Guidance
WASHINGTON HIGH SCHOOL GUIDANCE
Students select their classes in the spring of each school year. Registration information is available online to students at the end of July. It is important to understand that the information in this handbook description is the most accurate and up-to-date information available at the time. As course offerings, Department of Education mandates, and curricular updates occur, information in this document may become outdated. The most current version of the WHS Course Description is posted on the Washington High School Website. The on-line version of the Course Description Booklet takes precedence over any older published versions. Recognizing that there may be conflicts, counselors are available on scheduled dates by appointment. These days are one week before school begins in the fall. To better serve students and parents, we ask that you please call the counseling department to set up an appointment with their respective counselor for these dates.
1. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
The following diplomas are awarded at WHS for Classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028
a. Core 40
b. Core 40 with Academic Honors
c. Core 40 with Technical Honors
Students select a curriculum lane with an emphasis on their Career Major selected from the Indiana Career Clusters. The completion of Core 40 is an Indiana graduation requirement. Indiana’s Core 40 curriculum provides the academic foundation all students need to succeed in college and the workforce. Meetings will be scheduled to discuss graduation options for students unable to meet the requirements for the Core 40 Curriculum. A detailed curriculum and course description guide is available in the counseling office and on the school’s website:
https://www.washingtoncommunityschools.org.
Beginning with the Class of 2029 has new Indiana Diploma requirements. There is only one diploma with options for the following:
a. Honors Seal for Enrollment, Employment, and Enlistment
b. Honors Plus Seal for Enrollment, Employment, and Enlistment
Please contact the student’s counselor to receive more detailed information.
2. GRADING SYSTEM
WHS utilizes a cumulative (running total) grading system in which the final grade is calculated from the student’s accumulation of points during the semester. Final exams are calculated in this accumulation of points. Under this system, it is important to understand that the student’s performance is based upon their progress throughout the length of the entire semester. Final letter grades will be recorded on the student’s official transcript. Honor roll and accumulated GPA, along with class rankings will be calculated at the end of each semester
3. WHS GRADING POLICY
NUMERICAL VALUE LETTER GRADE GPA
100 A+ 4.0
94-99 A 4.0
90-93 A- 3.75
87-89 B+ 3.5
83-86 B 3.0
80-82 B- 2.75
77-79 C+ 2.5
73-76 C 2.0
70-72 C- 1.75
67-69 D+ 1.5
63-66 D 1.0
60-62 D- 0.5
0-59 F 0.0
4. WEIGHTED GRADES:
The following courses are designated as courses that are weighted at WHS:
ALGEBRA II H ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY AP COMPUTER SCIENCE A
AP COMP SCIENCE PR AP STATISTICS BIOLOGY H
CALCULUS AB AP CHEMISTRY AP CHEMISTRY I
ECONOMICS H ENGLISH 10 H ENGLISH 9 H
FRENCH IV GEOMETRY H LANGUAGE COMP AP
LIT COMP AP PHYSICS I AP PRECALC H
SPANISH IV US GOV H US HISTORY AP
WORLD HIST AP
a. The number of weighted classes that a student can be credited for is capped at 16 (32 possible weighted semesters/credits). Students may still take additional classes that fall under the weighted category, but once passing the 32 weighted semesters, these courses will receive no additional weight.
b. Once a student completes a weighted class receiving a grade of “C” or above, they will receive an additional .015625 points added directly to their cumulative GPA.
Sample: GPA: 4.0 (all A’s) + 32 weighted credits .015625 = 4.5 (weighted GPA)
5. WHS HONORS INFORMATION
a. SENIORS
i. VALEDICTORIAN
- Based on accumulated weighted GPA at the end of 8 semesters
- Highest accumulated weighted GPA
- Minimum 4 semesters at WHS
ii. SALUTATORIAN
- Based on accumulated weighted GPA at the end of 8 semesters
- Second highest accumulated weighted GPA
- Minimum 4 semesters at WHS
iii. HONOR STOLE
- Awarded to top 10% of graduating class
b. HIGH HONOR ROLL
- Based on each semester
- All A’s
- Minimum 5 credits
c. HONOR ROLL
- Based on each semester
- All A’s and B’s
- Minimum 5 credits
6. ACADEMIC HONORS CEREMONY
Accumulated GPA for honorees
a. Seniors- 3.9 or above (based on 7 semesters)
b. Juniors- 3.85 or above (based on 5 semesters)
c. Sophomores- 3.85 or above (based on 3 semesters)
7. FLEX PE CREDIT OPTION
The Indiana Department of Education has opened the possibility to allow students to earn physical education credits in ways other than attending traditional PE classes, provided state criteria is met. This criterion allows a school to issue PE credit for other activities students participate in which would include: any sport in our athletic program (provided an outdoor activity or conditioning component is implemented), WHS Dance Team, WHS Show Choir, and WHS Marching Band. Forms for the Flexible PE Option can be found on the WHS website under “Guidance.” Flexible PE credits will be allowed under the following guidelines:
a. One semester of credit in PE will be issued for successful completion of a sport/activity and its full season in our athletic department or school. A second semester of PE credit will be issued for successful completion of another season in a distinctly different sport or activity. Department of Education literature on this topic states that it is not the intention of this opportunity to allow a student to earn all PE credits through participating for two years in one sport/activity. If a student only participates in one sport/activity, then the student would have to complete one semester of traditional PE class.
b. Students earning both semesters of PE credit through flex credits may be required to take the Indiana Physical Education End Of course Knowledge Assessment. This test measures basic knowledge of motor skills, nutrition, health-wellness, and physical fitness. WHS would provide students with a study guide for this test, to be administered during homeroom, and supervised by a licensed PE teacher.
c. A rubric form will be used by students and their coach or sponsor to certify flexible PE credit. A student would earn an A for meeting the requirements.
d. A student must declare to their counselor during registration prior to the beginning of the 9th grade year their intention to earn flexible PE credit. Any student that has not completed flexible PE credit by the end of their 10th grade year will automatically be enrolled in classroom PE for their 11th grade year.
e. Students may apply for flexible PE credit for activities not approved in this document. A student must apply to the principal. If the principal determines the activity may have merit for flexible credit, a committee composed of the principal, athletic director, a counselor, current PE teacher, and one representative from either band, show choir, or dance team will determine eligibility for flexible PE credit. A student must seek approval for an activity not approved in this policy in advance, prior to participation in the activity.
f. A student would not be eligible for flex PE credit if they were suspended during a sports season for an Athletic Code of Conduct violation
Please fill out the WHS PE Waiver Application found in the athletic office and give it to the athletic secretary at the beginning of the sport/activity season. The athletic secretary will keep the application for the remainder of the season/term, request signatures from the coach, complete the application, and turn it into Mr. Cochren for verification. The counseling department will then record the grade.
8. FINAL EXAMS
Students are required to take their “Final Exams” only on the date scheduled by administration. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the principal.
VINCENNES UNIVERSITY EARLY COLLEGE PROGRAM AT WHS
GUIDELINES FOR DUAL CREDIT COMPLETION
Washington High School students can earn dual credit (high school and college credit) through Vincennes University Early College programming and through courses from Indiana State University. These courses may be taken online or at WHS during the school day. These courses are all taught at a college level. Due to this fact, students taking dual credit courses take on a high level of responsibility in completing their work in a proficient and timely manner.
Both parents and students must understand and adhere to the following conditions:
1. Washington High School’s priority is offering students the ability to earn a high school diploma. Students who are interested in satisfying degree requirements from VU through the Early College program are ultimately responsible for these requirements. Washington High School staff will assist. Mrs. Arvin (darvin@vinu.edu), our Vincennes University liaison will also be able to assist with the VU requirements. Information regarding Indiana State University can be found in the counseling office.
2. ALL dual credit courses taken by Washington High School students will appear on both the college and high school transcripts, regardless of the grade. These grades WILL count toward your college and high school GPA.
3. As a precaution, parents and students should be aware that college courses, at WHS, VU campus and online, require a greater amount of organization and management by the student than an ordinary high school course. Students are responsible to always adhere to college course deadlines. Students who do not adhere to the university deadlines may receive poor grades. These grades WILL appear on the high school transcript.
4. Students who have questions regarding dual credit coursework or VU coursework should communicate with their WHS teacher or the professor of the course. Students taking online classes should email the professor through the student’s MyVU account. If a student is having difficulty communicating with a VU professor, please email Mrs. Arvin (darvin@vinu.edu).
5. Students will not be registered for a class through Vincennes University until all registration forms and fees are submitted to the counseling office.
6. Students have a small window to withdraw from dual credit classes. Please see Mrs. Arvin for more information on the time frame.
COURSE RETAKE/GRADE REPLACEMENT
A grade retake/replacement occurs when a student retakes a class that he/she has already taken to hopefully receive a better grade. A student who receives below a C- on a course may retake that course for credit. The second grade earned will be averaged with the first grade earned. This average will figure into the cumulative GPA. Both grades will remain on the transcript. A student may take advantage of this option up to two times in his/her high school career. This would allow a student trying to earn an Indiana Academic Honors diploma and opportunity to retake a class where he/she might have received below a C-, thus giving him/her an opportunity to keep his/her Academic Honors diploma.
Retakes of passing classes may NOT be taken via credit recovery. Students may recoup credits from failed classes via credit recovery with counselor/administrative approval. Students wishing to take a course for the first time using online credit recovery software may only do so with counselor/administrative approval. Any student who is retaking a class must do so within one year of the original class. Also, students may not retake a class after graduation.
8th GRADE CLASSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT
PREPARING FOR COLLEGE AND CAREERS
Grades earned in 8th grade Preparing for College and Careers (PCC) will be recorded on the high school transcript as high school credit.
ALGEBRA
Grades earned in 8th grade Algebra will be recorded on the high school transcript as high school credit unless students decide to retake Algebra in the 9th grade. Students taking Geometry in 8th grade for high school credit must abide by the high school course retake policy.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Class changes after the semester begins place the student at an immediate disadvantage. Class sizes and crowded conditions often impose additional restrictions to schedule changes. All such changes must be approved and directed by the counselors. The administration reserves the right to change student schedules if necessary. No additional changes will be made after this time unless authorized by the counselor or principal.
1. FIRST SEMESTER
All changes must be submitted within the 1st 5 days of the semester. No changes will be made after the 5-day deadline.
2. SECOND SEMESTER
Students will be allowed to change classes within the 1st (5) school days from the beginning of the second semester. No changes will be made after the (5) day deadline.
CORE 40 OPT-OUT PROCESS
The minimum diploma for WHS is considered the completion of Core 40. Indiana’s Core 40 curriculum provides the academic foundation all students need to succeed in college and the workforce.
To graduate with less than core 40, the following formal opt-out process must be completed:
1. The student, the student’s parent/guardian, and the student’s counselor meet to discuss the student’s progress.
2. The student’s career and course plan are reviewed.
3. The student’s parent/guardian determines whether the student will achieve greater educational benefits by completing the general curriculum or the Core 40 curriculum.
If the decision is made to opt-out of Core 40, the student is required to complete the course and credit requirements for a general diploma.
GOOD STANDING
Students requiring school permission to be involved in extracurricular activities must be in Good Standing.(Extra-curricular activities include but are not limited to dances, permits, and/or field trips). Students are in Good Standing if they are currently passing all their scheduled classes. Students who are in AE need to be making equivalent progress as determined by the instructor.