High School Course Guide

Allendale high school graduation requirements

Successful completion of 29 units of credit for the class of 2012; 28.5 units of credit for the class of 2013; and 28 units of credit for the class of 2014 and beyond. Successfully completing one trimester of a subject earns a half (.5) credit.
Be in attendance on a full-time basis at a high school for four (4) years. All four years do not have to be at Allendale, but the last year before graduation must be spent at Allendale in order to earn an Allendale diploma.
Carry a minimum of 7.5 credits per year unless released due to dual enrollment.
All students must complete all graduation requirements before graduation day in order to participate in the graduation ceremonies.
Successfully complete the following required subjects for diploma:
- English Language Arts including English 9, 10, 11 & 12 (AP English may be taken in place of English 12 if recommended by teacher).
- Science - Three (3) credits including Biology, Chemistry or Physics, and an additional science credit.
- Mathematics - Four (4) credits which include Algebra, Geometry and Algebra 2 plus an additional math related course. A math or math related course must be taken in the student's senior year.
- Physical Education and Health - One (1) credit.
- Social Studies - Three (3) credits including World History (1 cr.), U.S. Histor (1 cr.), Government (.5 cr.), and Economics (.5 cr.).
- Visual, Performing and Applied Arts - One (1) credit.
- World Language - Two (2) credits in the same language beginning with the class of 2016.
- On-line learning experience.

Class Ranking

Students are ranked according to their cumulative GPA based on all courses in which a final trimester grade is received. The valedictorian and salutatorian of the senior class are the students who have the highest class rank after the second trimester of the senior year of high school.

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Grading System

Final trimester grades are calculated by taking a weighted average of each of the following grades (percentage not letter):
Trimeseter Grade 80%
Semester Exam 20%
All teachers are required to give a final exam in order to complete a course.
All students must take the final exam in order to complete a course.
Third trimester seniors who have a "B" average and three or fewer absences for the trimester may be excused from the exam unless required to take it by the instructor.
Dual Enrollment classes and Advanced Placement classes will be graded on a 5.0 scale. (A=5.0, B=4.0, C=3.0, D=2.0, F=0.0).
Other courses will use a 4.0 system: A=4.0, A-=3.7, B+=3.3, B=3.0, B-=2.7, C+=2.3, C=2.0, C-=1.7, D+=1.3, D=1.0, D-=0.7, F=0.0.

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college prep recommendations

Students planning on a course of study that will lead to attending a Liberal Arts college or university should be taking the recommended course load.

A four year Liberal Arts college preparatory program:

4 Credits of English; including composition
3 Credits of Science; including two laboratory sciences
3 Credits of Mathematics; including two years of algebra
3 Credits of Social Science
1 Credit of hands-on Computer Study
2 Credits of Foreign Language (in the same language)
1 Crredit in Fine or Performing Arts

Grade point average and ACT score are major factors in the admissions process. The ACT is first taken in the spring of the junior year and college applications are done for the most part in the fall of the senior year.

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Vocational Education Opportunities

Students leaning towards a vocational education should strongly consider attending the Careerline Tech Center during their junior and senior years. Brochures are available in Mr. Fogel’s office as to the preparation one should be making in the 9th and 10th grade years. Brochures listing the programs are also available. Allendale is limited in the number of slots available. In selecting who will attend, consideration is given to attendance, successful completion of graduation requirements, possible experience in a related field, related courses taken, and EDP/Career Pathway selection.

Click here for the Careerline Tech Center.

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Programs, Electives, Miscellaneous

Dual Enrollment

Requirements: Grades 11-12; Minimum Qualifying Test Scores; Counselor Approval; College Approval)

Effective April 1, 1996, Public Act 160 created the opportunity for students to take college classes with the financial help of the school districts. To be eligible to participate, a student must be in the 11th or 12th grade and earn qualifying scores on the PLAN, PSAT, ACT or MME test (see counselor for qualifying scores). The college course cannot be a hobby, craft, recreation course or in the subject areas of physical education, theology, divinity, or religious education. A portion of the tuition cost will be covered by APS based on the state portion of the students’ foundation allowance, adjusted to the proportion of the school year they attend the post secondary institution (see counselor for the amount). ALL REMAINING TUITION/FEE/MATERIAL COSTS ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DUAL ENROLLED STUDENT’S PARENT(S) OR GUARDIAN.

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Michigan Virtual High School

Requirements: Grades 11-12; Counselor approval

The Virtual High School is an online way for students to take elective and AP courses not offered at AHS. Online courses are a very independent means of learning. A student must be very self-disciplined, motivated, and organized to be successful in these courses. There is an instructor for these courses but communication with them is through email or phone. A student should expect to put at least 7-10 hours of work per week in to these courses. Students will be located in a room in the high school to be able to work on the class during their assigned class time. Students will have access to these courses where ever they have internet access, so they should expect to work on them at home. The school will cover the cost of these courses as long as they are successfully completed by the student. A description of these courses can be found at https://cems.mivu.org/public_catalog_new.cfm

Click here for a complete list of courses offered by MIVHS.

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NCAA Initial-Eligibility clearinghouse (general information)

To be certified by the Clearinghouse, you must:

Graduate from high school.
You should apply for certification before graduation if you are sure you wish to participate in athletics as a freshman at the college to which you will be admitted. The Clearinghouse will issue a preliminary certification report when you have had all your materials submitted. After you graduate, the Clearinghouse will review your final transcript to make a final certification decision according the NCAA standards.
Earn a grade-point average of at least 2.00 (on a 4.0 scale).
In a core curriculum of at least 14 academic courses (16 academic courses for Division 1) which were successfully completed during grades 9 through 12. Only courses that satisfy the NCAA definition of a core course can be used to calculate your NCAA GPA. No special values are allowed for “+” or “-“ grades.

Click here to for more details.

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Title ix policy

The Board of Education has adopted a resolution to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which became effective on July 21, 1975. Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 specifically states:

No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance….with certain exceptions.

It is the policy of the Allendale Public Schools not to discriminate on the basis of religion, race, national origin, sex, or handicap in educational programs, activities or services and to comply with all requirements and regulations of the U.S. Department of Education. All students shall have an equal opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, all academic and extracurricular activities.

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Guidance and counseling services

Students are encouraged to access the Guidance Department for assistance with personal, social, or academic issues. The Counseling Department also provides help with course options and post-secondary planning including preparation for the workforce, technical schools, 2-year, or 4-year colleges.

Click here for Guidance and Counseling.

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Course Offerings

Program Selection and Registration Procedures

Course registration for the following year takes place in January/February. Students should use course descriptions, counselors, parents, teachers, and the career path they wish to pursue to assist in selecting appropriate courses. Selections should be based on student interest, motivation, academic ability, and teacher recommendation.

The students’ requests are used to build a master schedule. Therefore, it is vital that the students select classes carefully. The availability of staff and the number of requests for specific courses are crucial factors that determine which classes can be taught and when they meet in the schedule. Because this is a difficult and complicated process, students will not have the option to arbitrarily change their choices, hours, or select specific teachers once they receive their schedules in August.

The counseling department strongly encourages parents to take an active role in the selection process and to call school if they have questions about career paths, graduation requirements, or post-secondary options that are available.

Click here for the AHS course offerings.

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