Academic Information

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION CREDITS
ENGLISH Four full year credits	4.0
MATHEMATICS Three full year credits	3.0
RELIGION Three full year credits	3.0
SOCIAL STUDIES Two full year credits	2.0
SCIENCE Three full year credits	3.0
PHYSICAL EDUCATION One-half year of Physical Education/Health HEALTH is taken by all Freshmen and Sophomores	1.0
COMPUTER SCIENCE	0.5
BUSINESS EDUCATION	0.5
ELECTIVES	7.0
TOTAL	24.0

24 full year credits are required in order to become a candidate for graduation. Individual exceptions to this requirement and departmental requirements may be made through the Academic Assistant Principal. All students are expected to complete a twelve hour service requirement in Religion each year.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Opportunities to take Advanced Placement examinations will be offered in several junior/senior subject areas: American History Honors, Calculus, English Composition, English Literature , Spanish Language, AP Biology and AP Environmental Lab Science. Permission to take Advanced Placement exams must be given by the Academic Assistant Principal. A fee is charged for each Advanced Placement Exam by the College Board.

PACC- PROGRAM FOR ADVANCED COLLEGE CREDIT

Driscoll Catholic students have the opportunity to receive credit for a limited number of advanced courses during their junior and senior years from St. Mary's College in Minnesota. The courses are American History - Honors, Contemporary U.S. History, Calculus I - Honors, Calculus II - Honors, English IV - Honors and Spanish V - Honors.

HOMEWORK

Students can expect to receive a minimum of twenty minutes of homework in each subject DAILY.

EXPLANATION OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
AND REPORT CARDS

HONORS - These accelerated courses utilize and develop each student's critical thinking skills and creativity through challenging assignments, examinations and field trips. Honors students benefit by having a weighted grade point average (A=5.00, B=4.00, etc.) for these advanced classes.

COLLEGE PREP I - Courses are geared toward college bound students who achieve at a standard pace using the standard grading systems (A=4,00, B=3.00, etc.). These students enter this program by percentile range.

COLLEGE PREP II - Courses are geared toward the student who is college bound but needs extra preparation in reading, math and writing. These courses use a standard grading system. This program is rigorous and structured to help students develop skills and self-esteem. Highlights of the program are a summer bridge program, small class size, peer tutoring and individual attention. The College Prep II program is a two-year program. Students that master this curriculum will move to the College Prep I program.

1. "A" HONOR ROLL

To be on the "A" Honor Roll, a student must have a minimum of four A's, and no "C" grade. Only one unsatisfactory effort mark is allowed. The Honor Roll has nothing to do with a student's Grade Point Average (G.P.A.). It is not the 4.0 Honor Roll but the "A" Honor Roll. Students who choose Honors courses already receive an additional quality point which adds to a higher G.P.A.

2. "B" HONOR ROLL

To be on the "B" Honor Roll a student must have an A for every C. The average must be a B grade. Again, it is not the 3.0 Honor Roll but the "B" Honor Roll. The Honor Roll is not affected by the Grade Point Average.

3. The G.P.A.'s for the first and third quarters are not included in the cumulative G.P.A. until the semester report card.

4. Students who receive a "D" or "F" are not eligible for the "A" or "B" Honor Rolls.

FINAL REPORT CARDS

Report cards will be distributed to parents at the end of the first and third quarters. Report cards will be mailed home at the conclusion of the first and second semesters.

PROGRESS REPORTS/ACADEMIC DEFICIENCY NOTICES

During each quarter, student and parent(s) will receive a Student Progress Report. If a student is doing poorly in a course, it is mandatory that the teacher and parent(s) communicate. Parent nights will be held throughout the school year. In the event a student does poorly after the Progress Report is issued, an Academic Deficiency Notice will be mailed or sent home. This notice is to be signed by the parent and returned to the teacher within three (3) days.
Parents may request a weekly progress report through the counseling offices in the subject areas of concern. The counselor copy must be returned to the counselor at the end of the school day. Students will return a copy of that report signed by a parent or guardian to the counselor.

SCHEDULE CHANGES

If a student, once registered for classes, seeks a schedule change, a $25.00 fee will be charged. No student may change the class schedule after the first week of the semester without the permission of the Academic Assistant Principal.

GRADES

If a student receives an F as a first semester grade in the areas of Foreign Language, Math, Science or Accounting, it is possible for the student to pass the course by receiving a C or higher during the second semester. This is because a student must master first semester work in order to pass second semester work in those courses. The Assistant Principal will calculate the correct quality points for these classes.

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY

Students are expected to maintain a high level of academic achievement in order to represent Driscoll Catholic High School.

1. WEEKLY ELIGIBILITY - Students are eligible who are passing all subjects. In addition to a passing grade, the student must achieve at least a C- or better in four (4) of the six (6) subjects. Students below this standard are ineligible for practice or performances for a period of one (1) week.

2. PROGRESS REPORTS/QUARTER/SEMESTER ELIGIBILITY - Students are eligible who maintain a 2.00 G.P.A. with no failing grades. Students below this standard are ineligible for practice or performances for a period of two (2) weeks.

3. An appeal of athletic ineligibility can be made to the Assistant Principal only after the grades checks at progress reports, quarter or semester. No appeal can be requested for a grade of "F".

4. Teachers will notify the parents of students who become ineligible for athletics.

ATTENDANCE POLICIES

It is the responsibility of the parents to see that the student is in daily attendance at school, and arrives on time for school. According to Illinois Law, a student who is absent in excess of twenty (20) days ten (10) days per semester] may be denied credit. In accordance with this policy, a student at Driscoll Catholic High School who is absent for ten (10) days per semester may be denied credit after review by the Academic Assistant Principal. This rule also applies to students who are habitually tardy.

Students who are involved in any school activity MAY NOT PRACTICE/PERFORM unless they are in school by 10:30 or the beginning of period D when an alternate schedule is in effect. College days ,medical and dental appointments, and court appointments are considered absences and students taking these days may not perform/practice in school athletics or extra-curricular activities. Coaches/moderators will double-check the attendance sheet to verify a student's attendance.

The student is RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CLASSROOM WORK missed during the absence.

STATE AND SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS

Textbooks are made available by the State of Illinois or the school for student use. If these books are lost or damaged, the student will be charged for the replacement cost of the text.

RE-TAKING COURSES

Students may not receive credit for any course previously taken and passed.

COURSE FAILURE POLICY AND SUMMER SCHOOL

Any student who fails a course which is a graduation requirement must attend summer school or night school to retake the course that was not successfully completed. Failure to do so will result in the student being unable to return to Driscoll Catholic for the next academic school year. The Academic Assistant Principal must approve in advance all courses taken in summer school and/or outside of Driscoll Catholic.

Any course taken by a student in summer school will be placed on the student's permanent record, after approval in advance by the Assistant Principal. The student will receive the credit given for the course, but the grade will not be computed in the G.P.A.

COLLEGE PREP PROGRAM AND CLASS RANKS

Driscoll Catholic does not rank its students due to the small size of our classes and the high caliber of our students. Grade Point Averages are calculated for students at the end of each semester on the basis of their semester grades.

QUALITY POINTS AND GRADING SCALE

Quality points are assigned based on the following scale. Quality points are used in calculating a student's Grade Point Average.
HONORS                    COLLEGE PREP

A = 5                             A = 4
B = 4                             B = 3
C = 3                             C = 2
D = 1                             D = 1

Uniform grading scale for Honors, and College Prep:
HONORS: 93 - 100 = A COLLEGE PREP: 92 - 100 = A
85 - 92 = B                       83 - 91 = B
77 - 84 = C                      74 - 82 = C
70 - 76 = D                      65 - 73 = D
69/Below = F                   64/Below = F

ADDING AND DROPPING CLASSES

Students will be allowed to add and drop classes during the first two weeks of classes. To drop a class once it has met a student must submit documentation indicating that his/her parents or guardians are aware of the change. In addition the signature of the teacher for the class being dropped as well as that of the teacher for the class added are required. Students should consult with their counselor before making any decision. Before dropping a class a student must demonstrate evidence of academic effort and documentation of tutoring. The department head must be consulted before any change between academic levels will be allowed. Final determination of placement and class changes is reserved for the academic assistant principal.
The preferred policy is for schedule and placement changes to occur at the beginning of each semester within the first two weeks of classes at the latest.

The Honors Program is designed to honor and challenge qualified students who have achieved academic excellence. Students admitted to the program must maintain a 3.25 G.P.A. and must be enrolled in three honors courses. Upon completion of the program the student is awarded an Honors diploma at graduation. The program stresses a variety of learning modes, allowing each student to develop skills necessary for academic, social and personal growth. Field trips and guest speakers are essential parts of the program. These events stress educational enhancement, career orientation and cultural achievement.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

The National Honor Society is an organization of selected high school students that encourages academic excellence, leadership, service, and good character among high school students. The idea of national unification of the local and sectional chapters of honor societies was first suggested at a meeting of the National Association of Secondary School Principals in 1919. A committee on Constitution and Organization was appointed, and in 1921 the National Honor Society of Secondary Schools came into existence. There are now more than 22,000 chapters of the National Honor Society throughout the United States. A chapter of the National Honor Society was founded at Driscoll in 1969.

The Driscoll Catholic High School St. Thomas More Chapter of the National Honor Society requires a 3.50 Grade Point Average and enrollment in at least three honors level credits for the year. However, other criteria are required as well. Students must exhibit leadership, service, and good character in order to be accepted into the National Honor Society. A student should keep these criteria in mind as he/she is invited to be a candidate for selection during September each year.

Driscoll Catholic Juniors and Seniors may be invited to be candidates for selection to the the National Honor Society. The following requirements must be met before a student will be considered by the faculty council selection committee.

1. The student has a cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 3.50.

2. The student is enrolled in at least three honors level credits for the year.

3. The student has attended Driscoll Catholic for at least one year.

4. The student has shown outstanding accomplishments in the areas of LEADERSHIP, SERVICE and CHARACTER.

5. All information forms are to be filled out carefully and submitted on time.

The following is a statement of minimum standards:

*LEADERSHIP*: To show leadership, the student needs something worth saying and the courage to say it. This criteria serves to promote a better way and may include positions held in school, the community, or work activities. Exhibited by directing or motivating others, leadership may be an elected position; class or club officer; committee chairperson; team captain; newspaper editor; work program supervisor; peer tutor; community leader; etc..

*SERVICE*: Participation in three voluntary school service activities is required. One of these activities must take place during the year of selection. One of the services should be continuous service rather than a one-time event. One of the voluntary service activities should be in the student's community. Prospective National Honor Society members will demonstrate participation in some outside activity such as: Boy or Girl Scouts, church youth groups, choir, clubs sponsored outside of school, community art endeavors, volunteer services for the aged, poor, disadvantaged, or family duties, etc.. (A LETTER VERIFYING THE STUDENT'S INVOLVEMENT OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL WILL BE REQUIRED FROM THE PERSON/S SERVED). Students are evaluated on the basis of dependable and well-organized assistance, availability on his/her own time, the ability to work well with others, willingness to take on difficult or inconspicuous responsibilities, and readiness to show courtesy by assisting visitors, teachers and students.