or after, you will be required to have 14 core courses. The additional course may be in any of the core-course areas.
* Computer science no longer will be used as a core course if you first enter any college or university on or after August 1, 2005.

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IHSAA Eligibility
TO THE STUDENT ATHLETE: Information contained on this poster will acquaint you with the major rules and regulations you must follow in order to retain your high school athletic eligibility. Any questions you have concerning your athletic eligibility should be checked with your principal or athletic director/s.

-YOU ARE INELIGIBLE IF-

1. AGE

  • A student who is or shall be twenty (20) years of age prior to or on the scheduled date of the IHSAA state finals in a sport shall be ineligible for interschool athletic competition in that sport; a student who is nineteen (19) years of age on the scheduled date of the IHSAA state finals in a sport shall be eligible as to age for interschool athletic competition in that sport.

2. AMATEURISM

  • You play under an assumed name.
  • You accept money or merchandise directly or indirectly from athletic participation.
  • You sign a professional contract in that sport.

3. AWARDS/GIFTS

  • You receive in recognition for your athletic ability any award not approved by your high school principal or the IHSAA.
  • You use or accept merchandise as an award, prize, gift or loan or purchase such for a token sum.
  • You accept awards, medals, recognitions, gifts and honors from colleges/universities or their alumni.

4. CONDUCT/CHARACTER

  • You conduct yourself in or out of school in a way which reflects discredit on your school or the IHSAA.
  • You create a disruptive influence on the discipline, good order, moral and educational environment in your school.

5. ENROLLMENT

  • You did not enroll in school during the first 15 days of a term.
  • You have been enrolled more than twelve consecutive terms beginning with grade 9.
  • You have represented a high school in a sport more than twelve terms.

6. ILLNESS/INJURY

  • You are absent five or more consecutive school days due to illness or injury and do not present to your principal written verification from a physician licensed to practice medicine stating that you may resume participation.

7. PARTICIPATION

  • During Contest Season
    • You participate in try-outs or demonstrations of athletic ability in that sport as a prospective college student-athlete.
    • You participate as a grade 9, 10, 11, or 12 student in a contest with or against a student enrolled in below grade 9.
    • You are on a junior high school (grade 9) team and participate with or against a student enrolled in grade 11 or 12.
    • You participate in an organized athletic athletic contest with or against players not belonging to your school.
    • You participate as an individual on any team other than your school team.
    • You participate as an individual without following the criteria for the outstanding student athlete.
    • You attend a non-school camp.
    • You attend and participate in a student-clinic.
  • During School Year Out-of-Season
    • You participate in a team sport contest, where admission is charged, as a member of a non-school team where there are more than two students who have participated in a contest the previous year as a member of their school team in that sport.
    • You receive instruction in team sports from individuals who are members of your high school coaching staff.
  • During Summer
    • You participate in a team sport contest as a member of a non-school team where there are more than two students who have participated in a contest the previous year as a member of their school team in that sport.
    • You receive instruction in a team sport from individuals who are members of your high school coaching staff.
    • You attend a non-school camp and/or clinic after Monday of Week 3 in football and Monday of Week 5 for all other sports. (See your athletic director for specific dates.)

8. PRACTICE

  • You have not completed ten separate days of organized practice in a sport under the direct supervision of the high school coaching staff preceding participation in a contest.

9. SCHOLARSHIP

  • You did not pass four full credit subjects or the equivalent in your previous grading period. Term grades take precedence.
  • You are not currently passing in four full credit subjects or the equivalent.

10. CONSENT AND RELEASE CERTIFICATE

  • You do not have the completed certificate on file with your principal each school year, between May 1 and your first practice.

11. TRANSFER

  • You transfer from one school to another for athletic reasons.
  • You were not enrolled in your present high school your last term or at a junior high school from which your high school receives its students unless.
    • You are entering the 9th grade for the first time.
    • You are transferring from a school district or territory with a bona fide move by your parents.
    • You are a ward of the court.
    • You are an orphan
    • You reside with a parent with legal custody.
    • Your former school closed.
    • Your former school is not accredited.
    • Your transfer was pursuant to school board mandate.
    • You enrolled and/or attended in error, a wrong school.
    • You transferred from a correctional school.
    • You are emancipated.
    • You are a foreign exchange student attending under an approved NASSP program.
    • You did not participate in any contests as a representative of another school during the preceding 365 days.

12. UNDUE INFLUENCE

  • You have been influenced by any person to retain or secure you as a student or one or both parents or guardians as residents.

INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Phone: 317-846-6601
Fax: 317-575-4244

Last Updated : 10 March 2006 :: by Seth Pizzo : websou@REMOVEmccsc.edu