I.    PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to establish a criterion based academic honor system that recognizes high academic achievement.

II.    GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

It is the District’s responsibility to the community that all school employees will work to challenge and support all students in the pursuit of their highest levels of academic and personal achievement. Throughout the student’s journey at Minnetonka High School, the school will provide a positive and stimulating learning environment in order to inspire a passion to excel in each student. The curricular offerings are designed to encourage students to stretch their minds. The course curriculum will provide the necessary rigor to challenge students to meet the highest of academic standards.

The Minnetonka diploma signifies the pursuit of academic excellence. The transcript will reflect a student’s personal achievement and rigorous course selection. As well, both shall recognize and commend the highest level of a student’s academic achievement. To stimulate achievement as measured by its extraordinary expectations, the District will establish an academic honor system. In order to realize these goals, the system must:

• Reflect high academic achievement.
• Be honest, fair, transparent, and credible
• Be criterion referenced.
• Reflect high expectations of all students across all courses and programs.

III.    DEFINITIONS

Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA): the student’s numerical average for all courses taken. It is computed by adding the total number of the letter grades’ point values and dividing it by the number of credits completed.

Criterion Referenced: a standard on which a judgment or decision may be based.

Grade Weighting: the assignment of a greater numerical value to the letter grade’s numeric point value to reward a student for completing the Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) course(s) and taking the national/international AP and IB assessments in the Spring. The Multi-Variable Calculus course, which is a higher level course than AP or IB, will also be given weighting.

Term Grade Point Average (GPA): the student’s numerical average for a given quarter. It is computed by adding the total number of the letter grades’ point values and dividing it by the number of courses for a given quarter.

IV.    HIGH ACADEMIC HONORS RECOGNITION

1. Effective the Class of 2009, the Laude Latin model will be used to recognize academic excellence at the conclusion of a student’s high school career. Students will work to compete against the criterion for academic honors—not each other.
    
2. A student’s final cumulative GPA will be used to determine the level of honor on a student’s high school transcript, diploma, and for academic recognition at commencement exercises. The following three levels of academic honors will be used:
    
   1. Summa Cum Laude    “with highest distinction”—Cumulative GPA average of 4.000 and above
   2.  Magna Cum Laude “with great distinction”— Cumulative GPA average of 3.850 to 3.999
   3. Cum Laude “with distinction”— Cumulative GPA average of 3.667 to 3.849
       
      1. The weighted GPA will be used to calculate all academic honors.
          
      2. This model will replace the practice of using class rank and Valedictorian and Salutatorian on all official Minnetonka Schools documentation.
          
      3. In the event that a miscalculation occurs honors may be awarded after the fact, but honors mistakenly awarded will not be retracted.
          
3. Honor Rolls
    
   1. Each quarter an official Honor Roll will be calculated based on the weighted term GPA.
   2. Students with a term GPA of 3.667 and above will be listed on the “A” Honor Roll.
   3. Students with a term GPA of 3.000 to 3.666 and above will be listed on the “B” Honor Roll.
       
4. Academic Lettering
    
   1. Academic letting is another way in which Minnetonka High School students can be recognized for outstanding school work.
      1. Student eligible for an academic letter must average an overall 3.850 GPA over the first three quarters for seniors and throughout all four quarters for freshmen, sophomores and juniors.
      2. Students who meet the 3.850 GPA standard and have successfully completed a Minnetonka High School accelerated, AP, or IB class, either year long or two semester classes, would receive an academic letter marked with “Honors.”
      3. Senior academic letters will be handed out at the spring awards program and to freshmen, sophomores and juniors at a program at the start of the next school year.

V.    REPORTING TO POST-HIGH SCHOOL INSTITUTIONS

Student transcripts will include the student’s GPA and any cum laude honors.

VI.    IMPLEMENTATION

The Superintendent or designee is directed and authorized to develop and approve specific procedures for the implementation of this policy.