Cartersville High School Grading Scales and

Graduation Requirements
The Cartersville City High School grading scale is as follows:
A 90-100 = 4.0 quality points
B 80-89 = 3.0 quality points
C 70-79 = 2.0 quality points
F 69 and below = 0 quality points
Due to the additional rigor associated with honors/accelerated courses, the
following grading policy will be applied in each honors/accelerated course at
Cartersville High School:
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An additional 5 points will be added to the students final numeric average
in each honors/accelerated class at the conclusion of the year. This will
constitute the students weighted grade. Final grades may not exceed 100%.
Grade weighting occurs at course completion and will not be applied to the
1st semester grade.
The grade reported in PowerSchool and on progress reports prior to the
final report card will be the students non-weighted grade.
The weighted grade will be reported on the students final report card and
transcript. This is the grade that will be used to determine the students
overall academic average which is used to determine class rank.
The weighted grade will be reported to the Georgia Student Finance
Commission (GSFC) which is used to determine HOPE eligibility. Students
should be aware that the policy of the GSFC is to strip away extra points
added by schools for honors/accelerated courses. The GSFC does not apply
any additional weighting for honors/accelerated courses, so the schools nonweighted grade is used to determine HOPE eligibility. This practice will not
impact grades earned prior to the 2012/2013 school year.
Due to the additional rigor associated with Advanced Placement (AP)
courses, the following grading policy will be applied in each AP course at
Cartersville High School:
An additional 10 points will be added to the students final numeric
average in each AP class at the conclusion of the year. This will constitute
the students weighted grade. Final grades may not exceed 100%. Grade
weighting occurs at course completion and will not be applied to the 1st
semester grade.
The grade reported in PowerSchool and on progress reports prior to the
final report card will be the students non-weighted grade.
The weighted grade will be reported on the students final report card and
transcript. This is the grade that will be used to determine the students
overall academic average which is used to determine class rank.

 The weighted grade will be reported to the Georgia Student Finance

Commission (GSFC) which is used to determine HOPE eligibility. Students
should be aware that the policy of the GSFC is to strip away extra points
added by schools so that they can apply their own grading scale and
weighting for AP courses. The purpose of this practice is to promote equity
among students across the state. The GSFC converts cumulative averages to
a Quality Point Scale (4.0) and adds a .5 weight to all AP classes. For
example, a student earning a non-weighted 85% in a non-AP class would
earn a 3.0 for that class while an 85% in an AP class would earn a 3.5. This
practice will not impact grades earned prior to the 2012-13 school year.
Graduation requirements are based on local and state policies. High School
graduation is the ultimate culmination of the K-12 educational experience. It
is our desire that each of our students earns a high school diploma and
graduates with their classmates. However, students have no recognized right
to participate in graduation ceremonies. Participation in any ceremony is a
privilege, and should be viewed as such. Courts throughout the country have
held that students denied the opportunity to march in graduation ceremonies
have no legal or due process claim. Cartersville High School policy requires
that each graduate meet all diploma requirements (credit requirements and
testing requirements) and be in good standing (discipline, financial
obligations, and graduation rehearsal) in order to participate in graduation
ceremonies. Students and parents should communicate with their school
counselor for additional information or assistance regarding graduation.
Course & Credit Requirements for ALL students (24 units required):
4 units of English
4 units of Math
4 units of Science
4 units of Social Studies
1 unit of Health/PE
3 units of Career Tech and/or Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts
4 units of Additional electives
Students planning to enter or transfer into a University System of Georgia
Institution or other post-secondary institution must take two-three units of
the same foreign language (check with individual institutions for their
requirements).
Additional Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2016
Meet diploma requirements by passing all required courses
Earn a minimum of 24 units of credit
Additional Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2017 and 2018
Meet diploma requirements by passing all required courses

 Earn a minimum of 24 units of credit

Complete a career pathway (3 sequential courses) in either Academics,
Career Tech, Fine Arts OR Foreign Language
It is important for students and parents to understand graduation
requirements as well as keep up with their progress. Counselors welcome the
opportunity to review the student's progress toward graduation. Call or email
the school counseling office for an appointment time.
Teachers have the complete responsibility and authority to assign grades to
each student based upon work done in the class or subject area and
assessments given to measure mastery and understanding of content.
Administrators and support personnel cannot change a students grade as
assigned by a teacher.
Similarly, the school principal has the final responsibility and authority to
determine the promotion/retention/placement decisions regarding each
student. Such decisions are based upon criteria established by the school.
The Central Office, School Board, Superintendent, nor his/her staff has any
authority to make or change grades, promotion, retention, or placement
decisions of any student.
Promotion to the next grade is based on the units of credit earned by the
beginning of each fall semester. Students are not promoted at the end of first
semester. With these promotion requirements in mind, students must be in a
junior or senior advisement to be allowed to purchase prom tickets.
Promotion to Earned Credit Required
10th grade 5 credits
11th grade 11 credits
12th grade 17 credits
Honor graduates must take at least two AP courses and have a minimum
Academic Average of 90%. Honor Graduates with Distinction must take at
least four AP courses and have a minimum Academic Average of a 90%.
Valedictorian and Salutatorian will have the highest Academic Averages of
the Honor Graduates with Distinction. The students Academic Average is
calculated for the first time at the conclusion of their 9th grade year. There is
no rounding of the numerical average.