Graduation Regalia Info Night

Graduation Recognitions

• Tartan Bearers (11th Grade)
• CTE Stoles
• Biliteracy Seal
• Golden State Seal

• Platinum Cap
• Platinum Cords
• Platinum Tassel
• Valedictorian

Tartan Bearers

11th Grade Recognition

Tartan Bearers- 11th Grade Recognition

Welcome Graduating Seniors on to Field

Recognizes Top 36 Students in Class:

• Based on GPA/Ranking after Spring Semester 1 of 11th Grade
• Tartan Bearers - Rankings 1-24
• Participate in Graduation Practice morning of graduation
• Graduation Ushers – Rankings 25-36

​

​

Platinum Caps

College Readiness

Platinum Caps- College Readiness

Updated April 2024

Requires college readiness in all of the following subjects:

​

English

Math

Science

1. Standard Exceeded on Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC/CAASPP EAP) in English/Language Arts
2. Standard Met on Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC/CAASPP EAP) in English Language Arts and one of the following:
1. 550+ on the EBRW section of the SAT or 19+ on the ELA section of the ACT
2. A score of 3 or better on the AP Language and Composition or AP Literature and Composition Exam (for transfer students)
3. Pass a transferable college English course
4. Passing grade in both semesters of ERWC in Senior Year
5. Overall Weighted 3.3 GPA or above

​

1. Standard Exceeded on Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC/CAASPP EAP) in Mathematics
2. Standard Met on Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC/CAASPP EAP) in Mathematics and one of the following:
1. 570+ on the Math Section of the SAT or 22+ on the Math Section of the ACT
2. Pass a transferable college Math course
3. A score of 3 or better on the AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC or AP Stats Exam
4. Standard Met on the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC/CAASPP EAP) in Math AND a passing grade in both semesters of an approved senior year Math course
5. An Overall Weighted 3.5 GPA and 4+ years of A-G math

1. Standard Exceeded on California Science Test (CAST) in 11th Grade
2. Standard Met on California Science Test (CAST) in 11th Grade and one of the following:
1. 23+ on the Science Section of the ACT
2. Pass a transferable college Science course
3. Pass 3 years of “a-g” Area D Science courses with an overall GPA of 3.3
4. A score of 3 or better on the AP Biology or AP Physics

​

Platinum Caps

What’s In It For Me?

• Platinum Cap worn during graduation
• College Ready = Platinum Cap �
• College Placement - college level courses
• For 4 year and 2 year colleges

Platinum Caps

What’s In It For Me?

Being college ready = being eligible for college level English and Mathematics courses.

• Doing well on the SBAC & CAST in April of 11th grade can save money by:
• NOT having to go to summer school at the university/community college to take developmental courses. Some universities will require students to attend a summer program.
• Summer school can cost anywhere from $1000-$2000

​

​

Honor Grad

Honor Grad

Honor Grad- Platinum Cord

• Platinum cords worn and Recognition in graduation program
• Overall GPA of 3.5 or above by the end of Spring Semester 1 of 12th Grade

CSF Lifetime Member- Platinum Tassel

• California Scholarship Federation Member
• Platinum tassel on cap and recognition in graduation program-
• GPA Requirement
• You need to register for CSF using 4 of your final 6 high school academic semesters.
• Contact advisor for CSF Mrs. Weber to see if you qualify. Ask GLT for copy of transcript

Career Technical Education Stoles

CTE

Students who complete CTE pathway will get stoles to use in the graduation ceremony

State Seal of Biliteracy

Biliteracy Seal

Updated by state in January 2024

Biliteracy Seal: Recognition in graduation program

​

1. English Proficiency Requirement- One of the following:
1. Overall 3.0 GPA (B’s and above) in English courses all four years

OR

• Pass SBAC in 11th grade, AP English exam or score a 480 or higher on the SAT’s Evidence-Based Reading & Writing section

​

• LOTE- One of the following:
• AP World Language Test with a score of 3 or higher
• Completion of the 2nd year of college-level Introductory/Elementary World Language (i.e. Span/ASL/French 121)
• 4-years same language of high school LOTE with average GPA of 3.0 or above
1. Courses completed in another country in a language other than English
2. Courses completed at a college or university through dual enrollment
• Executive Director approved World Language test/Executive Director Certification
• Educated through the eighth-grade level or higher in a school where a language other than English was used as the medium of instruction and earned grade equivalent of B or higher in the Language of Instruction course for last year attended

Golden State Seal

Golden State Seal Merit Diploma

1. U.S. History: Students must have earned one of any of the following:
1. A grade of B (or numerical equivalent) or above upon completion of the required U.S. history course
2. A qualifying score – passing AP US History Exam.
3. A qualifying score that demonstrates mastery of the subject as determined by the LEA for an examination produced by a private provider or LEA
2. English-language Arts: Students must have earned one of any of the following:
• A grade of B+ (or numerical equivalent) or above in a single course completed in grade nine, ten, or eleven
• An achievement level of “Standard Met” for the high school Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment
3. Mathematics: Students must have earned one of any of the following:
• A grade of B+ (or numeric equivalent) or above in a single course completed in grade nine, ten, or eleven
• An achievement level of “Standard Met” for the high school Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment
4. Science: Students must have earned one of any of the following:
• A grade of B+ (or numeric equivalent) or above in a single course completed in grade nine, ten, or eleven
• An achievement level of "Standard Met" or above for the high school California Science Test taken in grade ten or eleven
• A qualifying score in any of the following – passing AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Environmental Science
5. Other two subject matter areas: Students may choose from any of the following:
• Any additional qualifying grade or score listed above earned for the subjects of ELA, mathematics, science, or U.S. history not already used to meet eligibility
• A grade of B (or numerical equivalent) or above upon the completion of high school courses in other subjects
• A qualifying score in any other AP Exam.

4 Students Recognized at Graduation

Valedictorian

Valedictorian

Valedictorian Selection Policy- Found in Student Handbook (accessible through Helix website)

• Valedictorians are recognized for outstanding academic achievement in high school. As such, academic integrity is an important component of the valedictorian selection. Any student with documented academic dishonesty in grades 9 or 10 may be eliminated from consideration. Any student with a serious incident of documented academic dishonesty in grades 11 or 12 will result in elimination.
• A Valedictorian Committee, consisting of the Grade Level Counselor, Academic Advisor, and GLP for the graduating class, will oversee and arbitrate the selection of valedictorians equaling approximately one (1) percent of the graduating class, not to exceed four (4) valedictorians.

Valedictorian

Recognition in graduation program & deliver a message/speech to graduating seniors

The Valedictorian Committee will evaluate all students with an average of 4.5 and above, or the top three percent of the class, whichever is greater in number.

*GPA’s are calculated at the end of Spring Semester 1/Quarter 3 of 12th grade year*

​

1. Grade point average: grade point average ranking including grades 9 through 12 up to and including the final progress report of the final grading period prior to graduation. Weighted grade points will only be given to courses approved for weighted credit at Helix Charter High School.
2. Total quality point rankings including grades 9 through 12 up to and including the first progress report of the final grading period prior to graduation (quality points will be determined by calculating the grade point times the number of credits earned in each course) weighted grade points will only be given to courses approved for weighted credit at Helix Charter High School.
3. College Aptitude Ranking by performance on Advanced Placement (AP), College Courses and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC’s) tests: SBAC’s taken in grade 11, students will receive fifteen (15) points for exams completed at the Exceeded Standards level. AP exams taken in grades 9 through 12, students will receive one (1) point for completing the exam at a level two, two (2) points for exams that are completed at a level three , (3) points for exams completed at a level four and four (4) points for exams completed at a level five. Senior Year students will receive 1 point per AP exam registered. College Courses taken in grades 10 through 12 will earn two (2) points for courses that are completed with a ‘C,’ three (3) points for courses that are completed with a ‘B’ and four (4) points for courses that are completed with an ‘A.’ Senior Year students will receive one (1) point per Spring College course enrolled. Exception to AP points:If a student earned points for the equivalent college course, then they cannot earn points again for the AP exam.

​

The Valedictorian Committee will evaluate all students with an average of 4.5 and above, or the top three percent of the class, whichever is greater in number.

Earning a high GPA will make you eligible to be EVALUATED for Valedictorian

• The Weighted GPA is what is taken into consideration when evaluating potential valedictorians
• Earning the highest GPA will not guarantee you one of the 4 valedictorian spots
• GPA is NOT the only thing considered when determining valedictorians
• Pass/No Mark grades might help you earn a high GPA, but they might not help your quality points criteria
• It is important to consider all sections of the valedictorian criteria before playing the “GPA game”

Grade point average: grade point average ranking including grades 9 through 12 up to and including the final progress report of the final grading period prior to graduation. Weighted grade points will only be given to courses approved for weighted credit at Helix Charter High School.

As mentioned, GPA is one of the criteria used to determine a valedictorian

• The weighted overall GPA is what is used to determine the highest GPA
• ALL classes on your Helix transcript make up your overall GPA. College Prep, Honors, AP and Dual Enrollment classes are part of the GPA calculation
• Pass/No Mark Grades (P/NM) grades do NOT have a positive/negative impact on your GPA
• 12th grade final progress report (Q4/Spring Semester 2) of the final grading period prior to graduation
• ONLY classes that get a progress report grade will be considered when calculating the final progress report card GPA
• Dual/Concurrent Enrollment classes DO NOT have progress report grades. Therefore, these classes are not considered when evaluating the final progress report GPA

​

​

Pass/No Mark Grades

• Pass/No Mark grades might help you earn a high GPA, but they might not help your quality points criteria
• Pass/No Mark Grades (P/NM) grades do NOT have a positive/negative impact on your GPA
• The Pass/No Mark option must be requested prior to the end of the second week of the semester.
• Any class used to meet Helix graduation requirements will not be considered for a P/NM grade.
• Pass/No Mark grades do not meet A-G requirements for UCs/CSUs or NCAA eligibility.
• Students performing below expectations may be dropped. The Class Change Deadlines will determine if the withdrawal grade must appear on the transcript.

Total quality point rankings including grades 9 through 12 up to and including the first progress report of the final grading period prior to graduation (quality points will be determined by calculating the grade point times the number of credits earned in each course) weighted grade points will only be given to courses approved for weighted credit at Helix Charter High School.

Students earn points for EVERY class taken while at Helix

College Aptitude Ranking by performance on Advanced Placement (AP), College Courses and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC’s) tests: SBAC’s taken in grade 11, students will receive fifteen (15) points for exams completed at the Exceeded Standards level. AP exams taken in grades 9 through 12, students will receive one (1) point for completing the exam at a level two, two (2) points for exams that are completed at a level three , (3) points for exams completed at a level four and four (4) points for exams completed at a level five. Senior Year students will receive 1 point per AP exam registered. College Courses taken in grades 10 through 12 will earn two (2) points for courses that are completed with a ‘C,’ three (3) points for courses that are completed with a ‘B’ and four (4) points for courses that are completed with an ‘A.’ Senior Year students will receive one (1) point per Spring College course enrolled. Exception to AP points:If a student earned points for the equivalent college course, then they cannot earn points again for the AP exam.

THANK YOU

Questions? Contact your GLT:

℅ 2025: glt2025@helixcharter.net

℅ 2026: glt2026@helixcharter.net

℅ 2027: glt2027@helixcharter.net

℅ 2028: glt2028@helixcharter.net