Get Ready for Graduation!

Transfer students
Transfer students shall be expected to meet all graduation requirements set by Monticello High School except those students who  transfer after completing the eleventh grade year at another school.  The transcripts of transferring senior students shall be evaluated on an individual basis.

Academic programs for transferring seniors will be designed based on these criteria:

• If deficiencies exist, the student must meet as closely as possible, the established requirements for graduation from Monticello High School after having satisfied requirements of his/her sending school.  MHS must have graduation policies from sending school, in writing, to determine if transferring student has or will meet those requirements.

• Consideration will be given to a student’s pre-registration and/or schedule from his/her sending school.

• The number of courses failed at the sending school will determine the student’s eligibility for graduation at MHS.

• Based on Monticello School Board action of 9/18/90, Monticello High School will transfer in and count in the GPA only those courses that have weighted status at Monticello High School.

No student is eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony until he/she has met the district graduation policy requirement based on the 24 credits required.

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Class Rank
The determination of class rank will be:

• Students will be ranked by grade point averages.

• Grades from all four years of an accredited high school will be used.

• Activity courses will not be used in calculating class rank.

• The final senior ranking will be figured at the end of the school year.

• If two or more students take the same or equivalent course work and receive the same grades of “A”, a student with a greater number of courses will not be penalized when determining the Valedictorian(s), Salutatorian(s).

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Graduation speakers

• A student must attend Monticello High School the entire senior year to be considered for Valedictorian or Salutatorian. Grades through the end of the senior year will be used to determine Valedictorian and Salutatorian.

• If transferring students took College Board advanced placement courses in other districts which are not offered in this district, these courses will be treated as regular level courses according to the MHS grade point scale in determining the Valedictorian(s), highest ranking student(s), and the Salutatorian(s), the second highest ranking student(s).

• The top five students who have an academic grade point average of 3.75 or above and have completed at least 75% of course work on the Honors Diploma will be eligible.
  Beginning with graduation 1993, the following additions will apply:
  AP English - 2 years in grades 11-12
  Science - Advanced Biology or Physics
  Math -Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, or AP Calculus (Effective Seniors 2006)This will include the top 5 and any ties at 5^th place.

•  If two or more students take the same or equivalent course work and receive the same grades of “A”, a student with a greater number of courses will not be penalized when determining the Valedictorian(s) and Salutatorian(s).

• A maximum of two (2) units of correspondence course credits may be applied toward graduation requirement.  (Prior approval for correspondence work must be given by the Principal.)

• Credits earned in summer school programs must receive prior approval, in writing, from Counselor and Principal.  (Summer school work will be accepted only for making up a deficiency).  Students cannot advance or earn beyond grade level, extra credits in summer school.

• Concurrent credit earned at the college or university level may be applied toward graduation requirements if prior approval has been given by the Principal.

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Early Graduation

• Make a request in writing to the principal by the 10^th of September (fall term)

• The student and parent(s)/guardian(s) must schedule and participate in an on-site conference with the principal and counselor during the term preceding the anticipated graduation date.

• The parent(s)/guardian(s) must schedule and participate in a second conference with the principal and counselor within ten school days of the mid-term report for final decision on early graduation.

• Early graduation candidates must meet the MHS graduation requirements  (With at least 21 of 24 of required credits being academic plus an academic G.P.A. of 2.00 or higher.)

• MHS will not allow students to take two (2) English courses in the same year on campus for the sole purpose of graduating early.

• No remedial classification (summer school or correspondence) courses will be accepted for early graduation.

• Staying current on school activities and information becomes the sole responsibility of the student after leaving school in December.

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Honor Graduate (graduates through May 2005)

• Accumulate a 3.50 grade point average on academic subjects by graduation day.

• Complete a minimum of 18 ˝ academic units from the honors diploma course of study.

• No remedial courses will be accepted.

Honor Graduates will receive special recognition at the Honors Day Assembly.

Honor Graduate (2006 school year)

• English 4 units

• Mathematics - 4 units - 1 unit of Algebra I or its equivalent, 1 unit of Geometry, 1 unit of Algebra II, and 1 unit of either Advanced Math, Trig/Prob. Stats or Pre-Calculus

• Science - 3 units with laboratories, choose from: Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or its equivalent, or Advanced Biology

• Social Studies - 3 units ( 1 unit World History, 1 unit of American History, ˝ unit of Civics, or American Government, ˝ unit of Arkansas History or another Social Studies course

• Foreign Language - 2 units (same language)

• Fine Art - 1 unit ( Band, Choir, Art, or Drama)

• Physical Ed - ˝ unit

• Health - ˝ unit

• Speech - ˝ unit

• Word Processing - 1 unit

• Electives - Four Units Chosen from: Trig/Prob. and Stats, Pre- Calculus, AP Calculus, Physics, Advanced Biology, Contemporary History/Economics, Advanced Art IV, Drafting, English Elective, Advanced Grammar, Human Anatomy and Physiology, Debate, Business Applications

Total 24 units (21 academic units required)

Students earning an honors diploma must have accumulated a 3.50 grade point average in all academic subjects by graduation day. Credits earned in remedial courses will not count toward an honors diploma. It is strongly recommended that students entering the accelerated honors diploma program have a commitment to take an advanced math class each year through the 12^th grade. 

Plans for graduation exercises will be discussed in October by the senior class officers, the administration and class sponsors. Suggestions for marching procedures may be presented, in writing, by interested parties prior to the October meeting.  Final decisions will be made with the approval of the sponsor, administration, and Board.

Graduation Participation Requirements

• Must meet all MHS graduation requirements.

• After last official day for seniors (Thursday, May 6^th).  Candidates for graduation are not permitted to be on any Monticello School campus other than for reasons of official school business.

• Must complete final senior checkout sheet on requested time, Tuesday, May 07 thru Friday, May 09.

• Must attend the Senior Awards program on Thursday, May 15,  2003 at 7:00 p.m.  Report to MMS Auditorium no later than 6:30 p.m. for seating assignment.

• Dress attire for Awards Day and Graduation:

• Female students should wear white or light dresses with dress shoes.

• Male students should wear white or light shirts with tie, dress pants, and dress shoes.

• Must participate in graduation practice at Hyatt Field on Friday, May 16, at 10:30 a.m.  Report to the football stadium no later than 10:20 a.m.

Students who fail to meet all the above graduation participation requirements will be prohibited from participating in the graduation ceremony.  No exception unless pre-approved permission granted by the Principal.