HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 17-05 WA Amending the Endorsements in the Graduation policy WESTLAKE ACADEMY
RESOLUTION 17-05
A RESOLUTION OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
AMENDING THE ENDORSEMENTS IN GRADUATION POLICIES NO 6.04A.
WHEREAS, Westlake Academy has a strategic objective of increasing the future
readiness for all students;
WHEREAS, The current Policy 6.04A Graduation Policy outlines the Westlake
Academy graduation requirements under the Foundation Plan with the Multidisciplinary
endorsement and distinguished level of achievement; and
WHEREAS, Westlake Academy students can also select and earn the Art & Humanities
and/or the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) endorsement with no
changes to current course offerings; and
WHEREAS,the Board of Trustees finds that the passage of this Resolution is in the best
interest of the citizens of Westlake as well as the students, their parents, and faculty of Westlake
Academy.
NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
WESTLAKE ACADEMY:
SECTION 1: That, all matters stated in the recitals hereinabove are found to be true and
correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety.
SECTION 2: That, the Board of Trustees Westlake Academy, hereby approves the
above for mentioned amendments to the ranking provisions in Graduation Policies No 6.04 and
No 6.04A to begin from this day forward.
SECTION 3: If any portion of this resolution shall, for any reason, be declared invalid
by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions
hereof and the Council hereby determines that it would have adopted this Resolution without the
invalid provision.
SECTION 4: That this resolution shall become effective from and after its date of
passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 6 t DAY OF MARCH 2017.
Laura Wheat, President
ATTEST:
KeO Edwa s, Board Secr tary Thomas E. Brymer, S erintendent
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
cya4s. 6a"-�k7
Jant . Bubert or . Stanton Lowry,
Sch 1 Attorney
TOWN OF WESTLAKE
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES POLICY
Policy No. 6.04A:
Date Board Adopted: May 12, 2014
Date Board Amended: March 6, 2017
Effective Date: March 6, 2017; contingent upon approval by TEA
Policy Category: Student Achievement
Policy Name: Graduation Policy
Policy Goal: Establishing graduation requirements and defining the commencement
participation requirements, and Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor Graduate criteria.
Policy Description:
Graduation requirements - As reflective of the Academy's rigorous and enriching IB
curriculum and a desire to foster college readiness, students who graduate from
Westlake Academy will complete a program of study which includes high academic
standards and additional credit hours making them eligible for the Distinguished Level of
Achievement award. This policy applies to students entering ninth grade during the
2014-2015 school year, or later, and may apply to students currently in grades nine
through twelve, upon request.
Only students who have completed all graduation requirements identified in this policy
will receive a Westlake Academy diploma. Those requirements are as follows:
• Completion of a minimum of 26 credit hours as required completing the
curriculum requirements to graduate under the Foundation High School Program
with a multi-disciplinary endorsement and a distinguished level of achievement.
• Satisfactory performance on required state end of course assessments.
• Completion of requirements to sit for and receive an IB Diploma.
To receive a Westlake Academy high school diploma students shall complete all course
work as identified by the State Board of Education, which includes a minimum of 26
hours of coursework, reflecting the state's higher level of academic achievement.
The Westlake Academy graduation requirements are as follows:
Westlake Academy Graduation Requirements
Foundation Plan with Multidisciplinary Endorsement and Distinguished Level of Achievement
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 Group 4 Group 5 Group 6
STUDIES IN LANGUAGE INDIVIDUALS AND SCIENCES MATHEMATICS ARTS AND ELECTIVE
LANGUAGE AND ACQUISITION SOCIETIES
Foundation Plan English(2.0) Language B'(2.0) Humanitiesx(3.0) Science(2.0) Mathematics(2.0) PE(1.0) 22.0
DP English Literature DP Humanities(1.0) DP Science(1.0) DP Mathematics(1.0) Fine Arts(1.0)
(2.0) MYP Elective (1.0)
TOKISpeech(2.0)
DP Group 6(1.0)"
Multidisciplinary DP Language B5(2.0) DP Humanities(1.0) DP Science(1.0) DP Mathematics(1.0) 5.0
Studies
Endorsement All credits in Science All credits in
and are required for Mathematics,
Distinguished Distinguished Level of including a credit In
Level of Achievement Algebra it are required
Achievement for Distinguished
Level of Achievement
IB Requirements Personal Projects
Extended Essay
CAS
Based on Total
classes taken in Credits
9-12 grade? Earned
4.0 4.0 5.0 4.0 4.0 6.0 27.0
For transfer students lacking Language Acquisition credits,a student who enrolls in Grade 10 will have a requirement of 3.0 credits for Group 2,and a student who enrolls in Grade I I will have a requirement of 2.0 credits for
Group 2. Transfer students will have to still fulfill all other credit requirements. The total credits earned may be decreased based upon the transfer credits but not to fall below the 26.0 minimum credits required by the state.
-A student may choose Economics HL from Group 6 and this will satisfy the 0.5 credit of Economics requirement. However,this choice will decrease the total credits earned by 0.5 but not to fill below the 26.0 minimum credits
required by the state.
Electives will be determined based upon course offerings and overall student interest in grade 10.
'Depending on a student's choice,DP group 6 courses can account for 1.0 or 2.0 credits.
'For transfer students lacking Language Acquisition credits,a student who enrolls in Grade 10 will have a requirement of 3.0 credits for Group 2,and a student who enrolls in Grade 11 will have a requirement of 2.0 credits for
Group 2. Transfer students will have to still fulfill all other credit requirements. 'the total credits earned may be decreased based upon the transfer credits but not to fall below the 26.0 minimmn credits required by the state.
Personal Project is a requirement for any student attending Westlake Academy in Grade 10. Students who enter in GI 1 are exempt from the Personal Project,
Pre-l-ligh School Credits can be earned in Language B and Mathematics in Grade 7 and/or Grade 8.Students may be awarded up to 3.0 credits on their high school transcript,however these credits do not
count towards the totals for the state minimmn requirements,State requirements must be completed in grades 9-12.This could bring ring a graduate to 30.0 total credits awarded.
Additional Endorsements — Westlake Academy seniors can also graduate with
additional endorsements. Students who fulfill the Westlake Academy graduation
requirements can also select and earn the Arts & Humanities endorsement based upon
the completion of five social studies credits or the completion of four credits of the same
language other than English. Westlake Academy students can also select and earn the
Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) endorsement by choosing
to take Physics in high school. In addition, the STEM endorsement requires students to
complete five credits of mathematics including Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 with
two credits beyond Algebra 2 or complete five credits of science including Biology,
Chemistry, and Physics with two additional science credits.
Eligibility for Commencement — Westlake Academy seniors who have satisfied all
Westlake Academy requirements for graduation are eligible to participate in the
graduation ceremonies; however, disciplinary infractions may jeopardize a student's
opportunity to participate in the commencement ceremony consistent with the student
code of conduct and any determination made by the Executive Director.
For students who have not successfully completed all coursework, an exception may be
made in the event that a senior lacks one (1) credit towards the graduation
requirements. The student must have a plan approved by the Executive Director to
complete the credit prior to the beginning of the next school year. No other exceptions
to participation in the graduation ceremony will be granted unless required by law.
Academic Recognition - Westlake Academy will encourage and recognize academic
achievement through the establishment of a class Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor
Graduates.
Valedictorian and Salutatorian — Graduating seniors with the top two Cumulative Grade
Point Averages (CGPA) will be recognized. In the event of a tie for Valedictorian, the
students will share the honor and no Salutatorian will be designated. Additionally,
valedictorian and salutatorian eligibility requires attendance at Westlake Academy for
six consecutive semesters preceding graduation. Further, the Superintendent or his/her
designee may deem a student ineligible who is in violation of Westlake Academy's
student code of conduct, other school requirements, Town code, or State codes.
Honor Graduates - A graduating senior whose weighted CGPA, is 90% or above will be
determined to be an Honor Graduate and will be duly recognized at commencement
(please see Board Policy on Grading and Assessment for the calculation of the CGPA).
The Executive Principal and his/her designee are granted the authority to include
students whose CGPA is 90% or above at the end of the final semester.
Rank in Class - Rank in class is determined by CGPA and will used for the purposes of:
• Obtaining automatic admission to Texas public universities based upon the
uniform admission policy and in accordance with the Texas Education Code.
This information will be reported directly to institutions by Westlake Academy
Resolution 17-05
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staff.
• Determining Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
Outside of the above circumstances, Westlake Academy is a non-ranking high school.
Operational guidelines consistent with the above policy directives will be detailed and
published in the Program of Studies and/or the College Application Handbook on an
annual basis.
In the event a student does not complete all Westlake Academy graduation
requirements by the end of the student's twelfth (12th) grade year due to unexpected
circumstances, the student may seek Board approval for and the Board may approve an
alternate graduation plan consistent with the State's foundation high school program
requirements, if it is determined to be in the best interest of the student.
* This policy is applicable beginning with students in the class of 2018
** Revisions enacted due to provisions pass by House Bill 5 approved during the
83rd Legislative Session
Dates Amended:
10/05/15
11/02/15
Resolution 17-05
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