HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 11-15 WA Amending the Graduation Policy Quality Points WESTLAKE ACADEMY
RESOLUTION NO. 11-15
A RESOLUTION OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO BOARD OF TRUSTEES GRADUATION POLICY
09-18, CHANGING AND CLARIFYING RELATED LANGUAGE TO CHILDREN OF
EMPLOYEES.
WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees desires to amend the Westlake Academy Graduation
Policy No. 09-18, approved and adopted on November 3, 2009; and
WHEREAS, the Westlake Academy Board of Trustees finds that the passage of this
Resolution is in the best interests of the 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: The Board hereby adopts the amendment to the policy known as the
Bawd of Trustees Graduation Policy 09-18 attached to this resolution as Exhibit "A".
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 Board 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.
Resolution 11-15
Page 1 of 6
PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WESTLAKE
ACADEMY, A CHARTER SCHOOL OF THE STATE OF TEXAS, ON THE VP DAY
OF AUGUST 2011.
Laura Wfieat, President
ATTEST:
Kell Edwa , Board Secretary Thomas E. Bry u erinte ent
APPROV ST ORM:
auto o ry or et S. Bubert,
School Attorn
Resolution 11-15
Page 2 of 6
Exhibit A
TOWN OF WESTLAKE
WESTLAKE ACADEMY
BOARD OF TRUSTEES POLICY
Policy No. 09-18:
Date Board Adopted: November 3, 2009
Date Board Amended: August 15, 2011
Effective Date: August 15, 2011; contingent upon approval by TEA
Policy Name: Graduation Policy
Policy Category: Student Achievement
Policy Goal: Defining the commencement participation requirements; establishing
Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor Graduate policy,
Policy Description:
Eligibility for Commencement - Westlake Academy seniors who have satisfied all
Academy requirements for graduation are eligible for participation in the graduation
ceremonies.
For students who do not meet the requirements, 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 Head of Secondary 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.
Only students who have completed all the requirements of Westlake Academy will
receive a diploma. Those requirements are as follows:
• Completion of a minimum of 29 credit hours according to the Westlake Academy
Program of Studies
• Not assigned to a Disciplinary Alternative Education Placement (DEAP) setting
during his/her senior year at the Academy or any other educational facility
As reflective of the Academy's rigorous and enriching IB curriculum and desire to foster
college readiness, students who graduate from Westlake Academy will complete a
program of study, which includes higher academic standards and additional credit hours
than those established through the guidelines of the State of Texas.
Resolution 11-15
Page 3 of 5
Students who receive a Westlake Academy high school diploma will have completed a
minimum of 29 hours of course work, which reflects those higher levels of academic
achievement. The graduation requirements detailing the necessary courses are
incorporated into the policy by addendum A.
The provision for the Westlake Academy Diploma will become effective for the students
in the graduating class of 2011.
Approved Courses Included in Formal Grade Point Average (GPA) - All courses taken
at the secondary level at Westlake Academy which contain specific objectives,
determined by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and are not modified in content will
be included when calculating grade point average.
The following general criteria govern the calculation of the grade point average:
• GPA will be calculated by the Counselor and rounded up to the nearest whole
number
• GPA will be determined using semester grades earned in state approved courses
• Grades earned in courses completed at other fully accredited school(s) and
transferred to the Academy will be included in determining grade point average
Course criteria must be consistent with the standards established at Westlake
Academy. Correspondence courses, Credit-by-Exam, Dual Credit courses, courses
modified in content, Pass/Fail courses, Local Credit courses not required for graduation,
Advanced Placement Exams, International Baccalaureate Exams and grades earned in
credit-bearing courses taken prior to Grade 9 will not be included in the calculation of
the formal GPA, but will be reflected on the student's Academic Achievement
Record/Transcript.
Quality Points for IB Courses - Westlake Academy will award ten (10) points to the final
grade for any IB Diploma Program courses. Raw grades in the course must be a
passing grade of 70% or better to receive quality points. Raw semester grades are
shown on a student's report card and Academic Achievement Record (AAR)/Transcript.
Indicators for quality points will be included on the Report Card and the AAR/Transcript.
Quality points will be included in GPA calculation and this weighted GPA will appear on
the student's transcript.
Grades earned in honors (pre-IB/AP) IB courses taken at other accredited districts will
receive quality points if the following conditions are met:
• Quality points awarded from other schools for classes not offered at Westlake
Academy will only be accepted for classes offered at Westlake Academy.
• Quality points awarded from other schools for classes that Westlake Academy
offers will be accepted, however, they will not exceed or be less than the
numerical weight of quality points awarded at Westlake Academy.
Resolution 11-15
Page 4 of 5
• The previous school provides official documentation of Diploma courses.
Academic Recognition - Westlake Academy will encourage and recognize academic
achievement through the establishment of a class Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Honor
Graduates. Only grades earned at Westlake Academy and those earned at schools
approved by Westlake Academy will determine the student's academic recognition.
Calculating and Reporting GPA - A student's GPA calculation at regular intervals as
determined necessary by the Head of Secondary. The intervals will be communicated
through the use of the Parent/Student Handbook.
Rank in Class - Rank in class will only be reported for the purposes of:
• Automatic admission of the top 10% of the class into a Texas public college or
university
• Consideration for scholarships
Valedictorian and Salutatorian - Graduating seniors with the top two cumulative grade
point averages (CGPA), as determined by the Head of Secondary or his/her designee,
will be eligible to serve as the Valedictorian and Salutatorian, respectively. In the event
of a tie for Valedictorian, the students will share the honor and no Salutatorian will be
designated.
All courses used to determine GPA must not be modified in content in order to qualify
for Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
Valedictorian and Salutatorian eligibility requires attendance at Westlake Academy for
six (6) consecutive semesters preceding graduation. Further, a student who is in
violation of the Academy codes and requirements, Town code, or State codes, may be
deemed ineligible by the Chief Executive Officer or his/her designee to represent
Westlake Academy as the Valedictorian or Salutatorian.
Honor Graduates - A graduating senior's weighted cumulative grade point average
(CGPA) rounded to 90% or above will be determined to be an Honor Graduate and will
be duly recognized at commencement.
All courses and corresponding numerical grades earned to determine GPA must not be
modified in content and must be identified by the state as regular, honors, and AP or IB
courses in order to qualify for Honor Graduate status.
The Head of Secondary and his/her designee are granted the authority to include
students whose CGPA is 90% or above at the end of the final semester.
Operational guidelines consistent with the above policy directives will be detailed and
published by Academy Staff in the Parent/Student Handbook on an annual basis.
Resolution 11-15
Page 5 of 5