Graduation Requirements

Each semester-long class will count as 0.5 credits, and each year-long class will count as 1.0 credits (0.5 credits for each semester successfully completed).

Graduation Distinctions

EPHS graduates will receive a District 401 diploma with one or more distinctions:

• General Studies
• Career Pathway
• Distinguished Scholar

Based on coursework, some students could receive both the Career Pathway AND Distinguished Scholar distinctions.

General Studies Distinction

• In order to receive a District 401 Diploma with a General Studies distinction, a student's transcript shows all graduation requirements have been completed, but they have not completed enough courses within a sequence to receive the Career Pathway or Distinguished Scholar Distinctions.

CAREER PATHWAY DISTINCTION

• In order to receive a District 401 Diploma with a Career Pathway distinction, a student's transcript must include:
  • Completion of at least 5.0 credits within one specific Career Pathway and
  • Completion of the Career Pathway Capstone course

DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR DISTINCTION

• In order to receive a District 401 Diploma with a Distinguished Scholar distinction, a student's transcript and high school national testing results must include:
  • Completion of 10 or more honors/AP/dual credit courses with a C or better,
  • Meeting/exceeding English and math standards on state test (SAT) and/or
  • Receiving a 3 or better on at least two Advanced Placement exams

Other Information Related to Graduation

In addition to the requirements noted above, students and parents should be aware of the following information concerning EPHS courses, credits, promotion and graduation procedures.

Academic Recognition at Graduation

During commencement, EPHS recognizes those students who graduate with honors and those who are members of the National Honor Society.

Valedictorian

We recognize as valedictorian of the senior class the senior student who attains the highest cumulative grade point average at the end of the eighth semester (16th quarter), and who has been in residence at Elmwood Park High School for a minimum of four semesters (eight quarters).

SALUTATORIAN

The senior student who attains the second highest cumulative grade point average and who has been in residence for a minimum of four semesters (eight quarters) is designated as the salutatorian.

TOP 5 PERCENT & TOP 10 PERCENT

Those students graduating in the top five percent are recognized as Tiger Scholars. Those students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class are also recognized. Both groups are acknowledged at an annual honors breakfast and have priority seating at the graduation ceremony.

Changing or Dropping Classes

Once the school year has begun, student changes of mind or schedule preferences (teacher, period, time of day) will not be accommodated. Therefore, only for limited reasons will adjustments be considered and/or approved.
Regardless of the request, students must continue attending class and completing assignments until notified of the decision regarding adjustment requests in case space is not available or a request cannot be accommodated.

The decision to allow or deny a change of course or course level will be made by the Tiger Support Team, which includes the teacher, counselor, social worker, student, parent and either the curriculum leader and/or administration. Only significant academic and/or social-emotional reasons for a change in classes will be considered, which may include:

1. Attendance in summer school or credit recovery.
2. Level changes agreed upon by student, parent, teacher, counselor and administration. Level-change requests will not be considered unless the student engages in additional opportunities for support for a duration of minimally four to six weeks to determine the need for a level change. If a student decides to drop a course without engaging in support opportunities or intervention, doing so will result in a W/F on the student's academic transcript.
3. Recognized special learning needs agreed upon by student, parent, teacher, counselor and administration. This may include the special education team, Section 504 team and/or Tiger Support Team.
4. Significant evidence of new courses needed for college/career programs.

If the student meets one of these criteria, the students or parent should contact the assigned counselor and complete a Program Change Request Form.

Early Graduation

Any student planning to graduate early must petition the principal. To do so, the student must inform his or her counselor of this intent on or before the end of the student's junior year. Then the student must complete the appropriate paperwork, which must be approved by the student, parent/guardian, counselor and administration.

Final Exams

Students will take final exams during the last week of attendance each semester. Any student who is absent for the final exam will be required to make arrangements with the teacher to make up the exam outside of normal class time.
A student may be allowed to take a final exam early, during the week of the scheduled exams, if his or her absence is preplanned.

To be considered for this option, the student must complete a "Special Absence Request Form" available in the Attendance Office. However, final exams will not be administered prior to the week of scheduled exams. If a student will be unavailable during that window, he or she will be issued an incomplete for the course grade, and a plan to remedy the incomplete will be determined.

Honor Rolls

Each semester a 3.7 and a 3.3 honor roll is tabulated and reported in the school and community newspapers. The attainment of honor roll status becomes a part of the student's permanent record. In order to qualify for the honor roll, a student must have no grade lower than a C and must achieve a grade-point average of at least 3.3 or 3.7 using the grade-point system. A student must be enrolled in a minimum of three courses that receive grades to be eligible for honor roll status.

National Honor Society

Students who have displayed qualities of scholarship, leadership, character and service as determined by faculty vote will be invited to membership in the Harold Grothen Chapter of the National Honor Society. A minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.3 is necessary before a student can be considered for possible membership. Students may be inducted into the Society after the 10th or 14th quarter.

Participation in Commencement

Only students who are qualified to receive a diploma may participate in the cap and gown ceremony, with the exception of students who are entitled to participate under Brittany's Law. A student who qualifies for a diploma after commencement is eligible to participate in the following year's ceremony.

Promotion

Advancement in grade is based upon academic credits earned, not solely on attendance. All students need to meet the following requirements to be promoted to the next grade level:

Freshman

All students with fewer than 7.0 credits are classified as EPHS freshmen.

Sophomore

All students who have earned at least 7.0 credits but fewer than 13.0 credits are promoted to sophomore status. As part of these credits, students must have at least 1.0 credit in each of the following: English, math and science and at least 1.0 in social studies.

JUNIOR

All students who complete their sophomore-year requirements and have earned 13.0 or more credits are promoted to junior status. As part of these 13.0 credits, students must have at least 2.0 credits in each of the following: English, math, science and social studies.

SENIOR

Students who complete their junior-year credit requirements and the state-testing requirement are promoted to senior status.

NOTE: Reclassification of students takes place at the end of the first-semester marking period (January) and after the completion of the summer school session (August).

Required Course Load

Underclassmen are required to enroll in seven courses each semester they attend Elmwood Park High School.
Senior students have the option, depending on their current graduation progress, to be enrolled in fewer than seven courses. Sophomore, junior and senior students may enroll in more than seven courses — taking an optional zero hour and/or eighth hour course(s).

Transfer Credits

Prior approval must be obtained for all courses taken outside of District 401 to assure they meet our academic standards and curricular expectations.