General Information
- Course Numbering
- Introduction
- Organization for Learning
- Changing Schedules
- College Classes
- Credit for Team Sports
- Early Graduation
- Grades
- Independent Study
- Course Requirements for Athletes
- NCAA
- Advanced Placement Courses
1000s—English
2000s—Social Studies
3000s—Mathematics
4000s—Science
5000s—Applied/Technical Arts
6000s—Fine Arts
7000s—World Language
8000s—Wellness & Electives
9000s—Interdisciplinary
Recommendations for Students Who Plan to Apply to a College or University
4 years of English (composition and literature highly recommended)
4 years of Math (Algebra I and higher)
3 years of Social Studies (American History, World History and Geography/American Government)
3 years of Science
2-3 years of World Language
This course catalog lists courses from which students may choose. Actual courses are based on enrollment. The school year is divided into three trimesters. University High School has developed requirements for students to meet in order to receive a diploma from UHS.
Our diploma represents the best that we believe a student can achieve in terms of academics and character. We want students to possess skills that will help them perform well as adults, to acquire a clear, well-formed understanding of the world and to have a passion for learning. We also want students to possess a sense of responsibility for others. Our graduation requirements were developed with this in mind.
University High School students choose a pathway to guide them toward high school graduation. Some pathways place an emphasis on an area of strong interest. The Liberal Arts pathway follows a more general course of study. The goal of each pathway is to develop and graduate young people who are ready for college, careers and citizenship. Students elect their pathway after their freshman or sophomore year.
The high school is organized into trimesters and utilizes a rotating block schedule with eight ninety-minute periods. Wednesdays and Fridays are designated as “Day 1” and Tuesdays and Thursdays are designated as “Day 2.” Mondays alternate – see the school calendar for each specific Monday designation.
Schedule
2010-2011 High School Schedule
Mondays |
Tuesday-Friday |
||
Block 1/6 |
7:35 – 9:05 |
Block 1/6 |
7:35 – 9:05 |
Block 2/7 |
9:10 – 10:40 |
Advisor |
9:10 – 9:40 |
Lunch |
10:40 – 11:30 |
Block 2/7 |
9:45 – 11:15 |
Block 3/8 |
11:30 – 1:00 |
Lunch |
11:15 – 12:05 |
Block 4/9 |
1:05 – 2:35 |
Block 3/8 |
12:05 – 1:35 |
|
|
Block 4/9 |
1:40 – 3:10 |
Advisor/Advisee Program: The Advisor/Advisee Program is a key feature of University High School. Each student spends four years with one advisor and advisee group. Advisors serve as student advocates and guide students in selecting courses and completing graduation requirements.
Advising groups meet with faculty advisors on Tuesday through Friday. Advising enables students to develop a sense of community, build lines of communication, and document completion of required community service, job shadows, internship, and senior project. Attendance is required.
Community Service: The community service experience enables students to develop skills and personal qualities while exploring career interests and making a positive contribution to the school and/or broader community. The student must complete at least fifty (50) hours of service. To foster interdependence and social responsibility, students are encouraged to continue with community service activities after the completion of the minimum fifty hours. The student will receive 0.33 Carnegie Units (CU) of credit for each fifty hours up to 150 hours for maximum credit of 1.0 CU. Community service forms must be completed and are available from advisors or the Student Services Office. Community service is required for graduation.
Internship: An unpaid internship will provide the student with an opportunity to explore career interests through on-the-job training. The student must complete at least fifty (50) hours of internship. Internship forms that must be completed are available from advisors or the Student Services Office. The student will receive 0.33 Carnegie Units (CU) of credit for each fifty hours up to 150 hours for maximum credit of 1.0 CU. Internship is required for graduation.
Portfolio: Portfolios document completion of graduation requirements and other student accomplishments. A portfolio is required for graduation.Senior Project The senior project is unique because it measures high school performance and learning beyond grades and test scores. In the senior project, University High seniors are afforded a unique and necessary opportunity for self assessment; an opportunity to take a close look at themselves – past, present, and future – and to assess their own skills and potential. This experience is required for graduation. The senior project is intended to be the culmination of a quality high school education. The required completed project forms are available from advisors and the Student Services Office.
Shadowing The purpose of the shadowing experience is to explore careers through observation and self-reflection. Students will select shadowing experiences based on their personal interests and talents, with guidance from the advisor. Shadowing is required for graduation. Shadowing forms, which must be completed, are available from advisors or the Student Services Office. A student must complete the equivalent of three one-half (1/2) days of shadowing in three (3) distinctly different settings or jobs.
Freshmen and sophomores are expected to remain in eight classes each trimester. Study hall may count for one of these classes. Juniors making adequate progress toward graduation may reduce their schedule to seven classes each trimester and seniors may take six. Schedule changes that result in fewer classes must be approved by the counselor and the principal.
Students are advised to make responsible selections of courses based upon input from parents, teachers and counselor prior to registration for the next school year and are expected to remain in those courses. Occasionally there is a valid reason for dropping a course, such as:
- Student is misplaced, that is, she/he does not have the background necessary for success in the course, or the instructor feels the aptitude is lacking.
- Student entered late and has been unable to catch up.
- Student is taking a class at Aims or UNC.
- Student is over-extended.
Changes to student schedules should be carefully considered and will only be granted on a space available basis. Classes may only be added or dropped before the third class meeting of each trimester.
Drop/Add Procedure
- Consult with the advisor about the value and feasibility of the proposed change.
- Secure a Drop/Add form from Student Services Office. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the signatures of the dropping teacher, the accepting teacher, and the advisor and then return the form to the Student Services Office for final approval. Classes will only be dropped for reasons stated above.
- Once teacher approval is signed, the student will attend the new class. Paperwork must be turned in to the Student Services Office before the schedule change will be finalized and recorded on the student’s transcript. Student’s wishing to drop a course without adding a new one to their schedule must continue to attend the course until paperwork is submitted and final approval is granted.
Dropped Class Grading:
In the event a student drops or is dropped from a class, the following grading policy will apply:
- If a student drops a class before the third class meeting of the trimester, there will be no entry reflected on the report card or transcript.
- If a student receives permission from the principal to drop a class after the third day of class, a “WF” or “WP” will be recorded on the report card and transcript. A failing grade will be recorded as a WF on the transcript and will be counted in the GPA. A passing grade will be recorded as a WP on the transcript and will not be counted in the GPA.
- If a student is dropped from a class at any time for disciplinary reasons, an “F” will be recorded on the report card and transcript, and the grade will be included in the GPA.
- Dropping a class may affect athletic/activities eligibility.
Juniors and seniors are encouraged to enroll in college classes at Aims or UNC. Parents are responsible for payment of classes taken by students unless the student applies for and is granted tuition assistance through the Post Secondary Options Act as described below.
Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act
The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act was created by the Colorado Legislature to allow students to meet academic needs normally not met through the local high school. No funding is provided by the act and the local school district is expected to pay the tuition for a student who qualifies to take courses through this Act. The Act allows for high school juniors and seniors to attend an institution of higher learning and to receive credit for high school graduation, providing certain provisions are met:
- This is available only to students enrolled in grades 11 or 12.
- A student seeking the option must be deemed by the student, the student’s advisor, and the student’s parent to be in need of course work at a higher academic level than that available at the student’s local high school – or deemed by the high school principal to be in need of a different educational environment.
- The student shall give written notice to the high school principal of the intent to enroll at least two months prior to enrollment in the class by turning in a completed application for Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act tuition assistance (see deadlines in #3 below). This form is available from the Student Services Office.
- Such courses shall count for high school credit when approved by the high school principal.
- The student pays the tuition when he/she enrolls. When the student successfully completes the course, he/she will be reimbursed by the school for the actual tuition cost per credit up to a maximum of two classes per term. Students are responsible for transportation, books and any fees other than tuition charged by the higher education institution.
Procedure For Taking A Class At Aims Or UNC Under The Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act
- The student will contact the High School Counselor for the Application for Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Act Tuition Assistance (PSEO) form. Under this Act, the school will reimburse the student for up to two college courses per college term after successful completion of the college course.
- The student will complete the application and obtain required signatures from a parent and the advisor.
- The student will make an appointment to meet with the Principal to discuss the request and receive approval and signature. If approved, the Principal will make a copy of the form complete with all signatures. This must be completed at least two months prior to enrollment in the college class. (June 15 for Fall Semester class or November 15 for Spring Semester class)
- If approved, the student will get the Business Manager’s signature, and the Business Manager will make a copy for the school records.
- The student will take the completed PSEO form to registration for the college class.
- The student will submit a copy of the college schedule to the Business Manager and the High School Counselor within one week of enrolling in the class. The student may adjust his/her high school schedule to reflect college class as part of full-time enrollment at University High School.
- Students taking classes at UNC must enroll in the Colorado Opportunity Fund through College-in-Colorado.org. University Schools will only reimburse the amount of tuition remaining after the College in Colorado stipend is applied.
- The student or parent will pay for tuition and fees at the time of enrollment in the college class. A copy of the paid receipt must be submitted the Business Manager. If the student meets the criteria for free/reduced lunch, then the school will pay the tuition at that time.
- Within two weeks after the completion of the course, the student will bring a copy of the college transcript showing a grade of “C” or better to the High School Counselor and another copy to the Business Manager. This will prompt reimbursement of tuition and the course will be added to the high school transcript.
High School Credit for College Classes
Credit will transfer as follows:
4-credit college class equals .4 credit
3-credit college class equals .3 credit
2-credit college class equals .2 credit
1-credit college class equals .1 credit
Exception: The Colorado Commission on Higher Education’s Higher Education Admission Requirements (HEAR) accept the following four credit courses as equivalent to one year of high school math. University High School students will earn 1.0 credit for each of these courses if taken at AIMS or UNC:
- MAT 090 Introductory Algebra (HEAR comparable to third year of high school math)
- MAT 099 Intermediate Algebra (HEAR comparable to fourth year of high school math)
- MAT 120 Mathematics for the Liberal Arts
- MAT 121 College Algebra
Three credit college level math classes at the 100 level or above will be awarded credit proportionally at .75 credits per class.
Students may earn the following credit through team sports:
1.0 CU: A student may earn a full Carnegie Unit for team sports if he/she participates in and completes twelve (12) sport seasons. Students need to document their participation each year and respective coaches will need to verify participation.
0.66 CU: A student will need to complete eight (8) sport seasons of participation.
0.33 CU: A student will need to complete four (4) sport seasons of participation.
See the high school counselor for more information about recording credit for team sports.
A student may graduate early provided the following conditions are met:
- The student has attended UHS at least one full year prior to applying for early graduation.
- The student has satisfactorily met all graduation requirements.
- The student requests early graduation in writing to the principal stating the reasons for the request and what the student plans to do after graduating early. Written parent consent must be included in the application. Approval of the request will depend upon the student having a viable alternative and a reasonable post- graduation plan.
The student is encouraged to participate in commencement exercises in the spring of the year he or she graduates.
Students receive a traditional 4.0 scale of A, B, C, D, or F grade along with a narrative of the student’s progress. Advanced Placement courses are weighted on the 5 point scale and honors are weighted on a 4.5 scale. Modified courses are on a 3.5 scale.
Students have the option of receiving grades other than the traditional A, B, C, D, or F-system. These would include a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U), and Credit/No credit (NC). If a student requests grades other than the traditional format, she/he must complete a form and have it signed by the teacher and submitted to the Students Services Office by the fifth class period.
Students on suspension may make up course work so that the student will continue to benefit from the learning. Not all missed work can be made up, i.e. oral participation grades, pop quizzes, etc. The teacher will decide if the work will be counted for credit.
Incomplete Grades
A student who has not completed grade requirements due to illness or other excused absence will be given a grade of Incomplete. A grade of “I” for the first trimester must be cleared no later than two weeks after the end of the grading period. After two weeks, the “I” will automatically change to an “F”. “I” grades will not be given at the end of the third trimester. Any exceptions to these deadlines must have the approval of the principal. An “I” must be considered as a failing grade for CHSAA eligibility purposes.
Grade Changes
Grade changes should only occur in exceptional cases and need to be approved by the principal.
Independent study will be approved only if the course is not currently being offered or the student is unable to take a course as scheduled. The course should make educational sense for the student and should enrich his/her educational program. Credit will be granted upon completion of agreed requirements, submission of appropriate documentation of course work and hours, and a final evaluation. Independent study will count toward eligibility for participation in athletic activities. The class will be checked on the weekly eligibility sheet for progress and a passing grade. To enroll in an independent study course:
- Consult with advisor as to the feasibility of the proposal.
- Secure an Independent Study Enrollment Application from the Student Services Office.
- Work with the supervising teacher to prepare a detailed proposal which must include:
- a written outline with course objectives
- expectations for the student
- course requirements and assignments
- a timeline with meeting dates and times
- Secure the signature/approval of the principal and return the form to the Student Services Office BEFORE the trimester begins.
- The students should proceed only after final approval has been granted by the principal.
Graduation requirements and procedures are under constant review. Changes may be made at any time.
Course Requirements for Athletes
An athlete must be a full-time student during the trimester he/she is participating in athletics.
An athlete must meet eligibility rules on a trimester basis in order to be eligible. An athlete must pass the equivalent of 1.65 credits (5 classes) in the trimester prior to the season of participation. For example, to be eligible for the Winter Season, the athlete must have passed the equivalent of 1.65 credits in the Fall trimester. A student must pass 1.65 credits in the Spring trimester to be eligible to participate in a sport the following Fall Season.
Advisor, Study Hall, and Student Council cannot be counted toward eligibility. Classroom Aide can only be counted toward eligibility if it is taken for a grade and not for community service or internship. Students taking classes at UNC or Aims should consult with the Activities Director to ensure classes will count toward full-time status.
The Activities Director will conduct Eligibility Checks every week. A point system is utilized to determine weekly eligibility. Athletes receive 2 points for any class in which they are failing and 1 point for any class in which they are near failing (D). Athletes who have earned 4 points or who are not passing a minimum of 1.65 Carnegie Units will be ineligible for competition for a minimum of one week until the next eligibility check is completed. (Coaches may have stricter rules if they wish.)
Students considering participation in college athletics should note the following designations before course titles.
*NCAA approved course
npNCAA approval pending
College Board must approve Advanced Placement courses before the term “AP” can be included on a student’s transcript.
‡College Board approved course
cpCollege Board approval pending