Discuss with the class the following questions (pose the question, take student input, share answers):

1) What is a credit?  

A credit is what you get when you pass a class in high school and college.

2) How do you earn a credit?   

If you pass a class with a D or higher for an entire year, you will earn 1.0 credits for that class.  When you pass a class for half the year (fall or spring semester), you will earn 0.5 credits. When you fail a class, you do not earn any credits.

3) How many credits do you need to graduate?  (Have the students guess)

You need 25 credits to graduate from DDHS.   

Important note – The counseling office uses the words “Off Track” and “On Track” to describe each student’s progress towards graduation in four years.  For example, if you passed all of your classes freshman year, you would be “on track” to graduate. However, if you failed a class, you may be considered “off track” to graduate because you are missing the credit from that class.  You can retake classes, either in credit retrieval, summer school, or during the school year to get back “on track” for graduation.

Show students the chart with specific subject area requirements.

4) What does GPA stand for?  

Grade Point Average

5) What is the minimum GPA required to graduate from DDHS?  2.0  

Numerical values are given to each grade. For example…

A=4

B=3

C=2

D=1

F=0

To calculate your GPA, add up each number for the grades you were given and divide that sum by the total number of classes on your schedule.

Example:

A freshman got the following grades on their first semester report card:

English 1 – B

Integrated 1 – C

Health – B

General Science - D

Digital Literacy – C

Freshman PE – A

Spanish 1- B

DMC – B

Calculate their GPA for 1st semester:  21 divided by 8 = 2.625

Is this student “on track” to graduate based on this report card?  

Yes.  They passed all of their classes with a D or higher and their GPA is a 2.0 or higher.