HPS Student and Parent Handbook 2019-2020

Valedictorian/Salutatorian (High School)
Selection method to determine the valedictorian for a graduating
senior class:
1. The student who is selected as the highest-ranking graduate
eligible to receive the Honor Graduate Certificate and
Declaration will also serve as valedictorian.
2. In the event no student meets the criteria to receive the
Honor Graduate Certificate, a valedictorian will be selected
who meets all of the following criteria:
3. To be eligible for senior class ranking, students must be
enrolled for their junior and senior years in the same high
school, and graduate in no fewer than eight regular
semesters; and
4. By the date of graduation, the student must have met all
Texas State Graduation Requirements applicable to him/her
including meeting all state assessment requirements; and
5. The student with the highest cumulative weighted grade
point average graduating under the Recommended or
Distinguished Program will be selected as valedictorian, with
the second ranking student serving as salutatorian. Under no
circumstance will a student with a higher weighted GPA who
is graduating under the Minimum Graduation Program rank
higher than a student graduating under the Recommended or
Distinguished Program; or
6. In the case where no students are graduating under either the
Recommended or Distinguished Program, the student with
the highest cumulative grade point average out of all
graduating seniors will be selected valedictorian, and the
student with the next highest GPA will serve as salutatorian.
All calculations for this honor will be conducted at the end of the
spring semester of senior year. Grade Point Average will be
calculated in accordance with the existing policy adopted by the
Board of Directors.
Cum Laude System
Harmony Public Schools recognize at graduation those students
with weighted GPAs at or above specific benchmarks. Benchmarks
may require occasional adjustments as changes in curriculum
dictate. Currently, graduates are recognized as follows:
Summa Cum Laude
Weighted average* of exactly 128.0 or higher
Magna Cum Laude
Weighted average of exactly 120.0 or higher
Cum Laude
Weighted average of exactly 112.0 or higher
* Weighted Average = (Weighted GPA) X (Number of Completed
Credits)
Student Transcript/Academic
Achievement Record (High School)
Each eligible high school graduate will be awarded a diploma. The
student’s transcript or academic achievement record, rather than
the diploma, records individual accomplishments, achievements
and courses completed, and displays appropriate graduation
seals.
State and Local Credit Courses
All courses, which are to be counted toward graduation, must be
state approved courses. Local credit courses are courses in which
a student may participate without receiving state credit towards
graduation, unless the course is required by an ARD Committee for
students receiving special education services. Local credit courses
are, however, calculated as part of a student’s GPA.
SAT Lab Courses.
Math/ELA
TSI Lab Courses
High School Credits in Middle School
By Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §74.26. (b), districts may
offer courses designated for Grades 9-12 in earlier grade
levels. Students in middle school may be given high school
graduation credit for passing courses offered in middle school
that are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
for each course. Credit for courses for high school graduation
may be earned only if the student received a grade which is
the equivalent of 70 on a scale of 100 (TAC§74.26. (c)).
Credits obtained in middle school will not be included in the
GPA calculation and class rank.
Transfer Students
A student transferring into the district from a public school or
a regionally/nationally-accredited institution will receive the
numerical grade earned in courses from that school.
Weighted courses will be honored and converted to match
our system.
Students Transferring from Schools Outside of the United
States: Students from other countries will receive Ps for
passing in appropriate courses. Translation of out-of- country
transcripts is the responsibility of the parent/ guardian.
Awarding of credit will be determined by school
administration after review of all documentation.
Students from Home Schooling Programs or Private Schools:
Credits earned through home schooling programs and private
schools will not be calculated for GPA and class rank by the
district. Students must provide documentation of enrollment
and completion of courses in order to get credit.
Course Weight
55 | Revised in July 2019