Credits and Grade Level Classification

Credits and Grade Level Classification

The Registrar will assign each student a grade level based on the number of credits earned at the end of the previous school year.  Only students who are eligible to graduate at the end of the school year will be reclassified before the end of the school year.

 

 

Grade Level Classifications

Grade

Credits Earned

9

Freshman

0.0 - 5.5

10

Sophomore

6.0 - 11.5

11

Junior

12.0 - 17.5

12

Senior

18.0+

Course Credit

  • Students must maintain a grade average of 70 or above on a scale of 100 in order to receive credit for a course.
  • Students may not be given credit for a class if they have attended fewer than the required number of days/ class period. (90% of the semester)
  • Students must comply with all attendance requirements for each course taken. Students may be assigned to Credit Appeal to recover the time and curriculum missed due to excessive absences. Appeals will only be considered when the student has passed the course with a final semester average of 70% or better and meets qualifying attendance guidelines.

 

Alternate ways to earn credit

  • Middle school - Students may earn high school credit in middle school. For students enrolled in Texas public schools this credit will automatically be added to their high school transcript.  Students entering Lamar from a non-Texas public school will have their credit assessed to ensure it aligns with Texas Education Agency guidelines on content and rigor. 
  • Summer school - Students who did not earn full credit for a course during the regular academic year will be required to enroll in summer school to recover their lost credit. Summer school dates and requirements will be announced in May and registration will also take place in May.  Students will be enrolled by their Academic Dean and students should contact their Academic Dean or the Dean of Students with questions. 

 

Students who are pursuing the IB Diploma may need to enroll in summer school if they did not receive Algebra 1 credit in middle school.  Students can enroll in Algebra 2 between 9th and 10th grade or Geometry between 10th and 11th grade.  A fee will be assessed for accelerated summer school.  Summer school dates and requirements will be announced in May and registration will also take place in May.  Students will be enrolled by their Academic Dean and students should contact their Academic Dean or the Dean of Students with questions. 

 

  • Credit Appeals & Recovery - A student who has credit denied for a class may appeal for the credit if:
    • the student has earned a passing semester grade in the class; and
    • attends assigned credit appeal sessions;

Regular attendance and punctuality are the responsibilities of student and parent.

  • Composite Grading

Whole course credit applies to all HISD two-semester sequential courses (designated “A” and “B” including distance learning, original credit, credit recovery and summer school) and not to one semester courses. Should a student fail one semester and pass the other semester of a two-semester course, the student will earn one whole credit if the sum of points between the two semester averages is at least 139 AND attendance is satisfactory (i.e., no excessive, unexcused absences). These rules apply to courses taken and completed in HISD only and may not be combined with courses taken out of district. Students moved from a Pre IB, AP, or IB course into a corresponding regular course for the second semester will not receive quality points for either semester.

 

  • Physical Education Requirements

Students are required to complete one credit of physical education.  Students have two options to satisfy this requirement.

  1. By taking a Physical Education course on the Lamar campus
  2. By participating in a physical education equivalent activity. Several courses, including all athletic classes, will provide the equivalent credit of the physical education course.  These courses include:
    • On campus Lamar athletics (club sports do not qualify)
    • Marching Band (Fall)
    • Drill Team (Fall)
    • Cheerleading (Fall)
    • JROTC (full year)

Most of these activities require an audition/coach approval to enroll in the course.  Your Academic Dean can assist you in selecting an appropriate option to fulfill your physical education requirement.