Academic Overview
Mission and Vision
OUR DISTRICT MISSION:
Create a culture of academic excellence through inclusive and innovative learning opportunities for the whole child.
OUR DISTRICT VISION:
Empower all learners to reach their full potential in a globally competitive world.
OUR DISTRICT VALUES:
- Academic Excellence
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Community
- Character
- Collaboration
Grading Information
Sycamore High School uses the following grading system:
| Grade Range | Grade | Description | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 – 100 | A | Excellent – outstanding | 4.0 |
| 80 – 89 | B | Good – above average | 3.0 |
| 70 – 79 | C | Average – satisfactory | 2.0 |
| 60 – 69 | D | Passing – below average | 1.0 |
| Below 60 | F | Failing – insufficient to pass | 0.0 |
Additional Grades:
| Grade | Description | Quality Points |
|---|---|---|
| I | Incomplete work, unable to assign grade | 0.0 |
| WF | Withdraw failing | 0.0 |
| WP | Withdraw passing | 0.0 |
GPA calculations are based on a weighted system using the scale below. AP and Accelerated Level courses are identified on the transcript with an asterisk. These courses are weighted by adding quality points to the final grade. Weighted courses add a .5 value to the final average for Accelerated courses and 1.0 for Advanced Placement courses.
| Grade / Quality Points | Courses | Honors Level Courses | AP/CCP |
|---|---|---|---|
| A = 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| B = 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| C = 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| D = 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
Students and parents/guardians are encouraged to discuss grades with teachers, counselors, or administration if there are any questions or concerns.
Honor Roll
The junior high honor roll will be compiled by the counselors at the end of each grading period. The list will include the names of those students who have achieved an overall average of 3.4 or better in all courses. A letter grade of D or F in any subject automatically disqualifies a student from the honor roll. Any student who attains an overall average of 3.6 or better in all classes will be eligible to be included in the Principal’s Honor Roll.
Academic Dishonesty
A student shall not possess, sell, transmit, or receive any test information or other information that is meant for individual completion or preparation. Nor shall a student plagiarize or present another person’s work as his/her own. Could be subject to grade reduction.
Students are expected to complete their own work and avoid using AI tools to complete assignments without proper attribution and specific permission. Using AI to plagiarize or misrepresent work as one's own is considered academic dishonesty and will result in disciplinary action.
College Credit Plus
State law provides for student participation in the College Credit Plus (CCP) program for the purposes of promoting rigorous academic pursuits and exposing students to options beyond the high school classroom. Therefore, eligible 7th through 12th grade students may enroll at any public college/university and any participating nonpublic college/university on a full- or part-time basis and complete eligible nonsectarian, non remedial courses for transcripted high school and/or college credit.
For more information see board policy IGCH-R.
Fees
Fees can be paid online using Mastercard or Visa through PaySchools or by check payable to Sycamore Community Schools.
The Academic Fee is $40.00 per student. Students entering the district after the end of the semester will be charged a fee of $20.00 and no fee to those beginning after the start of the 4th quarter.
The Performing Arts fee is $75.00 per sport for participation in junior high and high school athletics and the following performing arts programs: Junior High Drama, Junior High Boy Choir, and Junior High Singing Company.
Students participating in the federal free and reduced price lunch program will receive a waiver of student academic and extracurricular fees.
Interim Reports
Interim reports will be distributed during class time for students carrying D’s and F's. All other grades can be viewed on Canvas or Parent Portal.
Report Cards
Report cards will be distributed to students approximately one week following the end of each grading period. Although Canvas is used as our Learning Management System, as well as the location for graded assignments.. Parent Portal will continue to be the location for cumulative, quarter, semester, and yearly grades.
Athletic Eligibility
Students at Sycamore Junior High School must meet the eligibility standards as published by the Ohio High School Athletic Association and Sycamore Board of Education. Thus, a student must be passing subjects that earn a minimum of 5 credits per year toward graduation at the end of each quarter to continue athletic participation for the next quarter and maintain no less than a 1.0 grade point average on a 4.0 grading scale.
Special note: Physical education classes and proficiency classes are not used to determine athletic eligibility.
Computers and Network at School
A Sycamore-owned Chromebook is provided to each student in grades 5-12. This device allows for monitoring and additional filtering for acceptable use in accordance with state law while providing students with a tool needed for learning at school and at home. A student may bring his/her own device, but will use a district-owned Chromebook for all testing.
For additional information about technology use and access, including the One2One Device Usage Agreement, please access goav.es/techinfo. For more information, please see board policy EDE and EDE-R.
Instructional Media Center (IMC)
A wide variety of material is available including books, magazines, and audiovisuals. Books are checked out for three weeks. Audiovisual items may be used in the IMC or taken to classrooms for presentations. All materials must be checked out before being taken from the IMC. Fines will be assessed on materials that are kept past the date due. If a library item is lost the patron will be charged the original price or the replacement price.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Schools have specific days not in session or classes are dismissed early for the purpose of holding parent-teacher conferences. See the school district calendar for these designated days. Conferences may also be scheduled by parents or teachers anytime throughout the school year. Parents wishing to have a conference with a teacher should call, email, or send a note to the teacher requesting a conference.
Per a law called the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), student records and information may not be shared with anyone who is not a legal parent or guardian and therefore, these individuals must be excluded from parent-teacher conferences.
Work Certificates
Students, ages 14-18, are required to have a work certificate on file when employed either part-time or full-time. Application and instructions for this certificate may be obtained in the Main Office from 7:30 am – 3:30 pm.
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