Academic Program

Grading

Marking periods at Pershing are divided into six, six-week terms. Over the course of each six week period, students will be assessed of their learning (tests, quizzes, projects, etc.). These assessments determine the grade for the term.

Letter and number grades are as follows:

Student behavior is graded on the following scale:

Students who show exceptional mastery in all classes (or in all classes except 2 where those grades showmastery) and maintain at least an ‘S’ in conduct earn Honor Roll status.
*Students who have all A’s & B’s on their report cards will receive a free dress pass.
*Students who receive all E’s in conduct on their report cards will receive free dress pass.

Academic grades that are below average and behavior grades below satisfactory can prohibit you from participating in school-sponsored activities such as dances and field trips.  Failing grades exclude otherwise eligible students from participating in extracurricular activities including band, choir, University Interscholastic League (UIL) and club sports, etc.

Academic Reports to Parents

School officials communicate with your parents your academic progress through the following methods:

• Progress reports (school issued): The school sends home a progress report at the middle of the six-week marking period.  This document is to be signed and returned to your homeroom teacher.
• Report cards: Within two weeks of the end of the six-week marking period, you will receive a report documenting your level of academic mastery for the term.  This needs to be signed by a parent then shown to your homeroom teacher; you may keep this document once your teacher has checked it.
• Progress reports (teacher issued): A teacher may choose to send home a progress report for his/her own class.  This may be done at anytime and may require a parent signature.

Academic Assignments (homework and classwork)

Teachers assign work to help you learn.  This work must be completed with your best effort in the amount of time allotted.  If this work is not completed to the standard necessary to prove your mastery of the material, certain measures may be taken by the school to assure maximum learning.

Make Up Work Policy

Students who are absent from school have the opportunity to make up the assignments/classwork that was missed.  It is the responsibility of the student to get his/her make-up work from his/her teacher.  The student will be given the same amount of school days they missed to make up the work.  For example if a student was absent for two days they will be given two days to make up the work they missed

Late Work Policy

Students turning in assignments past their due date will have a grade deduction assigned.  The expectation is that all work is turned in on the due date set by the teacher.  The grade deduction will be taken from the final percentage earned by the student for the assignment (i.e.: if student earned a grade of 85 on an assignment and it was turned in one day late the student would receive a 75).  Work turned in late will receive a 10 percentage point deduction for each calendar day past the assigned due date.  Work turned in 6-10 calendar days past due date will earn at least a grade of 25%.   All work must be turned in during the grading period of its due date.

*Calendar days – not class periods

Attendance

The first bell for students to enter the building rings at 8:35 each morning; however, students may enter the building early for breakfast (in the cafeteria) or with the written permission of a school official.  The school day ends at 3:45 each day; you are expected to be picked up no later than 4:30 unless you are participating in a sponsored after school event.  If you are not picked up by this time, the school may refer you to the district or city police or Children’s Protective Services as a matter of safety.

Absences

Students are required by law to attend a minimum of 80 days per semester to be eligible to receive full credit; excessive unexcused absences can make you ineligible for promotion.  Excused absences, ones that are excused with a parent/doctor’s note, are taken into consideration and do not reflect on the 80-day requirement.  Absence notes must be taken to the school’s attendance office when students arrive back at school.

Early Pick-Up Of Students

Should you need to leave school early, your parents must submit a written request to be turned in to the attendance office first thing that morning.  The written request must include the date, time of pick-up as well as a telephone number where your parent may be reached.  When your parent arrives, the attendance office will send for you.  A student cannot be taken out of class the last 30 minutes prior to dismissal bell of any day unless a note has been brought in that morning or prior arrangements have been made with the attendance office.  Parents must sign out their student at the attendance office.  Parent/guardian must have a valid ID and be listed on the student enrollment card as an approved person to pick up student.

School Tardiness

To maximize your learning, you are expected to arrive at school on time on a consistent basis.  If you are tardy to school, you should report to the attendance office for a permit and report to class immediately.

Class Tardiness

If you are tardy to class, you should sign the teacher’s tardy log and take your seat as quickly and quietly as possible.  Students who are not in their classroom when the tardy bell rings are considered tardy.  Students who are more than 10 minutes late for a class without a pass will be referred to their Dean for skipping.

*Tardies are considered on a semester basis; tardies from the first semester do not carry over to the second.