Grade Placement Policy

revised 7/13/07

K-8

For K-8 students, at the time of enrollment, the grade level is written on the Master Student Agreement.  The level can be determined by the legal need to be 5 by December 2^nd for Kindergarten, and proceeding chronologically for each grade level.

Students can be placed at their age appropriate grade level or below grade level at teacher/parent discretion, but not above grade level.  A student can work in curriculum at higher levels that match their ability, but the grade level in our records must not go above the level determined by their age.

If a teacher/parent decide that a student should repeat a grade level, this can be done by submitting the Fall Master Student Agreement with the desired grade level, and following up by the first day of school by checking their student list to see if the proper grade level is listed for that student.  This decision should be discussed with the ES Advisor, prior to filling out the agreement for the following school year.

High School

For ES use, to determine high school grade placement upon initial enrollment only.

Students of high school age (14 or above - including adults) should be placed in a grade level based on the number of credits they have on their transcript according to the following guideline:

0-50 credits = 9th grade

51-100 credits = 10th grade

101-150 credits = 11th grade

151+ credits = 12th grade

Exceptions to this guideline include students who have completed more credits than would typically correspond to their age.  For example, a 14 year old with 100 credits should be enrolled as a 9th grader.  In such a case, the student could possibly complete high school during his/her 11^th grade year.  Thus, students who have earned credits prior to attaining typical high school age should, upon reaching high school age (14 years old) be placed in 9th grade, regardless of the number of credits they have earned.  For example, a 13 year old with high school credits would be placed in 8th grade.  However, if s/he turned 14 prior to the beginning of the school year, s/he would be placed in 9th grade even if s/he had already earned 120 credits.

In all cases, it is mandatory for a student to show satisfactory progress toward graduation.  GVCS has identified attempting at least 25 credits per semester as satisfactory progress.  Attempting does not mean merely "signing up for" 25 credits.  Rather, it means a serious endeavor towards, and the completion of most of, 25 credits.  ESs with students having difficulty in this area should contact their advisor.

In order to earn a diploma all students, regardless of age, must pass the California High School Exit Exam.