GRADE PROMOTION POLICY

(Revised on 8/15/2025)

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Grade Promotion Policy For Middle School - Grades 6-8

1. Attendance: Any student who exceeds ten (10) unexcused absences in one school year will not be promoted to the next grade level.

1. Within a marking period, should a student accrue ten (10) or more absences, whether excused or unexcused, their grade for core classes will be set as the assessment (portfolio, quarter final or summative assessment) grade for that marking period, which can not exceed 80 (B-).
2. If the student’s absence extends beyond the marking period, the student will receive an incomplete (0) grade for that class. The school administration will decide whether or not the student can make up that grade and how.

2. Core Course Requirement: A middle school student must pass all core courses (ELA, math, science, or social studies) to advance to the next grade level.

1. Middle school students failing one or two core courses are required to attend summer school. Promotion to the subsequent grade requires successful completion of all summer courses. A grade below 65% in any summer course equates to failing the respective core course, and the student will be retained in their current grade the following school year.
2. Students failing three or more core courses for the year will automatically repeat the grade.
3. If summer school is not an option, the HCSS Administration may compel the student to undertake supplementary coursework or sit for a proficiency exam in August.

Note: HCSS does not accept summer school credits from other institutions as transfer credits.

HIGH SCHOOL

Grade Promotion Policy For High School, Grades 9-12

1. Attendance: Any student who exceeds ten (10) unexcused absences in one school year will not be promoted to the next grade level.

1. Within a marking period, should a student accrue ten (10) or more absences, whether excused or unexcused, their grade for core classes will be set as the assessment (portfolio, quarter final, or summative assessment) grade for that marking period, which can not exceed 80 (B-).
2. If the student’s absence extends beyond the marking period, the student will receive an incomplete (0) grade for that class. The school administration will decide whether or not the student can make up that grade and how.

2. Promotion/ retention:

1. Students in high school must pass all core (i.e., ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies)and elective (semester-long) classes to be promoted.
2. A student can only make up a total of two courses during summer school.
3. If summer school is not an option, the HCSS Administration may compel the student to undertake supplementary coursework or sit for a proficiency exam in August.

3. Course Credit Recovery:

1. Upon successful completion of the summer school, the student's grade for the previously failed core course will be adjusted to a passing mark of 65%.
2. Should a student's grade remain below 65% after summer school, they must successfully retake the course before graduation to meet graduation requirements.

If a student has a unique situation that may be other than the above, the school administration has the final say in grade promotion and retention decisions.