Graduation Requirements - Francis Parker School

FRANCIS PARKER 

SCHOOL 

Upper School Curriculum Guide 

2011 - 2012 

Francis Parker School 

6501 Linda Vista Road 

San Diego, CA 92111 

(858) 569 - 7900 

April 13, 2011

General Information 

Academic Advising 

Freshmen and sophomores have designated class deans who serve as their academic advisors. In the junior year, each student is 

assigned alphabetically to one of the college counselors who will serve as their academic advisor. The academic advisor deals 

with academic problems when they arise, monitors graduation requirements and assists with the college application process. 

Student and advisor together examine the student’s educational and personal goals in relation to special interests, strengths, and 

weaknesses. They choose an academic program to fulfill those goals. Students ultimately assume responsibility for their course 

selections and their academic performance, with academic advisors guiding and supporting them through the process. 

Four-Year Plan 

Course Loads 

Students are encouraged to take a balanced program. A student’s transcript for college admission should reflect both depth and 

breadth. Each student in Francis Parker’s Upper School is expected to take and attend five academic courses each trimester. It is 

strongly recommended that a student take a course in each of the core academic areas — English, math, social studies, science 

and foreign language — every year in the Upper School. It is also normal to take one or two electives and physical education / 

athletics. The recommended college prep program is the following: 

Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11 Grade 12 

Rhetoric World Literature American Literature # British Literature # 

Topics in Social Studies World History # American History # Social Studies # 

Math # Math # Math # Math # 

Physics Chemistry Biology Science # 

Foreign Language # Foreign Language # Foreign Language # Foreign Language # 

Art* or Elective Art*, Speech or Art*, Speech or Art* or Elective 

Health & Fitness Elective Elective PE or Athletics 

PE or Athletics 

PE or Athletics 

* One course selected from the Music, Visual Arts, or Drama Departments # Honors and/or AP course offered 

Timeline for College Admission Testing 

Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior 

PSAT (practice) 

PSAT 

SAT, ACT or SAT 

Fall 

PLAN (practice) 

PLAN Subject tests (repeated 

Winter SAT or ACT as necessary) 

Spring 

Consider SAT subject 

test in World History 

and Chemistry. 

Consult with teacher 

and class dean first. 

SAT or ACT 

Consider various SAT 

subject tests. Consult 

college counselor first. 

Coursework 

Course Additions / Changes / Withdrawals 

Requests to add, change, or withdraw from a course should be submitted to the Academic Dean using the Schedule 

Change Request Form. New courses may not be added after the second week of a trimester. If a Drama class is 

dropped after the fourth week of the first trimester or a year-long class is dropped after the end of the first trimester, a 

withdrawal (W) will appear on the official transcript. Note: A withdrawal (W) excludes a student from Honors or 

Honors with Distinction status, unless the withdrawal from the course was initiated by the school.

Credit / Non-Credit 

Independent study courses and seminar courses are graded on a Credit / Non-Credit basis. These courses may not be 

used to satisfy a graduation requirement and the grades for these courses will not be included in the GPA calculation. 

Once a student has satisfied the Parker Arts Graduation Requirement, any additional arts course may be taken for a 

grade or on a Credit / Non-Credit basis, but this must be indicated at the time of registration. Note: A grade of Non- 

Credit (NC) excludes a student from Honors or Honors with Distinction status. 

Honors / Advanced Placement (AP) 

Advanced Placement is a program of college level courses. Students earning grades of C- or better receive weighted credit. 

Colleges may grant credit for scores of 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement exam. However, colleges and universities should 

be contacted for their individual policies regarding the awarding of Advanced Placement credit. Enrollment in an Advanced 

Placement course requires commitment to the rigors associated with the coursework. The stress that often accompanies an AP 

course is not appropriate for all high school students. Note: AP and Honors courses normally require more homework than 

regular courses, and AP students may be required to attend mandatory review sessions in late April or early May, prior to taking 

the AP exam. 

Independent Study 

A student may choose to enroll in an independent program of study to pursue an interest beyond the traditional curriculum. 

Independent study courses may not be used to satisfy any of the graduation requirements and will be graded on a Credit / Non- 

Credit basis. Note: All “Special Projects” courses are considered to be Independent Study. 

Pass / Fail 

A junior or senior may elect to take one course, not required for graduation, on a Pass / Fail basis. Approval must be 

granted prior to the end of the grading period. A student wishing to exercise this option should consult with the 

Academic Dean, the College Guidance Counselor, and the appropriate department chairperson. A mark of C or better is 

generally required to meet a university's subject area requirement. A pass grade may not meet the subject area grade 

requirement of some colleges and universities. Note: Pass / Fail excludes a student from Honors or Honors with 

Distinction status. 

Homework 

Academic success at Parker typically requires between two and four hours of homework per day. The difference 

between average and outstanding academic performance is directly related to the length of time spent on homework and 

preparation. It should be noted that organization and efficient use of time during the school day, however, may 

significantly reduce the amount of work required in the evening. 

Testing 

A student's work on an examination, test, or quiz will be his or her own, performed under the same conditions as that of his or 

her classmates. Any effort to gain an unfair advantage is unethical. 

Testing protocol 

• No communication of any kind is permitted between students. 

• No books or papers shall be permitted on desks unless the teacher has specifically designated the test an open-book test. 

• Students may not leave their seats without permission. 

• Except for calculators when approved by the teacher, students may not use any electronic devices. 

Make-Up Tests & Quizzes 

Students must arrange with teachers to take tests and quizzes that have been missed due to an excused absence. A student absent 

only the day before an exam or the day of an exam will be expected to take the exam the first day back at school. 

Extended Time 

Students with identified learning differences may petition for extended time testing (exams, A.P., SAT, etc.). Requests for 

extended time testing must be verified by a certified professional (psychologist, educational therapist) and submitted to the 

Upper School office for review and approval by the Director of the Parker Learning Center.

Grading System 

The grade of record for a course will be the one issued upon the completion of the course. For year-long courses, progress 

grades will be issued at the end of the first and second trimesters. 

Citizenship 

The expectation of good citizenship is the foundation of a Parker education. In the classroom, citizenship grades are 

based on: punctuality, attendance, attitude/behavior, and participation. The following scale is used for assigning grades 

in citizenship: E (excellent), G (good), S (satisfactory), N (needs improvement), U (unsatisfactory). 

Weighted Grades 

All Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) course grades are weighted. One point is added to each grade when calculating the 

GPA (see chart below). Colleges will take note of schedules comprised of coursework deemed more demanding. 

Grade Point Average 

To determine a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA), the letter grades are translated into grade points according to the chart 

below. Note that grades in all courses taken at Francis Parker, except Health & Fitness, PE and Athletics are used in determining 

the GPA. Grades for courses taken at other institutions will appear on the transcript but will not affect the GPA. 

Letter grade Regular course Weighted course 

A+ 4.33 5.33 

A 4.00 5.00 

A- 3.67 4.67 

B+ 3.33 4.33 

B 3.00 4.00 

B- 2.67 3.67 

C+ 2.33 3.33 

C 2.00 3.00 

C- 1.67 2.67 

D+ 1.33 1.33 (not weighted) 

D 1.00 1.00 (not weighted) 

D- 0.67 0.67 (not weighted) 

F 0.00 0.00 (not weighted) 

Incompletes 

Illness or other unforeseen circumstances may result in an incomplete grade being recorded for a student. A student 

receiving an incomplete (I) has ten school days after the end of the grading period to complete the course work. After 

ten school days a grade reflecting all work completed by that date will be recorded. 

Repeated courses 

If a student retakes a course and receives a higher grade, only the higher of the two grades will be used in computing the 

GPA. Both grades, however, will appear on the transcript. 

Progress Reports 

The faculty will write progress reports on any student carrying a grade below C- or performing below expectations. Since there 

may be little measurable change in a student's performance in just one week, teachers will generally write these reports 

approximately every two weeks until the student's grade has risen safely above the "D" range. 

Report Cards 

Mid-Trimester Reports with grades only (excluding Physical Education and Athletics) are issued in the middle of each trimester. 

Report Cards with comments are issued at the end of the first two trimesters. At the end of the school year, a final Report Card 

with grades only is issued.

Academic Honors 

A student is eligible for Honors if: 

• the student's cumulative GPA for the school year is at least 3.6 

• each final course grade is a B or above 

• the student does not have a final course grade of NC, P or W, unless the W was initiated by the school 

• the student's citizenship grades for all three trimesters are all G or above 

A student is eligible for Honors with Distinction if: 

• all of the student’s final course grades are A- or higher 

• the student does not have a final course grade of NC, P or W, unless the W was initiated by the school 

• the student’s citizenship grades for all three trimesters are all G or above 

Eligibility 

All co/extra-curricular activities are subject to the following eligibility policies. 

• A student receiving 2 D's, 1 F or 1 U on a trimester grade report will become ineligible for all extracurricular 

activities, effective the Monday after grades are submitted and lasting until the Monday after grades 

are submitted for the ensuing grading period 

• A student receiving an Inc. (incomplete) on a trimester grade report will become ineligible, effective the 

Monday after grades are submitted and lasting until the incomplete is resolved. 

• A student involved in athletics may continue to practice when ineligible unless their GPA for the previous 

grading period was below 2.0. In that case, the student will be ineligible for competition and practice. 

• A student may become temporarily ineligible due to poor citizenship or failure to meet school requirements. 

This ineligibility will remain in effect until all issues have been resolved. 

Contract Holds 

Upper School students are expected to meet the following criteria for continued enrollment: 

• A minimum 2.2 GPA 

• Five academic classes each trimester 

• Acceptable citizenship 

A student who is not in good standing may have a hold placed on the enrollment contract for the following year. All students 

with contract holds will be evaluated at the end of the academic year to determine their enrollment status. 

Valedictorian / Salutatorian 

The student who has the highest weighted GPA for all four years at Parker will be designated the class valedictorian. The 

student with the second highest weighted four-year Parker GPA will be designated as the class salutatorian. 

Honor Societies 

Cum Laude Society 

The Cum Laude Society, founded in 1906, recognizes academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of 

promoting excellence (Arêté), justice (Diké) and honor (Timé ). Areté represents the concept of excellence in the moral 

sense and is not limited to the ideal of superiority in scholarship. Diké includes what is suitable and appropriate as well 

as just. Timé refers to the concept of dignity and true worth as well as honor. 

Up to 20% of the class may be selected at the end of their senior year. An initiation banquet will be held to honor all 

members, and members will wear gold cords over their gowns during commencement.

California Scholarship Federation 

CSF is an honor society for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who have completed at least one trimester of school. The 

motto of CSF is “Scholarship for Service”; therefore, being a member of CSF includes community service in addition to 

scholastic achievement. There is a two-hour CSF special project requirement each trimester to retain active status. In 

addition to participation in chapter projects, payment of dues is required. 

To qualify, students must earn at least 10 points each trimester in specific courses. A’s = 3 points and B’s = 1 point (an 

extra point is granted for a grade of A or B in an AP or Honors course, with a maximum of two such points awarded per 

trimester). A grade of D or F disqualifies any student. Students must reapply after each trimester. 

National Honor Society 

The motto of the National Honor Society (NHS) is enthusiasm for scholarship, desire to render service, promote 

leadership, and develop character. 

In order to qualify for membership, students must have a 3.0 GPA after one trimester of 10th, 11th, or 12th grade. The 

student then needs to complete an NHS student activity information form. 

Summer School 

Summer school at Francis Parker is designed to meet the needs of the Upper School student by offering courses for both 

enrichment and / or credit. Students typically take summer school courses at Parker for the following reasons: 

• Focus on one subject. 

• Acceleration in a specific subject area. (See below). 

• Make-up of a low grade earned during the year. 

• Enjoyment; personal growth. 

Courses receiving academic credit in summer school are work intensive. One year of class work is completed in six 

weeks or one trimester in three weeks. Only under the following circumstances may students take Upper School math / 

science courses during summer school: 

• Upon recommendation of the department, outstanding students may take a math / science course in summer 

school to accelerate. In September, the student must then enroll in the next course in the sequence. 

• Students may audit a summer math / science course for no credit. 

• Students who have been recommended by their science teacher, tested by a certified educational therapist and 

recommended by the Parker Learning Center may apply to register for a summer science course in lieu of 

taking the course during the school year. Applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. A study hall is 

available to these students during the school year in the Parker Learning Center. 

Students may not take a course required for graduation at another institution, but they may take a course for enrichment.

Graduation Requirements 

Although students typically take four years each of English, foreign language, mathematics, science and social studies, the 

minimum requirements for graduation from Parker are 132 credits (1 year = 6 credits; 1 trimester = 3 credits; 1 trimester = 2 

credits) taken in grades 9 - 12, including satisfactory completion of the following: 

English 

Foreign Language 

Mathematics 

Science 

Social Studies 

Arts 

Speech 

Communications 

Health/Fitness 

Physical Education 

Entered US Entered US Entered US Entered US 

in 9 th Grade in 10 th Grade in 11 th Grade in 12 th Grade 

4 years (24 credits) at 

Francis Parker 

3 successive years (18 

credits) of the same 

language at Francis 

Parker 


Francis Parker during 

the regular school 

year, including 

Algebra 2 & Geometry 


Francis Parker, 

including one course 

in Biology, one course 

in Chemistry and one 

course in Physics 


Francis Parker, 

including US History 

9 credits at 


1 trimester (2 credits) 

at Francis Parker 

1 year at Francis 


6 trimesters (12 

credits) in 

grades 10 - 12 

4 years (24 credits) in 

grades 9 - 12 



language in grades 9 - 

12 


grades 9 - 12 during 





grades 9 - 12, 








9 credits in 

grades 9 - 12 


grades 9 - 12 


grades 9 - 12 




12 or 2 years (12 


language at Francis 
















9 credits in 

grades 9 - 12 


grades 9 - 12 


grades 9 - 12 




12 or 1 year (6 credits) 

of the same language 

at Francis Parker 















9 credits in grades 

9 - 12 or 6 credits at 



grades 9 - 12 

None None None 


credits) in 

grades 10 - 12 


credits) in grades 10 - 

12 or 4 trimesters (8 


12 



12 or 2 trimesters (4 

credits) in grade 12 

CPR Certification Certification Certification Certification 

Community Service 

Grade 9: 10 hrs; 

grades 10 - 12: 20 hrs. 

per year 

Grades 10 - 12: 20 hrs. 

per year 

Grades 11 - 12: 20 hrs. 

per year 

Grade 12: 20 hrs. 

Interim Completion Completion Completion Completion 

Citizenship Good standing Good standing Good standing Good standing 

Note: Parker students may not take any courses required for graduation from Francis Parker School at another institution.

Graduation Requirements - Francis Parker School

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