Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Our high schools offer a unique learning opportunity to students at the end of their senior year. The Senior Project allows senior students to explore and prepare for life after high school. Offered during the final two weeks of the school year, this voluntary project gives students the freedom to design their own learning through projects that are of interest to them. The student-directed Senior Project focuses on one of four categories: community service, creativity, academics and career exploration. The Senior Project cumulates at a community Senior Project Expo during the last week of school. The J.A. Wedum Foundation has provided a grant to E. Carver Co. Schools which will increase career experience opportunities for all senior students in our high schools. The district partners with Apriton Educational Advisors to provide meaningful job shadowing and mentor experiences. Students do not choose to participate in The Senior Project until January of their senior year.

The Honor Roll is calculated ten school days after the end of a semester.
A Honor Roll: Student must have a 3.667 – 4.000 GPA.
B Honor Roll:Students must have a 3.000 – 3.666 GPA.

Juniors achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.667 after four semesters and seniors achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.500 after 11th grade will receive an academic letter (or bar, if they already have a letter).

Students must be working towards an Eastern Carver County Schools diploma to earn academic honors. Graduates are recognized at graduation for the following achievements:

Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor): Graduates who have earned a 3.950 – 4.000 cumulative GPA through the first semester of senior year. Students  qualify for an Honors Medallion.

Magna Cum Laude (with great honor): Graduates who  have earned a 3.667 – 3.949 cumulative GPA through the first semester of senior year.

Cum Laude (with honor): Graduates who have earned a 3.000 – 3.666 cumulative GPA through the first semester of senior year.

Registration numbers may require us to offer a course that combines Chaska and Chanhassen students. This allows us to offer more course options. If it happens, transportation will be provided by the school district.

Cumulative GPA is calculated beginning in grade 9 and through the end of grade 12 (see note below for Middle School courses, credits and GPA). Every course with a mark of: A through F or WF(withdrawal fail) is used in calculating cumulative GPA. Each grade has a numerical value:

LC = Loss of credit; P = Credit earned, no numerical value; I = Incomplete; NG = No grade; WF = Withdrew failing.  Cumulative GPA is the average numerical value for all grades earned which count toward GPA. All courses are weighted equally in the cumulative GPA calculation.

High school courses taken at Chaska Middle School East, Chaska Middle School West and Pioneer Ridge Middle School earn high school credit. The grade and credit earned, as well as the GPA, are included in the high school transcript; this will impact students cumulative GPA on their high school transcript. Students enrolling from other schools will have their middle school credit evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Students enrolling from other schools may speak to their counselor if they are interested in getting high school credit for courses they took while in a school outside of our district.

Students are allowed to participate in the graduation ceremony if they meet all credit and state testing graduation requirements established by the Eastern Carver County Schools Board of Education. Determination about meeting requirements for participating in the ceremony will be completed by the end of the last student contact day of the school year.

Official transcripts, including a student’s academic credits and grade point average (GPA), are sent with an embossed high school seal. Our schools do not report rank or percentile ratings. GPA includes all classes weighted equally. Our grade system is standard 4.0. See Cumulative GPA information. Request your transcript online at www.parchment.com or see your school’s registrar.

Schedule changes will not be allowed after the beginning of the semester.

Counselors make every attempt to register students for the classes they selected during the registration process. Teachers are hired and scheduled based on student course selection. Additionally, administration balances classes so that no class is over-filled. Schedule corrections are allowed for limited reasons including the following:
To fill a hole in the schedule;

• A Junior or Senior registered for PSEO classes who needs a schedule adjustment to accommodate college classes;
• Any student who has a scheduled course for which they have not completed a prerequisite;
• Any student who has a scheduled course they have already completed;
• Any student whose teacher has indicated that placement in a scheduled course is inappropriate;
• Any Senior who needs a specific requirement for graduation or college admission;

Please note that schedule changes for teacher requests, lunch times, or to be with friends will not be honored. Also, changes for specific class hours will not be honored.

Students have the opportunity to take some elective courses by Pass/Fail grading. Students who register for Pass/Fail Classes must follow these guidelines:

• Limited to elective courses only,
• Limited to one Pass/Fail course per semester; limited to 2.0 credits throughout high school.
• Requires written permission from the parent, instructor and the counselor and an application form available in the House Offices (form must be submitted within 20 days of the beginning of the semester).
• Is included in the GPA when an F is earned; and has the same attendance requirements as a graded course.

A course can be repeated to improve the learning and course grade with counselor permission. Students must notify their counselor of the intent to change the initial grade to an NG. The initial grade will not be factored into the cumulative GPA.

Students who have completed the credits necessary for graduation prior to June of their senior year may apply for early release. The student must meet with his/her counselor and complete the appropriate form stating the credits earned to date, those which will be earned during the remainder of his/her time in school and the proposed semester of graduation. This request must be signed by the student, the student’s parents/guardians and the counselor and then submitted to the principal for approval. Only after all signatures are completed will the request be reviewed by the principal for approval.

Students who are residents under 21 years of age are able to attend a public school until at least one of the following occurs: 1) the student’s completion of academic and course credits for graduation requirements; 2) the first September 1 after the student’s 21st birthday; 3) the student’s withdrawal with no subsequent enrollment within 21 calendar days; or 4) the end of the school year. Most student complete academic and course credits for graduation with more time. Talk with your school counselor about your options.

Independent Study provides students with the opportunity to learn about academic topics of their interest which are not offered at our high schools. Students work with a volunteer teacher to plan and propose this personalized educational experience before the application deadline and complete the independent study course during the semester.

This is called Credit by Assessment and it is available for some required courses. Students must apply before the deadline and then pass an assessment for the course. Credit by Assessment results are not used in the calculation of a student’s GPA.

Seniors have the option to be a Student Aide to gain work experience with staff throughout the building or with a specific teacher in a given department at the high school. Student Aides will be expected to fulfill requirements as outlined in the student aide contract set up with the supervising teacher.

Senior flex/study hall is an option for seniors only.  Students need to be in good standing academically, behaviorally and on track for all graduation requirements. Seniors can enroll for 1 period per semester and must be enrolled in five high school courses offered at the high schools. Senior flex is not available to students who are enrolled in PSEO or online through a non-district provider. Only one student aide or one peer tutor period is allowed in the same semester as senior flex. No credit is awarded for senior flex. Building administration holds the discretion to deny requests for senior flex.

During select periods students may receive one-on- one peer tutoring in the areas of math, science, and Spanish. During class work time, students can ask their teacher if they can access the tutoring center.

ACE is a highly structured classroom environment that supports learning. Students learn study skills to enhance educational success. It is staffed by a licensed teacher who is available to guide and support learning. The teacher also works as a liaison between the classroom teacher and the student. This class is available only to students recommended for additional support by their counselor.

Information and application process can be found at: www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org. The district contracts with CoreCourseGPA.com to provide student-athletes with custom data about meeting NCAA requirements. Our students who intend to play college sports must do the following:

Make sure the NCAA Eligibility Center has the documents it needs to certify you. These are your completed and signed Student Release Form and fee, your official transcript mailed directly from every high school you have attended, and your ACT or SAT scores.

Meet academic requirements and graduate. Go online to the NCAA Eligibility Center or CoreCourseGPA.com for details or talk to your counselor.

Apply for certification. You should apply for certification before graduation (junior or senior year) if you wish to participate in athletics as a freshman in college. The NCAA Eligibility Center will issue a preliminary certification report once all materials are submitted. After you graduate, if your eligibility information is requested by a member institution, the Eligibility Center will review your final transcript to make a final decision according to NCAA standards.

CoreCourseGPA.com generates an “Initial-Eligibility Status Report” which provides both Division I and Division II core course GPA as well as corresponding minimum required SAT and ACT scores and a complete listing of the number of core course credits satisfied and the number to be completed.

CHANHASSEN HIGH SCHOOL:
CoreCourseGPA.com School ID: 240421 & School Code: 702134510

CHASKA HIGH SCHOOL:
CoreCourseGPA.com School ID: 240423 & School Code: 701611200