- AT-RISK GRADE REPORTS
An At-Risk Report is emailed in the middle of each quarter to the parents of students whose grades are either failing or are at risk of failing for that quarter. As noted in this handbook, in Rhetoric School, a grade of D or below (below 70) is rated as failing. Therefore, receipt of one of these reports can indicate one of two things:- The student has a current failing grade (below 70) in one or more courses
The student currently has a near failing grade (70-75) in one or more courses and may be at risk of failing
These reports are issued each quarter so that students know they need to improve their work to increase before the quarter report cards are posted. At-Risk Reports, in and of themselves, do not necessarily entail academic or behavioral consequences. However, students involved in extracurricular activities will have their grades checked weekly following the mid-point of each quarter to ensure eligibility to participate in competitions, performances, and other activities. A student involved in extracurriculars or wanting to miss class during a school day and failing more than one course during a grading period will be ineligible to compete or perform for seven days from the start of ineligibility.
- AT-RISK BEHAVIORAL REPORTS
An At-Risk Report is emailed in the middle of each quarter to the parents of students who have acquired three (3) or more demerits within a semester. As noted in this handbook, five demerits places a student on Behavioral Probation for a minimum of four weeks. These reports are issued each quarter so that students know they need to improve their attention to rules, expectations, and standards. While receiving an At-Risk Behavioral Report does not place a student on Behavioral Probation, it may, depending on the standards and expectations of certain clubs or positions of student leadership, prevent a student from continuing in a club or leadership role, temporarily or permanently. - ELIGIBILITY FOR EXTRA-CURRICULARS
Students involved in extracurricular activities are expected to maintain good and, at minimum, passing grades. Students involved in extracurriculars, and those intending to miss class for a school sanctioned event, will have their grades checked weekly following the mid-point of each quarter, to ensure eligibility to participate in games, competitions, performances, and other related activities. A student failing more than one course (two or more) during a grading period will be ineligible to compete or perform for seven days from the start of ineligibility. For example, if a student athlete is failing two courses at the start of week six, he or she will be ineligible to compete for seven days. He or she can still practice and may still attend competitions provided they do not take him or her out of class, but he or she will be encouraged to spend additional time with teachers and tutors to bring up the grades. When grades are checked at the start of week seven, if he or she is no longer failing two or more courses, he or she will be eligible to compete that week. - ACADEMIC PROBATION
Academic Probation is a means of warning students of their seriously inadequate academic performance. It is intended to convey to students that unless significant improvement occurs, they will fall behind their grade level and be unable to continue at Geneva. A student is placed on Academic Probation under the following conditions:- The student earns a “D” (65-69) in any two subjects in a quarter or a single “F” (below 65) in any one subject in a quarter (as recorded on the report card). The student will be on Academic Probation until at least the midpoint of the following quarter (approximately four weeks).
- The student fails a course for the first semester. Failing a course means earning a first semester grade below 70. At Geneva, no credit is granted for a course grade below 70. Failing the first semester places the student in danger of not earning credit for the year. The student will be on Academic Probation until at least the midpoint of quarter three (approximately four weeks).
- The student fails a course for the second semester. At Geneva, no credit is granted for a course grade below 70. The student will be on Academic Probation until at least the midpoint of the following quarter (quarter one of the following year). Students who fail a required course must either take an approved summer course to earn the missing credit or retake the course the following year (if available).
- Incoming ninth graders who failed a course in eighth grade must do summer work to complete the course requirements before the beginning of the school year to advance to the next grade level. Students will be on Academic Probation until at least the midpoint (approximately four weeks) of the following quarter (quarter one).
All new or returning students with an integration plan or required summer work must complete their plan or work in accordance with the plan’s timeline and stipulations. Failure to do so will result in automatic Academic Probation and requirement to serve lunch detentions daily until the plan and/or work is completed.
In each case, to be removed from Academic Probation, the student must have passing grades in all classes.
Students on Academic Probation are not allowed to participate in any Geneva extracurricular activities (including sports games and scrimmages) and remain on probation until probationary conditions are met. For sports or other activities, this means that any student on Academic Probation may not compete in games or competitions nor travel to away games or competitions during the school day. Seniors on Academic Probation lose off campus privileges during the probationary period. If a student fails to meet the conditions, probation continues until grades are brought to a passing level. Unless they are receiving tutoring or some other grade-enhancing training during practice times, students on Academic Probation are still expected to practice with their teams but may not participate in games until the probationary period is completed.
ACADEMIC DISMISSAL
Multiple failing grades in consecutive reporting terms are often an indication of a serious academic problem, one that the school may not be equipped to help. Generally, a student in Rhetoric School is not allowed to continue the current academic year at Geneva if he or she earns multiple Ds and Fs in consecutive quarters. Under such circumstances, the student is often better served in another academic setting.The dismissal of a student for academic reasons, either mid-year or at the end of an academic year, does not release the parents from any tuition contract in effect.
A student dismissed for academic reasons is eligible for consideration for readmission after they have had at least one full academic year away from Geneva and if they show evidence of improvement in their academic performance. Admissions testing and interview will be required for consideration for readmission.