HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 19-18 WA Amending the Graduation Policy 6.04 WESTLAKE ACADEMY
RESOLUTION 19-18
A RESOLUTION OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
CONSIDERING APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE GRADUATION POLICY
6.04.
WHEREAS, Westlake Academy ensures compliance with all State legislative mandates
on graduation; and
WHEREAS,Westlake Academy ensures an International Baccalaureate World Education
for all students; and
WHEREAS, Westlake Academy works to update all policies in a timely manner to reflect
legislative changes and ensures these policies are easily accessible to stakeholders; 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: 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.
WA Resolution 19-18
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SECTION 3: That this resolution shall become effective from and after its date of
passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 41h DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2019.
ATTEST: 4 ,ti J&zt
La La i irg Wheat, President
Tanya Morris; Assistant to t1ie Town Secretary
d�2 y�'J/'` Fe r
Janet S. Bubert or L. Stanton Lowry,
School Attorney
WA Resolution 19-18
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TOWN OF WESTLAKE
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES POLICY
Policy No. 6.04:
Date Board Adopted: May 12, 2014
Date Board Amended: May 6, 2019
Effective Date: November 4, 2019
Policy Category: Student Achievement
Policy Name: Graduation Policy
Policy Goal: Establishing graduation requirements, defining commencement
participation requirements, and determining Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor
Graduate criteria.
Policy Description:
Graduation Requirements - As reflective of Westlake Academy's rigorous and enriching
International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and a desire to foster college readiness,
students who graduate from Westlake Academy will complete a program of study that
includes high academic standards and additional credit hours making them eligible for
the Distinguished Level of Achievement recognition.
Students must complete all graduation requirements identified in this policy to receive a
Westlake Academy diploma. Those requirements are as follows:
• Earn the necessary credits as required for the Foundation High School Program
with at least the Multidisciplinary Studies endorsement as outlined by the Texas
State Board of Education;
• Complete the requirements to earn the Distinguished Level of Achievement;
• Achieve satisfactory performance on required state end of course assessments;
and
• Complete all requirements to sit for and receive an IB Diploma.
The academic credit requirements for a Westlake Academy diploma are identified in the
chart below:
WA Resolution 19-18
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Graduation Policy Credits
GROUP Foundation Plan Westlake Academy
with Distinguished Level of Achievement
1 Language and 1.0 English 1 1.0 English 1 4.0
Literature 1.0 English 2 1.0 English 2
1.0 English 3 2.0 IB English Literature
1.0 English 4
2 Language Acquisition 2.0 Language B 3.0 Language B 5.0
2.0 IB Language B
3 Individuals and 1.0 World Geography or 1.0 World Geography or 5.0
Societies World History World History
1.0 US History 1.0 Humanities
0.5 Economics 1.0 US History
0.5 Government 0.5 Economics
0.5 Government
1.0 IB Individuals and Societies
4 Sciences 1.0 Biology 1.0 Biology 4.0
2.0 Lab Science 1.0 Lab Science
2.0 IB Science
5 Mathematics 1.0 Algebra 1 1.0 Algebra 1 5.0
1.0 Geometry 1.0 Geometry
1.0 Math 1.0 Algebra 2
2.0 IB Mathematics
6 Arts/ Electives 1.0 Fine Art 1.0 Fine Art 2.0
5.0 Electives 1.0 IB TOK
PE Physical Education 1.0 PE 1.0 PE 1.0
IB Core Personal Project 0.0
IB Extended Essay
IB CAS
Total 22.0 26.0
Pre-High School credits can be earned in Language B, Mathematics, and Fine Art in
Grade 7 and/or Grade 8. Students may be awarded up to 3.0 credits on their high
school transcript.
Transfer Student Guidelines and Exemptions - Transfer students must complete WA
graduation requirements and achieve a minimum of 26.0 credit hours with the
applicable exemptions in the areas listed below:
• For transfer students lacking Language Acquisition credits within WA's course
offerings, a student who enrolls in Grade 9 will have a minimum requirement of
4.0 credits in the same language through the WA course offerings; a student who
enrolls in Grade 10 will have a minimum requirement of 3.0 credits in the same
language through the WA course offerings; and a student who enrolls in Grade
11 will have a minimum requirement of 2.0 credits in the same language through
the WA course offerings.
WA Resolution 19-18
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• Personal Project is a requirement for any student entering Westlake Academy
before or during the first semester of Grade 10. Students who enter in G11 are
exempt from the Personal Project.
Additional Endorsements —Westlake Academy students who complete the Westlake
Academy graduation requirements can also select and earn other endorsements as
defined in the Texas Education Code.
Eligibility to Participate in Commencement Ceremony—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 as determined 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 except as required by law.
Academic Recognition - Westlake Academy will encourage and recognize academic
achievement through the establishment of a class Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor
Graduates. These recognitions are determined based on a student's Cumulative Grade
Point Average (CGPA) as recorded at the end of the third reporting period of a student's
senior year.
Valedictorian and Salutatorian —The graduating senior with the highest CGPA will be
recognized as Valedictorian, and the graduating senior with the second highest CGPA
will be recognized as Salutatorian. 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 at least the six
consecutive semesters immediately preceding graduation. Further, the Superintendent
or his/her designee may deem a student ineligible for these recognitions if the student 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.
The Executive Director and his/her designee are granted the authority to include
students whose CGPA is 90% or above at the end of the final semester.
WA Resolution 19-18
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Rank in Class - Rank in class is determined by CGPA and will be used for the purposes
of:
• Identifying students eligible to obtain automatic admission to Texas public
universities based upon a university's uniform admission policy and in
accordance with the Texas Education Code. This information will be reported
directly to institutions by Westlake Academy staff.
• Determining Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
Outside of the above circumstances, Westlake Academy is a non-ranking high school.
Operational guidelines consistent with this policy will be detailed and published in the
Parent/Student Handbook.
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.
Students Receiving Special Education Services —Westlake Academy will comply with
federal and state laws and regulations applicable to graduation requirements for eligible
students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
To the extent required by law, Westlake Academy will provide a summary of
performance for graduating students receiving special education services. This
summary will consider, as appropriate, the views of the parent and student and written
recommendations from adult service agencies on how to assist the student in meeting
postsecondary goals as well as any required evaluation information.
The Academy shall issue a certificate of attendance to a student who receives special
education services and who has completed four years of high school but has not
completed the student's individualized education program (IEP). A student eligible to
receive a certificate of attendance shall be allowed to participate in a commencement
ceremony with students receiving high school diplomas. A student may participate in
only one commencement ceremony under this provision.
Dates Amended:
10/05/15
11/02/15
WA Resolution 19-18
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