ELIGIBILITY & ACADEMIC PROBATION

Transcription

1 Course Catalog

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PRINCIPAL S MESSAGE... 5 MISSION STATEMENT... 5 INTRODUCTION... 6 CODE OF HONOR... 7 ELIGIBILITY & ACADEMIC PROBATION... 8 CCSD ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY... 8 PHYSICAL EDUCATION II WAIVER CREDIT... 9 ACADEMIC RECOGNITIONS... 9 Grade Point Average (G.P.A.)... 9 LVA Academic Awards... 9 Las Vegas Academy Medallion Program Academic Excellence Award Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship Program Matriculation Early Graduation Issuing of Diplomas POST SECONDARY PLANNING CCSD Guidance and Counseling Website Four Year Academic Plan Military Service

3 College / University Preparation College Readiness Assessments Student Success Center and Counseling Services NCAA Initial Eligibility Requirements REGISTRATION INFORMATION st Century Course of Study Expectations Advanced Placement Classes (AP) Dual Credit Courses Repeating Courses Schedule Change Policy Petitioning a Course CHANGE OF MAJOR / ADDITION OF MINOR EMPHASIS PROCESS ADDITIONAL CREDIT SOURCES Concurrent Credit Options EXTERNAL CREDIT OPTIONS Core Area Graduation Planner Academic Course Descriptions ENGLISH DEPARTMENT HEALTH / CAREER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT MATHEMATICS DEPARTMENT PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SCIENCE DEPARTMENT SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT WORLD LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT OCCUPATIONAL RELATED COURSES STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

4 MAJOR COURSE DESCRIPTIONS DANCE DEPARTMENT LIBERAL ARTS DEPARTMENT THEATRE DEPARTMENT VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT LVA ELECTIVE COURSE OFFERINGS REGISTRATION WORKSHEETS The Clark County School District does not knowingly discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, or disability in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, or participation in its programs and activities and provide equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. Visit us at our website at 4

5 PRINCIPAL S MESSAGE As you prepare for the school year at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, it is extremely important that you review the course offerings as well as determine your choices to ensure your class selections will support your post-high school career and educational goals. You will be committed to remaining in the courses you select, once scheduled for the entire year. The curriculum offered at LVA will prepare you for almost any field you wish to pursue. Your counselor, teachers, and department coordinators are available to assist you in your decisions on your course selections. Please be aware that LVA offers expanded opportunities for you to earn high school credits as well as to begin work towards a post-secondary degree through the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) by Dual Enrollment and Tech Prep. Your counselor, parents and major instructors are the key individuals who can help you plan your class selections. Another new resource available to you for college and career planning is our new Success Center. The Community Outreach Coordinator and other volunteers are prepared to offer guidance with scholarships, financial aid, employment, private lessons, auditions, resumes, portfolio development, tutoring and proficiency preparation. We look forward to a successful year! Sincerely, Scott Walker Principal, LVA MISSION STATEMENT Las Vegas Academy promotes an interdisciplinary foundation for lifelong learning by motivating, empowering, and challenging our students to be academic, artistic, and compassionate individuals. LVA WAY Invest in FAMILY ~ A Sense of Belonging impacts physical and mental health. Build CHARACTER ~ Uphold Integrity, Respect and Honesty Embrace a POSITIVE ATTITUDE ~ Embellish with Humor and Fun ACHIEVEMENT: Exceed Mastery ~ Creativity, Passion and Determination are catalysts. Defend TRUTH, JUSTICE and the LVA WAY. 5

6 INTRODUCTION Parents and students should be aware of LVA s commitment to providing a rigorous and challenging curriculum. Student placement in classes will be based upon several factors: (a) teacher recommendation; (b) previous grades in similar courses; (c) parental guidance; and (d) interest of the student. Every effort will be made to appropriately place students in challenging courses, which coincide with the student s assessed ability. Students are not placed in courses below their ability levels. Students will be scheduled into their selected classes unless those classes are filled or canceled. The courses offered in this book are dependent on student requests and staffing. Subsequently, some courses listed may be dropped when the schedule is built. Courses selected in the spring during pre-registration are the courses students will be required to attend throughout the school year. It is, therefore, essential that parents and students understand that changing class placements will not occur other than those requests governed by the schedule change policy. (See page 20). Choose your classes carefully. HOW TO USE THIS CATALOG READ this entire course registration guide and the course descriptions carefully before you register. Be certain that you have met the prerequisites for selected courses. Students must meet these prerequisites to enroll in a course or request permission to challenge the course. DISCUSS your course selection with your parents/guardians, teachers, and your counselors before registration. Many subjects require a teacher recommendation and signature. Teachers will recommend English, mathematics, science and social studies placements. CHOOSE courses that will challenge you and give you the best possible preparation for your future in terms of your career and educational goals. Students will not be able to take classes below their achievement level. COMPLETE the registration form. List your required classes first, and then list your electives. Make four elective choices. In the event elective choices are filled and/or cancelled, you will be assigned your alternate choice(s) based on the priority listing you designate. Counselors will review core class recommendations during one-onone conferences. Students planning to attend summer school will be pre-registered based on the next logical course sequence according to their spring schedule. If a student successfully completes summer school, courses may be changed upon returning to school in the fall. Seniors must apply for a reduced class load (shortened day) during preregistration. Reduced class loads may not be approved after the school year begins. Only seniors that have passed all exams required for graduation will be permitted to apply for a reduced class load. UNDERSTAND that you are expected to remain in the classes you have selected during preregistration throughout the school year. Exceptions will only be made when graduation requirements need to be met or for reasons governed through the schedule change policy. 6

7 CODE OF HONOR Nevada Department of Education There is a clear expectation that all students will perform academic tasks with honor and integrity, with the support of parents, staff, faculty, administration, and the community. The learning process requires students to think, process, organize and create their own ideas. Throughout this process, students gain knowledge, self-respect, and ownership in the work that they do. These qualities provide a solid foundation for life skills, impacting people positively throughout their lives. Cheating and plagiarism violate the fundamental learning process and compromise personal integrity and one s honor. Students demonstrate academic honesty and integrity by not cheating, plagiarizing or using information unethically in any way. What is cheating? Cheating or academic dishonesty can take many forms, but always involves the improper taking of information from and/or giving of information to another student, individual, or other source. Examples of cheating can include, but are not limited to: Taking or copying answers on an examination or any other assignment from another student or other source Giving answers on an examination or any other assignment to another student Copying assignments that are turned in as original work Collaborating on exams, assignments, papers, and/or projects without specific teacher permission Allowing others to do the research or writing for an assigned paper Using unauthorized electronic devices Falsifying data or lab results, including changing grades electronically What is plagiarism? Plagiarism is a common form of cheating or academic dishonesty in the school setting. It is representing another person s works or ideas as your own without giving credit to the proper source and submitting it for any purpose. Examples of plagiarism can include, but are not limited to: Submitting someone else s work, such as published sources in part or whole, as your own without giving credit to the source Turning in purchased papers or papers from the Internet written by someone else Representing another person s artistic or scholarly works such as musical compositions, computer programs, photographs, drawings, or paintings as your own Helping others plagiarize by giving them your work All stakeholders have a responsibility in maintaining academic honesty. Educators must provide the tools and teach the concepts that afford students the knowledge to understand the characteristics of cheating and plagiarism. Parents must support their students in making good decisions relative to completing coursework assignments and taking exams. Students must produce work that is theirs alone, recognizing the importance of thinking for themselves and learning independently, when that is the nature of the assignment. Adhering to the Code of Honor for the purposes of academic honesty promotes an essential skill that goes beyond the school environment. Honesty and integrity are useful and valuable traits impacting one s life. Questions or concerns regarding the consequences associated with a violation of the Code of Honor may be directed towards your child s school administration and/or the school district. 7

8 ELIGIBILITY & ACADEMIC PROBATION Students at LVA are expected to work with equal dedication in both their Major and Academic courses. Students are expected to maintain a minimum of a 2.0 (C) overall grade point average every semester with a minimum of a 2.0 (C) grade point average in all major classes. Students who do not meet these expectations or fail any class will be placed on Academic Probation and subject to enrollment review by administration. Therefore, it is imperative you choose your classes wisely to ensure success. CCSD ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY Initial Eligibility General Requirements 1. Must be enrolled in grades Must reside in the school of enrollment s attendance zone. 3. Must be enrolled in a minimum of two units of credit consisting of at least four classes per semester and regularly attend school. 4. Must have passed a minimum of two units of credit the immediate preceding semester with a minimum grade point average of 2.0. A student may earn a maximum of one unit of external credit (summer school, correspondence, etc.) to improve a previous semester deficiency. 5. Transfer students are automatically presumed ineligible. Rebuttal of presumption of ineligibility guidelines are contained in Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association regulations (NAC ). 6. Secondary Magnet/CTA students who enroll for less than a three year (3) program or enroll in individual classes are ineligible for sports at the Magnet/CTA for 180 days. Students who drop from the Magnet/CTA will become automatically ineligible for sports at the Magnet/CTA for 180 days. If a student chooses to return to his/her school residence, he/she would be ineligible for the remainder of that school year and for 180 days in any sport in which he/she appeared on an NIAA roster during his/her attendance at the Magnet/CTA. 7. Secondary Open Enrollment students who are selected to attend an Open Enrollment school are eligible to participate in athletics. Students who change schools will become automatically ineligible for the remainder of the current school year and for 180 school days in any sport his/her name appeared on an NIAA roster during his/her attendance at the Open Enrollment school. 8. Career Technical Academy/Charter School/Home-Schooled students are eligible to participate in athletics in the school that is located in the attendance zone of the residence of the parent or legal guardian. Maintenance of Eligibility 1. Must maintain passing grades in all subjects during the current athletic season. 2. Must regularly attend school. Must be in school in order to participate in practice or games on any given day. 3. Must maintain positive citizenship. Students on RPC or suspension are not eligible to participate. Serious and/or chronic behavior infractions may result in suspension of athletic participation for up to one year, at the discretion of the principal. Additional specific eligibility guidelines are contained in Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association regulations (NAC ) and Clark County School District regulation

9 PHYSICAL EDUCATION II WAIVER CREDIT A maximum of ONE Physical Education II Waiver credit may be earned toward graduation. Students are required to participate in and complete one of the school-sponsored activities listed below. Team Managers are not eligible for the P.E. Waiver; however, they may be eligible for Community Service credit. Baseball Varsity, Junior Varsity Basketball Varsity, Junior Varsity, B-Team Bowling Varsity, B-Team Cheerleaders Varsity, Junior Varsity, B-Team Cross Country Varsity Flag Football Varsity, Junior Varsity, B-Team Football Varsity, Junior Varsity, B-Team Golf Varsity Marching Band/Flags/Mascots Soccer Varsity, Junior Varsity, B-Team Softball Varsity, Junior Varsity, B-Team Swimming Varsity Tennis Varsity Track Varsity Volleyball Varsity, Junior Varsity, B-Team Wrestling Varsity, Junior Varsity Students may also earn P.E. Waiver credit by completing 120 hours of external course work under the direct supervision of a qualified instructor or coach who is a credentialed and/or licensed professional outside the school district. Use of external credit for the P.E. Waiver credit requires completion of the CCF-850: External Credit Application. The activity must be geared toward competition or performance-based and it is expected that the student will compete/perform in the activity. Membership in a gym does not meet this criterion. ACADEMIC RECOGNITIONS Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) In order to determine a student s rank in class, a G.P.A. is used: each A = 4 points, each B = 3 points, each C = 2 points, each D = 1 point, each F = 0 points. The points are totaled and then divided by the number of one-half credit classes taken. The G.P.A. is a cumulative total beginning with the student s 9th grade coursework and some 8th grade math and foreign language courses. Refer to Honors program for weighted G.P.A. calculations. Each semester, students will be identified for Honor Roll based on their un-weighted GPA for that semester: Cum Laude GPA Magna Cum Laude GPA Summa Cum Laude 4.0 GPA LVA Academic Awards Graduating seniors will be given special recognition if they have achieved an Honors status. These honors are based on the student s cumulative grade point average. Las Vegas Academy Medallion Program* 3.85 (weighted) GPA Las Vegas Academy Academic Excellence* 3.25 (unweighted) & 3.85 (weighted) *Specific coursework required 9

10 Las Vegas Academy Medallion Program The Las Vegas Academy Medallion Program is designed to recognize students who exhibit excellence in academic achievement above the Clark County School District Honors Program diploma requirements. Those meeting all requirements of the program will be honored with a special presentation at the annual Awards Program. In addition, the student will receive a special medallion to be worn at graduation. 1. Students must meet all minimum graduation requirements as outlined by Las Vegas Academy, the Clark County School District, and the State of Nevada. Required Areas of Study: Required Number of Designated Honors/AP Courses: a) English 4 b) Math 3 c) Science 3 d) Social Studies 3 e) Foreign Language 2 15 credits required 2. Overall Grade Point Average - The final requirement for the Las Vegas Academy Medallion Program is that students must have an overall seven (7) semester grade point average of 3.85 weighted or higher with no D s or F s on the transcript. Academic Excellence Award Graduating seniors will be given special recognition at graduation if they have achieved Academic Excellence status. Students must complete the 21 st Century Course of Study requirements in addition to meeting the below qualifications. Candidates for the Academic Excellence Award will be identified at the end of the fall semester of their senior year (7 semesters). Academic Excellence will be awarded for students who achieve 3.25 unweighted and 3.85 weighted or above GPA overall with no D s or F s on their transcript and at least one honors or AP course. Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship Program The State of Nevada's Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship Program provides financial support to Nevada's high school graduates who attend an eligible Nevada community college, state college, or university. You may receive up to a maximum award of $10,000 for undergraduate coursework during the six years following your high school graduation. There is no application form to complete. If you meet all Millennium Scholarship requirements upon high school graduation, the District will submit your name in mid-july to the Office of the State Treasurer. You will receive an award notification early August. A factsheet on policy guidelines and requirements for eligibility can be obtained by calling or at Please note that this information is subject to any changes in state law, policies adopted by the NSHE Board of Regents, availability of funding, and any related matters hereto. Valedictorian and Salutatorian Valedictorian status is awarded to the student(s) earning the highest grade point average (with Bonus Points) in the graduating class. Salutatorian status is awarded to the student(s) earning the second highest grade point average (with Bonus Points) in the class. Candidates for the valedictorian/salutatorian designations will be identified at the end of the fall semester of their senior year (7 semesters). The final ranking will be based on any and all completed high school credit granting courses completed by the end of eight semesters, including those courses which receive Bonus Points. 10

11 Matriculation Grade classification for high school students is determined by years in school, not on credit earned. Students are classified to the next grade level at the end of each school year. Early Graduation The administration and the counseling staff of Las Vegas Academy strongly discourage students from pursuing early graduation; however, some students may complete all graduation requirements prior to the completion of a regular four-year program. Students who wish to graduate prior to completing eight semesters are required to make a formal application. Application forms available in the Counselor s Office must be completed in full and submitted for administrative approval one semester prior to graduation. Students with approval to graduate early will receive senior status upon successful completion of the first semester and passing all subtests of the NHSPE. Therefore, students graduating early retain their present class status for first semester. Academy students graduating early should not consider themselves seniors nor participate in any senior activity until second semester. Issuing of Diplomas Diplomas will be issued to all students who qualify during or after, but not before, the regular commencement exercises as scheduled by the Clark County School District. Students who do not complete both semesters of their senior year at Las Vegas Academy and wish to receive a Las Vegas Academy diploma must: 1. Not be enrolled in any other high school in the State of Nevada. 2. Not accept any other high school diploma. 3. Be in attendance on the Las Vegas Academy campus a minimum of one (1) semester of his/her final year. 4. Have met all requirements as specified by the State of Nevada and the Clark County School District for receiving a diploma. Students who transfer to Las Vegas Academy during their senior year from out-of-state and cannot meet district and state graduation requirements may request assistance from Las Vegas Academy to receive a diploma from their previous high school. These students must: 1. Receive permission from their previous high school to graduate with their class, according to their graduation requirements. 2. Not request a Las Vegas Academy diploma. 3. Request from Las Vegas Academy placement in classes that would meet the graduation requirements from his/her previous high school. Las Vegas Academy will attempt to make the correct placement however, a guarantee that all classes the student requires will be offered, or that placement can be made, cannot be given. Foreign Exchange Students who enroll at Las Vegas Academy will not expect to receive a Las Vegas Academy diploma. Because of the tremendous variety of credits the foreign exchange students have accumulated prior to enrolling in LVA and because of the Nevada Proficiency Examinations, it is unrealistic that these students should expect to receive a diploma. The Academy pledges to work closely with our foreign exchange students to provide them with a well-balanced program, including courses in English and U.S. History or U.S. Government, allowing them to experience the life of an American high school student. 11

12 POST SECONDARY PLANNING CCSD Guidance and Counseling Website The Guidance and Counseling website which can be found at is designed to provide students and parents with information on counseling services provided by the school district. It also serves as a support reference for preparing students for their future educational decisions. Information on diploma requirements, scholarship opportunities and post-secondary opportunities are just a few of examples of what is available on the website. Four Year Academic Plan An online four year Course Plan will be created by all 9th grade students and updated each year thereafter in Infinite Campus. This plan sets forth specific educational goals that students intend to achieve before graduation. The Course Plan, which includes a four year high school Academic Program, will be used as a guide to manage the student s educational development and course selection in alignment with an identified Academic Program. Revising the Course Plan annually will assist students in preparation for graduation and post-secondary goals. The plan includes students and parents: Working in consultation with a school counselor to develop the Course Plan Parent review and approval Reviewing the plan yearly and revising as needed Military Service A career in the Armed Services can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience. Training is provided in a specialty occupation based upon individual skills, interests, abilities, and the overall needs of the service. LVA offers the Armed Services Vocational Ability Battery (ASVAB) each year to help students match their skills, interests and abilities with military and civilian occupations. Counselors are able to advise students on military careers; military recruiters are also available to help students make decisions, write contracts, determine eligibility, and guarantee job training. Community College System Information Community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges, offer two-year programs that lead to an Associate of Arts degree and/or a Certification. A high school diploma is recommended for admission. College / University Preparation Minimum graduation requirements do not necessarily prepare students for college. Counselors provide information on specific college requirements and we recommend that the parent or student contact the admissions office of the school of the student s choice. Las Vegas Academy recommends the following program as a minimum college preparatory program: MINIMUM ACADEMIC COURSE WORK 4 years English English 9/10/11/12, Literature, Composition HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 2 years Foreign Language (see College Handbook) 3 years Social Studies World History, U.S. History, U.S. Government 3 years Math Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II 3 years Science Biology, Chemistry, Physics 12 Computer Science or Computer Applications Honor, dual credit, and/or AP courses 4 years of math and science

13 College Readiness Assessments All Clark County School District students will take the PSAT at no cost (pending final budget allocations) during the sophomore year to provide data that will assist in determining the student s potential success in Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Taking the PSAT in the sophomore year also prepares the student for the SAT. The PSAT taken as a junior (at the cost of the student) is used to identify National Merit Scholarship Semi-finalists. All juniors will take the ACT with Writing exam in the Spring. The College and Career Readiness Assessment (ACT) is a requirement for graduation. Juniors will take the ACT in spring of their junior year at no cost. Students planning to attend college may also prepare for the ACT entrance exam by taking the PLAN test during his/her sophomore year. It is recommended that students take ACT and/or SAT in the spring of their junior year, as most four-year colleges/universities require either test for admission. In addition, some colleges/universities require a minimum score on the ACT and/or SAT to determine placement in freshman English and math courses. Finally, some universities determine scholarship eligibility on ACT and/or SAT results. Note: It may be necessary to retake the ACT and/or SAT to increase the student s score. This may enable a student to avoid placement in a remedial math and/or English college course. Remedial courses at Nevada System of Higher Education Institutions provide no college credit and are not paid for by the Millennium Scholarship program. Student Success Center and Counseling Services Though CCSD mandates that every student generate a four-year plan, LVA extends this concept and creates a ten-year plan for every student so to firmly establish a post-secondary guide. To this end, we have launched our Student Success Center. This center is open to students and their family members daily during school hours. There are ample computers with internet access, work space, and friendly volunteers to assist with a wide variety of needs. We can assist you with Infinite Campus, college and scholarship information, resume and portfolio building, internship and summer program opportunities, and much more. We look forward to assisting you! RETURN TO HOME SCHOOL POLICY Students who accept enrollment and elect to attend Las Vegas Academy of the Arts are required to remain enrolled throughout the full school year. Students may choose to return to their home school only at the conclusion of the school year. Students who give up their seat at LVA must reapply in order to return. NCAA Initial Eligibility Requirements In order to participate in collegiate athletics, students must register with the NCAA at This should be initiated in the student s junior year. NCAA Division I and Division II require 16 core courses. See the charts below. NCAA Division I will require 10 core courses to be completed prior to the seventh semester (seven of the 10 must be a combination of English, math or natural or physical science that meet the distribution requirements below). These 10 courses become "locked in" at the start of the seventh semester and cannot be retaken for grade improvement. Division I core GPA required to be eligible for competition on or after August 1, 2016, is The Division I ACT/SAT minimum score is determined by the core GPA on the Division I sliding scale. Division II requires a minimum SAT score of 820 or ACT sum score of 68 and a core GPA of

14 Beginning August 1, 2018, Division II core GPA to be eligible for competition is Be sure to look at your high school s List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website ( Only courses that appear on your school's List of NCAA Courses will be used in the calculation of the core GPA. Beginning August 1, 2016, it will be possible for a Division I college-bound student-athlete to still receive athletics aid and the ability to practice with the team if he or she fails to meet the 10 course requirement, but would not be able to compete. Required Courses* Division I Division II English 4 3 Mathematics (Alg I or higher) 3 2 Science (minimum 1 lab science) 2 2 Additional In Above 1 3 Social Studies 2 2 Additional Core Courses** 4 4 *Remedial, special education, compensatory or related courses do not qualify for initial eligibility. **From any core area, foreign language, comparative religion or philosophy. CTE College Credit CTE College Credit provides an opportunity for secondary students who complete state-approved programs in career and technical education (CTE) to earn postsecondary credit at no cost to the student. CTE College Credit is articulated credit, the high school coursework aligns to postsecondary courses and the teacher of record is a high school CTE teacher. To qualify for the CTE College Credit, students must: 1. Earn a 3.0 grade point average in their CTE course sequence; 2. Pass the state end-of-program technical content assessment; 3. Pass the state Workplace Readiness assessment for employability skills. Students who complete a CTE program of study according to the criteria are eligible to earn the CTE College Credit within three years of graduating from high school and upon admission to the postsecondary institution. The amount of credit is dependent upon the state standards for each high school CTE program and how the standards align to the college courses for a certificate or degree in a related career pathway. CTE COURSES OF STUDY OFFERED AT LVA Animation Graphic Design Photography Video Production Theatre Technology Animation I Animation II Animation III Graphic Design I Graphic Design II Graphic Design III Photography I Photography II Photography III Video Production I Video Production II Video Production III Theatre Tech I Theatre Tech II Theatre Tech III Theatre Tech AS Fashion, Textiles & Design Fashion I Fashion II Fashion III Please note: students must take all courses listed within the specific CTE area in order to qualify for college credit. 14

15 REGISTRATION INFORMATION Required High School Student Class Load The State of Nevada, NAC , requires all high school students be enrolled as follows: Ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade students on the block schedule must be enrolled in eight classes or the equivalent of four periods per day. Twelfth grade students must be enrolled in at least four classes or the equivalent of two periods per day. Seniors must take at least two classes per day on the block schedule. Credit deficient seniors at LVA may be required to enroll in a full schedule. Please Note: Although Concurrent Courses, Distance Education, Dual Credit, External Courses, and Work Experience are considered equivalent coursework, students must receive prior approval of the counselor and administration. 21 st Century Course of Study Expectations The Clark County School District expects all students to meet the requirements of the 21st Century Course of Study Expectations. In addition to the three years of mathematics and two years of science necessary to graduate with a high school standard diploma, students will be scheduled into a fourth year of mathematics, which will include Algebra II, and a third year of science, which will include Biology. The school district expects its students to satisfy the 21st Century Course of Study expectations so that they may competitive in higher education and the workforce and be prepared to take full advantage of what the world has to offer beyond high school. The Clark County School District believes that all students must be prepared for the following postsecondary opportunities: University/Four-Year College Community/Two-Year College Trade/Technical School Workforce 21 ST CENTURY COURSE OF STUDY EXPECTATIONS AREAS OF STUDY UNITS ENGLISH 4 MATHEMATICS (Includes Algebra II) 4 SCIENCE (Includes Biology) 3 WORLD HISTORY or GEOGRAPHY 1 U.S. HISTORY 1 U.S. GOVERNMENT 1 PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2 HEALTH ½ USE OF COMPUTERS ½ ELECTIVES (Includes one Arts/Humanities or Career 5½ & Technical Education Course) TOTAL 22½ The 21 st Century Course of Study provides the following for students: Opens Doors to Post-Secondary Education and Workforce Opportunities Meets Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) University Admissions o Grade Point Average (GPA) and Core Curriculum Requirements are: 3.00 GPA (weighted or unweighted) in the core curriculum Approved NSHE Core Curriculum (4 English, 3 Math including Algebra II, 3 Natural Science, 3 Social Science & History = 13 units) 15

16 Prepares Students for the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship o GPA and Core Curriculum Requirements are: 3.25 cumulative GPA (weighted or weighted with Bonus Points), 21 ACT Composite score, or 990 combined (reading and math) SAT score and the core curriculum Approved NSHE Core Curriculum (4 English, 4 Math including Algebra II, 3 Natural Science, 3 Social Science & History = 14 units) Students may not take coursework after graduation to meet Millennium Eligibility STANDARD DIPLOMA The following subjects are needed to meet graduation requirements: STANDARD DIPLOMA REQUIRED/ELECTIVE AREAS OF STUDY UNITS *ENGLISH 4 **MATHEMATICS 3 SCIENCE 2 WORLD HISTORY or GEOGRAPHY 1 U.S. HISTORY 1 U.S. GOVERNMENT 1 ***PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2 HEALTH ½ ****USE OF COMPUTERS ½ ELECTIVES 7½ TOTAL 22½ *English course units for the Class of 2017 and the Class of 2018 must include English 9 or English 1 (1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2) and English 10 or English 2 (1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2). **Mathematics course units for the following cohort years: Class of 2017 and Class of must include Algebra I or Principles of Algebra (1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2), and Geometry or Principles of Geometry, (1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2). Class of 2019 and beyond- must include Algebra I or higher. *** A maximum of ONE credit may be earned for a P.E. II Waiver by participating in a school approved activity/athletic. ****Satisfactory completion of a semester of a computer literacy course offered in grades 6, 7, or 8 will meet the requirement for the use of computers. To receive a diploma from a Nevada high school, students in the Classes of 2017 and 2018 must participate in each of the End of Course Exams and pass the aligned courses, take the College and Career Readiness Assessment- ACT with Writing, in addition to meeting course requirements. Students in the Class of 2019 must receive a passing score on each of the End of Course Exams, take the College and Career Readiness Assessment- ACT with Writing and meet course requirements. Passing scores for the End of Course Exams will be determined by the Nevada State Board of Education. AB288 in the 2013 Legislature eliminated the Certificate of Attendance. Students must meet all of the graduation requirements to receive a diploma and participate in graduation ceremonies. Students receiving an adjusted diploma as prescribed by IEP requirements can also participate in graduation ceremonies. 16

17 ADVANCED DIPLOMA The following subjects are needed to meet the Advanced Diploma requirements: ADVANCED DIPLOMA REQUIRED/ELECTIVE AREAS OF STUDY UNITS *ENGLISH 4 **MATHEMATICS 4 SCIENCE 3 WORLD HISTORY or GEOGRAPHY 1 U.S. HISTORY 1 U.S. GOVERNMENT 1 ***PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2 HEALTH ½ ****USE OF COMPUTERS ½ ARTS / HUMANITIES or CAREER AND TECH ED ELECTIVE 1 ELECTIVES 6 TOTAL (3.25 GPA without Bonus Points) 24 *English course units for the Class of 2017 and the Class of 2018 must include English 9 or English 1(1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2) and English 10 or English 2 (1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2). **Mathematics course units for the following cohort years: Class of 2017 and Class of must include Algebra I or Principles of Algebra (1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2), and Geometry or Principles of Geometry, (1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2). Class of 2019 and beyond- must include Algebra I or higher. *** A maximum of ONE credit may be earned for a P.E. II Waiver by participating in a school approved activity/athletic. ****Satisfactory completion of a semester of a computer literacy course offered in grades 6, 7, or 8 will meet the requirement for the use of computers. To receive a diploma from a Nevada high school, students in the Classes of 2017 and 2018 must participate in each of the End of Course Exams and pass the aligned courses, take the College and Career Readiness Assessment- ACT with Writing, in addition to meeting course requirements. Students in the Class of 2019 must receive a passing score on each of the End of Course Exams, take the College and Career Readiness Assessment- ACT with Writing and meet course requirements. Passing scores for the End of Course Exams will be determined by the Nevada State Board of Education. AB288 in the 2013 Legislature eliminated the Certificate of Attendance. Students must meet all of the graduation requirements to receive a diploma and participate in graduation ceremonies. Students receiving an adjusted diploma as prescribed by IEP requirements can also participate in graduation ceremonies. ADVANCED HONORS DIPLOMA Students planning to apply to universities with competitive admission requirements may pursue the CCSD Advanced Honors Diploma. The Advanced Honors Diploma requires additional rigorous coursework beyond those required for the Advanced Diploma. Students will be required to fulfill the 24.0 credit Advanced Diploma requirements (including 4-years of mathematics, 3-years of science and an additional Arts/Humanities or Career and Technical Education course) and must complete the Honors, International Baccalaureate (IB), or Advanced Placement (AP) courses required of the Honors Course Program. Students must achieve a minimum of a 3.25 without Bonus Points GPA and 3.85 GPA with Bonus Points. 17

18 GPA calculations are exact and not rounded to meet diploma requirements. The following subjects are needed to meet the Advanced Honors Diploma requirements: ADVANCED HONORS DIPLOMA Required/Elective Areas of Study Advanced Diploma Units *ENGLISH 4 3 **MATHEMATICS 4 2 SCIENCE 3 2 SOCIAL STUDIES (must earn all 3 credits) World History or Geography U.S. History U.S. Government Honors Course Program Units 3 2 ***PHYSICAL EDUCATION 2 HEALTH ½ ****USE OF COMPUTERS ½ ARTS/HUMANITIES or CAREER TECH ED ELECTIVE 1 +ELECTIVES 6 3* TOTAL (unweighted GPA = 3.25, weighted GPA = 3.85) +Must include one Honors Foreign Language Course. First year foreign language classes will not receive Honors credit. Student must achieve a minimum 3.25 GPA without Bonus Points and a minimum 3.85 GPA with Bonus Points. *English course units for the Class of 2017 and the Class of 2018 must include English 9 or English 1(1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2) and English 10 or English 2 (1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2). **Mathematics course units for the following cohort years: Class of 2017 and Class of must include Algebra I or Principles of Algebra (1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2), and Geometry or Principles of Geometry, (1.0 credit, semester 1 and 2). Class of 2019 and beyond- must include Algebra I or higher. *** A maximum of ONE credit may be earned for a P.E. II Waiver by participating in a school approved activity/athletic. ****Satisfactory completion of a semester of a computer literacy course offered in grades 6, 7, or 8 will meet the requirement for the use of computers. To receive a diploma from a Nevada high school, students in the Classes of 2017 and 2018 must participate in each of the End of Course Exams and pass the aligned courses, take the College and Career Readiness Assessment- ACT with Writing, in addition to meeting course requirements. Students in the Class of 2019 must receive a passing score on each of the End of Course Exams, take the College and Career Readiness Assessment- ACT with Writing and meet course requirements. Passing scores for the End of Course Exams will be determined by the Nevada State Board of Education. AB288 in the 2013 Legislature eliminated the Certificate of Attendance. Students must meet all of the graduation requirements to receive a diploma and participate in graduation ceremonies. Students receiving an adjusted diploma as prescribed by IEP requirements can also participate in graduation ceremonies. 18

19 Honors Courses with Bonus Points Students will earn Bonus Points for successful completion of Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses will be added as follows: Honors.025 Advanced Placement (AP).050 International Baccalaureate (IB).050 The GPA Cap with Bonus Points for the Honors Program for students will be added as follows: The GPA with Bonus Points for the Honors Program is no more than twenty-eight semesters (14 classes) of Honors/AP/IB courses. The highest possible GPA under this system is Students will receive Bonus Points of.050 for four semesters (2 classes) of AP and/or IB courses and will also receive Bonus Points of.025 for twenty-four semesters (12 classes) of Honors courses. Students who choose to enroll in only Honors level courses will receive Bonus Points of.025 for twenty-eight semesters (14 classes) of Honors courses. Advantages of the Honors Course Offerings Most competitive colleges and universities consider not only students grades, but also their academic background evidenced by courses listed on the transcript, letters of recommendation from teachers and counselors, and SAT I or ACT scores. Enrollment in the Honors Program will assist students in their preparation for college entrance exams. The GPA with Bonus Points is used when determining ranking in class. Students may take Honors/Advanced Placement courses even if they have not chosen to complete the requirements for the Advanced Honors Diploma. ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES (AP) AP courses are college-level courses taught as part of the high school curriculum. In the spring of each school year, a cumulative exam is administered for each AP course. AP exams are graded on a scale of 1 (minimum) to 5 (maximum). University credit is generally granted for test scores of 3 and above. The program is administered by the College Board. ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES OFFERED AT LVA AP Calculus AB AP Psychology AP Statistics AP English Language & Composition AP Biology AP English Literature & Composition AP Physics 1: Algebra Based AP Studio Art: 2-D Design AP Environmental Science AP Studio Art: 3-D Design AP Chemistry AP Studio Art: Drawing AP Human Geography AP Music Theory AP World History AP French Language & Culture AP U.S. History AP Japanese Language & Culture AP U.S. Government & Politics AP Spanish Language & Culture AP Microeconomics AP Spanish Literature & Culture AP Macroeconomics AP Art History NOTE: Students enrolled in AP classes must take the AP exam in May. The anticipated cost of the exam is $93. Please pay the AP exam fee at the school bank by the start of the school year at the same time you pay your class fees. For the school year, for every three AP exams a student takes, LVA will reimburse the student the cost of one AP exam. See the Student Achievement Office if you have a financial hardship. 19

20 DUAL CREDIT COURSES The Jumpstart Dual Credit Program offers high school students college credit courses at a reduced fee. Through a partnership with the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) and the Clark County School District, qualified Junior and Senior high school students can earn college credits prior to high school graduation. Qualified Junior and Senior high school students can take up to two (2) classes per semester at a reduced fee. DUAL CREDIT COURSES OFFERED AT LVA English 100 English 101 English 102 Chemistry 103 Chemistry 105 History 101 History 102 Repeating Courses All students may repeat courses via summer school, Nevada Learning Academy, BYU online, Compass online or other sources. Additional credit will not be granted; the higher grade will be recorded in the course history and the lower grade replaced with a repeated course notation (RP). Schedule Change Policy Our teaching staff is hired and assigned based on students course selections. Since much advanced planning and guidance are provided for each student prior to registration, schedule changes will not be made after registration. Students will be expected to remain in year-long courses for the entire school year. Class changes will not be granted to accommodate a student s request for a specific instructor. Due to the State of Nevada Department of Education Guidelines, no student may change a class and receive credit after the third week of the semester. Any class drops at this point will result in an F on the transcript. Requests for schedule changes are considered only during the first three weeks of the semester and are granted only for the following reasons: 1. Graduation requirement fulfillment 2. Misplacement in an academic area according to test scores and/or ability 3. Successful completion of summer school course work The administration may, due to increased/decreased enrollment and staff changes, balance course sections by transferring students from one class and/or teacher to another section. Every effort will be made to ensure a smooth transition for students. Petitioning a Course Students have the right to petition a course for which they do not meet a course s recommended achievement range. If approved, students must remain in petitioned courses for the entire year. 20

21 CHANGE OF MAJOR / ADDITION OF MINOR EMPHASIS PROCESS ALL STUDENTS ATTENDING THE LAS VEGAS ACADEMY ARE REQUIRED TO BE ENROLLED IN A BLOCK CLASS AND TO HAVE A DECLARED MAJOR AREA OF STUDY. All change of majors or addition of a minor emphasis requires an audition. Students may apply for a minor emphasis only after their freshmen year. Students must follow the process outlined below to change a major or add a minor for the following academic school year. 1. Students must maintain the primary or original major in which they initially enrolled. If they wish to drop this original major, they must apply for a change of major. Due to the intensive study involved and expected level of proficiency required in a major, students will only be allowed to apply for a change in majors in their 9 th or 10 th grade year. 2. Students may apply for a minor emphasis in another area while still maintaining their original major. 3. Pick up a form from the Curriculum Office at a date TO BE ANNOUNCED via the daily announcements. Forms are usually available by December. 4. Acquire the appropriate signatures on the form and bring the completed form the Curriculum Office prior to the deadline and schedule an audition. The deadline is usually the first week in January. 5. Any current LVA student who has changed majors and wishes to return to their previous major, must re-audition to be accepted once they have left a program. 6. Changing emphasis within the Theatre or Visual Art Departments requires approval from both teachers involved. 7. Upon acceptance of a seat, Liberal Arts majors committed to their program for the entirety of their enrollment at LVA. Therefore, Liberal Arts students may not change majors. They may, however, pursue a minor. 8. Students wishing to change their major may only audition once, and only at the regularly scheduled first round auditions in January. ADDITIONAL CREDIT SOURCES Concurrent Credit Options Students may earn credits beyond the regular school day by enrolling in any of the approved concurrent programs. There is no limit to the number of concurrent credits a student may earn. See your counselor for more information on the following concurrent programs: Nevada Learning Academy - For specific information, including fees, call (702) or visit Adult Education - For specific information on this program, call (702) , extension 317 or visit Sunset High Schools/Programs - Call (702) for more information or visit services-division/adult-education-horizon-sunset-high-schools. Summer School - Students may earn credit during the summer. Registration information is available in the counseling office in the spring. Additional information is available at 21

22 EXTERNAL CREDIT OPTIONS Students currently enrolled in a Clark County high school may earn a maximum of six external credits (with no more than three being in academic courses) toward graduation. External credits are credits earned beyond the regular school day. No external credit will be granted without prior approval and completion of the appropriate application. Students may not enroll to take a class outside of school if the class is offered and scheduling will allow the student to take the course during the school day. See your counselor for prior approval and applications for the following External Credit options: Community Service Credit Credit By Exam Dual Credit Educational Travel Credit Enrichment Program Credit Music Equivalent Credit Online Courses A maximum of one credit may be earned for students who complete 120 hours of volunteer service with an approved community agency. One-half credit may be earned for 60 hours of service; court mandated hours do not count for Community Service credit. Students may earn credit by obtaining a score of 70% or better on an examination for a course they have not taken previously or are not enrolled in currently. For a complete list of credit by exam course offerings and fees, see the NVLA website at Credit by Exam cannot count toward Honors credit. High school credit can be earned for approved college or university courses not offered at the student's school of enrollment. A three credit college/university course equals one-half unit of high school credit. A maximum of one credit may be granted to students who keep a journal while traveling for 42 consecutive days or 1/2 credit for 21 consecutive days. Students must submit their completed journals for evaluation to determine credit. Students may receive credit for academically accelerated courses taken at accredited institutions. A maximum of one credit may be granted to students participating in a music program not offered by the Clark County School District. Credit granting is monitored by the CCSD Department of Fine Arts. Specific application forms must be submitted along with time log. Call (702) for more information. Credits may be earned for courses completed online from approved institutions. The cost of courses vary. Students must conform to the procedures set by the credit granting institution. 22