GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
GRADUATION CREDITS NEEDED
24 Academic Credits
EARLY GRADUATION
Students may graduate at the conclusion of the 11th grade if they have completed the 24 credit requirements for graduation and have completed the requisite coursework as well as successfully passed the UBSCT. Application must be made upon registration for the eleventh grade or no later than November 15th of the junior year. Students need to contact their mentor or Student Educational Occupation Plan (SEOP) Committee for further information.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Successful completion of the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test is required for graduation. This test is given during the 10th grade year.
REQUIRED CREDITS BREAKDOWN
4.0 Units Language Arts
9th grade level (1.0 unit)
10th grade level (1.0 unit)
11th grade level (1.0 unit
Applied or advanced language credit (1.0 unit)
3.0 Units Science
A minimum of two courses from the four science foundation areas
Earth Systems (1.0 unit)
Biological Science (1.0 unit)
Chemistry (1.0 unit)
Physics (1.0 unit)
One additional unit from foundation courses or applied or advanced science list
3.0 Units Mathematics
Successful completion of Algebra I or Applied Mathematics I and Geometry or Applied Mathematics II and other mathematics course of applied or supplemental to above classes
2.0 Units Health/P.E.
Health (0.5 unit)
Participation Skills (0.5 unit)
Fitness for Life (0.5 unit)
Individual lifetime activities or team sports (maximum of 0.5 unit)
1.5 Units Fine Arts
1.5 credits from any of the following areas: Visual arts, Music, Dance, or Theatre
2.5 Units Social Studies
Geography for Life (0.5 unit)
World Civilizations (0.5 unit)
US History (1.0 unit)
US Government and Citizenship (0.5 unit)
1.0 Unit Career Technology Education
Computer technology (0.5 unit)
Educational Technology (0.5 unit)
0.5 Unit Financial Literacy
1.0 Unit Leadership
5.0 Units Elective
(Any extra credit earned in the above requirements, and/or any elective credit of choice)
Again, questions regarding student education occupation plans (SEOP), graduation requirements, electives, or any other issues arising, should be directed to your mentor and/or your SEOP committee.
UTAH CORE CURRICULUM AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT
The Utah Core Curriculum for the secondary level is divided into 10 areas:
● Language Arts ● Mathematics
● The Sciences ● Social Studies
● Fine Arts ● World Languages
● Health Education ● Physical Education
● Educational Technology ● Library Media
RCHS is committed to providing diverse course offerings to the students based upon this secondary core curriculum. The school’s course offerings mirror the larger list of course offerings available online from the Utah State Office of Education.
Students electing to participate in the Scholars Program will be required to take a certain number of Advanced Placement courses (AP) to qualify for the specific designations in addition to the basic graduation diploma. Other students will also be able to take these AP courses. Students are not required to take the tests in order to earn Rockwell graduation credit. However, in order to be considered for college credit or higher placement or both at the college or university of their choice, students must take and score at least a 3 on the AP exams.
The AP exams are accepted by over 90% of all colleges and universities in the US and Canada as well as by colleges and universities in 20 other nations--they will give credit to incoming students, give placement, or both for qualifying AP exam grades.
RCHS will also participate in the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) as well. The IB program is an internationally recognized diploma program. For more information about the IB program go to www.ibo.org.
RCHS BOARD RULES REGARDING CREDITS EARNED
In accordance with Utah State Law, Rockwell Charter High School has a policy that has been approved in an open meeting by the governing board explaining the process and standards for acceptance and reciprocity of credits earned by students in accordance with Utah state law. This policy provides for specific and adequate notice to students and parents of all policy requirements and limitations. More details regarding this law are available in R277-705(3).
Students must be approved to take classes off site or online while enrolled at the school. RCHS has a strong desire to facilitate students taking courses that are not otherwise available to them in whatever format they may be available. However, pre-approval by the school will ensure that students do not take courses offered by unaccredited institutions or that do not meet Utah Core Curriculum requirements.
ACADEMIC YEAR, DROPPING A COURSE AND GRADING
The Academic year is divided into four quarters or nine-week periods. Progress reports can be provided as needed, but mandatory report cards will be sent home at the end of each quarter. Report cards will be sent home at the end of each semester within 9 working days.
Dropping a Course requires a conference between the student and the mentor or some other member of the Student Education Occupation Plan (SEOP) committee and must be done within two weeks of the start of the quarter.
Grading will be the traditional letter grade format. Teachers will have the option of issuing an “I” grade for incomplete work which the student will have two weeks to complete or make up. After that the “I” will become an “F.”
Rockwell is a public school of choice where students and their parents/guardians choose to attend. Students must abide by RCHS”s rules and policies Students consistently failing courses who are not on IEPs will be placed on academic probation.
The grade system is as follows:
A+ = 97-100% A = 93-96% A- = 90-92%
B+ = 87-89% B = 83-86% B- = 80-82%
C+ = 77-79% C = 73-76% C- = 70-72%
D = 60-69% F = 0-59%
An academic letter is available from RCHS for the following:
Charter Excellence List—GPA of 3.7 or above
Acknowledged Scholar List—GPA of 3.3 – 3.69
Honorable Mention—GPA of 3.0 –3.29
Students may choose to enroll in 9th grade as an RCHS Scholar, a program designed and used by Peak to Peak, a successful charter school in Colorado. It is based on admissions criteria from numerous ranked universities in the United States. It was created for motivated students who desire more challenge out of their secondary experience. In order to be accepted to this program, students and their parents must complete an application.
The three scholar diplomas that will be offered are as follows:
The RCHS Scholar Diploma requires the following:
• Advanced Placement: Must have a minimum grade of 3 on at least 3 full-year AP exams
• Academic Achievement: GPA of 3.2 or higher
• Community Service: 75 hours of community service over a 4 year period
• Leadership, Arts, Athletics, Technology: Essay of achievements in one of these areas or an area approved by a mentor or the SEOP committee
The RCHS Scholar with Honors Diploma requires the following:
• Advanced Placement: Must have a minimum grade of 3 on at least 4 full-year AP exams
• Academic Achievement: GPA of 3.6 or higher
• Community Service: 100 hours of community service over a 4 year period
• Leadership, Arts, Athletics, Technology: Essay of achievements in one of these areas or an area approved by a mentor or the SEOP committee
The RCHS Scholar with High Honors Diploma requires the following:
• Advanced Placement: Must have a minimum grade of 3 on at least 5 full-year AP exams
• Academic Achievement: GPA of 3.9 or higher
• Community Service: 125 hours of community service over a 4 year period
• Leadership, Arts, Athletics, Technology: Essay of achievements in one of these areas or an area approved by a mentor or the SEOP committee
SERVICE LEARNING/ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES
Students will be invited to join one of several service learning organizations that will be available including Beta Club, National Junior Leadership Conference, and Power in You. These clubs will adopt a specific issue and service project each semester on which to focus. Students will be graded for their participation.
RCHS will participate in a number of academic, athletic and various other competitions which will be determined by the students’ interest levels.