High School Course Planning

The District has an open enrollment policy for all students interested in participating in any given course. Students are encouraged to pursue the highest level of instruction matching their motivation, interest, and previous learning. Some course descriptions indicate preparatory coursework that is “Recommended” which, in our professional experience, best prepares a student for success. “Prerequisite” or “Concurrent” courses are required for enrollment. However, students may also access their choice of courses through permission of the Department Chair or Principal. To satisfy Shaker Heights High School and Ohio Graduation requirements, students in 11th and 12th grades will receive priority registration. 

Courses and levels of instruction listed in the Academic Planning Guide will be scheduled based on enrollment and staff availability.

Assigned grade and requirements:
Grade 9 — promoted from Grade 8
Grade 10 — earned 5 credits
Grade 11 — earned 10 credits
Grade 12 — earned 15 credits

The successful completion of Algebra I, 9 Math Honors and/or French II, German II, Latin II, Mandarin II or Spanish II qualify for high school credit. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will earn credit toward high school graduation requirements. All credits earned in this fashion will be reflected on the student’s transcript as a “P” for Pass except for college credits earned through College Credit Plus, which will appear on the transcript as the letter grade earned.  

The Advisory Commission on Articulation between Secondary Schools and Ohio Colleges appointed by the Ohio Board of Regents and the State Board of Education has recommended the following:

• The Core curriculum should include:
  • 4 units of Language & Literature
  • 3 units of Individuals & Societies
  • 3 units of Language Acquisition
  • 4 units of Mathematics
  • 3 units of Science (4 preferred)
  • 1 unit of Fine/Practical Arts
• Private and state-assisted four year colleges and universities generally require that students who wish to be admitted on an unconditional basis successfully complete the requirements listed above.

The State of Ohio Department of Education prescribes the minimum official day and minimum subject load for students. The Minimum Standards for Ohio Schools outline that:

• A full-time student needs to be scheduled for at least six hours of classes or other guided-learning experience or flexible credit per semester.
• Other guided-learning experiences or flexible credit need to be educational; planned by the student, parent, and certified school personnel; and approved by the principal.

Students planning to graduate after only six semesters of high school must:

• Have a plan confirmed two semesters prior to the completion date.
• Schedule a conference with both their parent(s) and school counselor.
• Have written parent approval submitted to the school counselor.

Students planning to graduate after only seven semesters of high school must:

• Have written parent/guardian approval by the spring of the 11th grade.
• Have a plan started and tentatively approved by the second Monday in May.

An important component of a complete education is developing the awareness, initiative and skill to give to others and to contribute to the benefit of one's community. Therefore, while not required for a Shaker Heights High School diploma, Shaker Heights High School is committed to providing and supporting a variety of service education programs and to recognizing the volunteer efforts of Shaker students.

Many clubs are service oriented. Students are encouraged to make community service a part of the yearly experience through these clubs, class projects, senior projects or personal initiative. To have your community service hours appear on your transcript, turn in a Time Verification Chart with your supervisor’s signature to your School Counselor. Volunteer hours are required for an IB diploma or Shaker IB Medallion; however, it is recommended for all students.

• A student's GPA starts with grades earned in the ninth grade and includes all subsequent work taken in high school. Grades earned in the Middle School are not counted in the GPA, unless they are for a CCP (dual enrollment) course. 
• Only semester grades are used in the calculation of grade point averages.
• If a student fails a course and later passes the same course through Credit Recovery, both marks will appear on the transcript and be used in computing the GPA. 
• Cumulative, weighted GPA is printed on a student's transcript.
• Shaker does not rank students.

• There are four nine-week grading periods.
• Grades are recorded at the end of each grading period.
• Grades represent a teacher's professional judgment of a student's scholastic achievement.
• Grades are based on cumulative achievement throughout a semester.
• Units of credit are awarded upon successful completion of each semester.
• A student may need to successfully complete first semester before going on to second semester.

The grading system is as follows: 

Grades Effort

Scholarship Roll Criteria

• Scholarship rolls are calculated on current grades each quarter and semester.
• Students receiving any D’s, F’s or U’s are disqualified.
• Both ½-unit credit classes and ¼-unit credit Physical Education are figured into the tabulation.
• Three Scholarship Rolls are posted at the end of each nine weeks:
  • Honor Roll: 3.5-5.0 GPA
  • Merit Roll: 3.0-3.49 GPA
  • Recognition Roll: 2.5-2.9 GPA

A student may drop a course no later than one week after the first report card in a semester and only with a parent or guardian's written approval. However, each student must maintain a minimum course load earning 2½ credits per semester. College Credit Plus (CCP) courses must be dropped in accordance with the college's rules and deadlines.

Inter-scholastic Eligibility Requirements
For unqualified eligibility for inter-scholastic activities, students must meet two standards. One is established by the Ohio High School Athletic Association(OHSAA) and the other is set by the Shaker Heights Board of Education.

• OHSAA Standard: Students must earn 2.5 credits of passing grades each nine-week grading period to be eligible during the next nine-week grading period.  
• Shaker Standard: Students must earn a 2.5 or higher GPA each nine-week grading period and maintain a 2.5 or higher Cumulative GPA to be eligible during the next nine-week grading period.

Students meeting the OHSAA standard, but not the Shaker standard, may obtain probationary eligibility with an approved Academic Improvement Plan.

Students not meeting OHSAA eligibility requirements during the fourth quarter of any school year will be ineligible for the entire first quarter the following fall. Summer school work cannot be used to reestablish eligibility lost as a result of fourth quarter achievement.

College Athletic Eligibility/NCAA
NCAA rules stipulate that only Core, Honors and Advanced/Advanced Placement/IB courses will count toward initial eligibility for college athletes. Not all Shaker Heights High School courses are approved for NCAA eligibility.

• A minimum core course GPA of 2.30 for scholarship and full participation.
• 10 of the 16 core course requirements must be completed prior to the start of the seventh semester (senior year) of high school.
• 7 of those 10 core courses must be from the English, math or Natural/Physical Science.
  Any retakes of the first 10 core courses must be completed prior to senior year.
• Earn an SAT combined score or ACT sum score matching the core/course GPA on the Division I sliding scale.
• Graduate high school.

Please consult the NCAA Eligibility Center for the most up-to-date eligibility information.  

Students have three options when they do not pass a course:

1. If the course is not required for graduation, students may opt to leave the failed elective course on their transcript and move on to a new course.
2. Credit Recovery: Students may retake the course through Credit Recovery (CR). This is an online, shortened version of the class that allows students to earn credit. Once CR is completed, it will show on the transcript. The original failing grade will remain on the transcript and in the GPA calculations.
3. Grade Replacement: Students who fail a course may retake the same course. The course must be a duplicate of the original class and must be the full course at the same level as the original course (IB, AP, etc.). The retaken course must be in the same format (in-person, virtual, internal/external, etc.). The second attempt grade will completely replace the original grade on the transcript and in the GPA calculations.

Credits attempted through College Credit Plus (CCP) are not eligible for Grade Replacement or Credit Recovery options.

 ***Students should contact their counselor to make the appropriate arrangements.***