ACADEMICS

BENTON HALL ACADEMY DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS

For all high school students enrolled at Benton Hall Academy, twenty (20) credits are required for a diploma. The diploma requirements include:

4 Credits	-	English
4 Credits	-	Algebra I, II, Geometry, one higher level math class
3 Credits	-	Biology I, Chemistry or Ecology
1 Credit	-	U. S. History
½ Credit	-	Government
½ Credit	-	Economics
1½ Credit	-	Wellness/P.E.
1 Credit	-	Performing Arts/Visual Arts
2 Credits	-	Foreign Language
3 Credits	-	Elective Courses
1 Credit	-	Keyboarding/Computer
½ Credit	-	Personal Finance

SENIOR SERVICE REQUIREMENTS
The Senior Service Program promotes the importance of giving back to the community. Each senior must earn 15 hours of community service prior to the beginning of Semester II. These hours can be earned in various ways and will be discussed and approved individually. We feel such experiences are extremely valuable to our students. An additional 2 hours per week will be added for late completion of community service.

SENIOR SELF EXPRESSION PROJECT
Each senior will be required to complete an individual project by the beginning of May. The project should reflect a special interest of the student. It might take the form of a written paper, art work, photography, a dramatic production, a dance, a videotape, a radio program, or some other form of self expression. With guidance from family and staff, the students will select topics for their projects during the second semester. Presentation of the projects will be made during Senior Breakfast. All projects must be approved by the senior sponsor before completion.

ACADEMIC HONOR CODE
Benton Hall Academy believes an important dimension of education is honesty and the independent process of discovery and self-actualization. Practically and academically, if you as a student compose an essay using another's words, if you permit someone to do your homework, if you copy someone else's notes for a take-home test, if you collaborate without permission or without stating so, you are not learning and you are gaining unfairly through the efforts of others. These are forms of academic dishonesty.

Benton Hall Academy also insists upon proper use and citation of research materials.

To avoid plagiarism, a student must footnote everything that is not a result of personal thinking, except for what is common knowledge. Direct quotations must be framed in quotation marks and documented. Paraphrases, the translation of ideas and facts into one's own words, must also be documented. On-line resources must be cited as rigorously as any other source of information. If there are questions or concerns while writing a paper, a student should consult a teacher.

Academic dishonesty may be treated both as an academic concern and as a disciplinary concern. A repeated plagiarism offense may jeopardize the student's tenure at Benton Hall Academy.

COURSE SELECTION AND DROP/ADD
If a student feels a change in his/her schedule is necessary, the student should secure the appropriate change form from the Dean of Students and return the form to the Dean's office. The Dean and Guidance Counselor will then determine whether the change is necessary and should be made.

GRADING PERIODS AND COMMENTS
The school calendar is divided into six grading periods over two semesters. At approximately the midway point of each grading period, a progress report may be sent home to high school students if a student has earned a grade of 75 or below and/or if a teacher feels the student is not performing up to his/her abilities academically or behaviorally. The middle school will send a progress report to each student at the midway point of the grading period. An official report card will be sent home at the end of each six week marking period. High school students' report cards will be mailed. Lower and middle school students will bring home the reports.

HONOR ROLL
There are three levels of Honor Roll announced at the end of each six week grading period. The Headmaster's List is composed of students with all A's, the Dean's List is composed of students with A's and B's, and the Honors List is composed of students with a B average without a D in any class. All graded courses factor into the Honor Roll calculation.

GRADING SCALE

97 - 100	=	A
94 - 96	=	A-
91 - 93	=	B+
88 - 90	=	B
85 - 87	=	B-
82 - 84	=	C+
79 - 81	=	C
76 - 78	=	C-
73 - 75	=	D+
70 - 72	=	D
Below 70	=	F
Incomplete	=	I - Due date must be arranged by student with the teacher

TESTS
If a student is scheduled for three tests on a single day, he or she is entitled to have a test rescheduled for another time if such rescheduling is done at least a day ahead of time - this is the student's responsibility. Students should pay careful attention to upcoming test dates to avoid an overload. A student may enlist the help of the Dean of Students in establishing a workable new schedule with the teachers involved.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS/GRADING
The student is the primary person responsible for his or her learning. All students at Benton Hall Academy have the ability to succeed and earn high grades.

Grades are based upon your effort in class, homework, class work, tests, and projects. Homework is necessary to reinforce concepts taught in the class and is a vital part of the education at Benton Hall Academy. Extra credit work will not be accepted until all required work is completed.

In order to receive ½ credit for a semester class, an overall grade average must be a 70 or above. Due dates for incomplete grades and assignments must be arranged with the teacher involved. If a student is absent, it is the student's responsibility to ask each teacher about the work missed and the date it is due.