Counseling FAQs

OHS will maintain an official transcript for all students.  The transcript lists all courses taken, grades earned, grade point average, standardized assessment results, and graduation status.  Official transcripts will be issued either directly to a college or institution, or to the student in a sealed envelope.  Requests for official transcripts must be received by the Counseling office.  Unofficial transcripts may be issued to the student upon request.

OHS awards transfer credit to students who have earned credits at accredited schools.  Transfer grades and credits are recorded on a student’s transcript. Credits earned at unaccredited schools, including homeschool, will be recorded as Pass/Fail on the student’s transcript.  One half credit will be awarded for each 50 documented hours of instruction, not to exceed 10 credits per calendar year.  Students receiving unaccredited transfer credits, including homeschool, will not be allowed to graduate with honors.

Summer school credit is allowed for graduation.  Summer school grades are included on the transcript and calculated into a student’s GPA unless the criteria for a reprieve is met (see below).  A maximum of two credits may be awarded through summer school.

For students with a cumulative GPA higher than 4.0, taking summer school classes may lower GPA.  A reprieve allows a student to earn credit for the class, but removes the effect of the grade on a student’s cumulative GPA.  Reprieves will only be granted for grades earned during summer school, and only if the grade earned is an A.  Junior high Algebra I grades may also be reprieved.  Reprieves will be applied to eligible transcripts at the end of a student’s junior year due to the college application process.

Algebra I credit earned in 8^th grade will count as high school credit.  The credit will be a general Elective credit, with a weighted grade that will be included in cumulative GPA calculations.  This credit will not count towards the 3 math credits required for graduation.  Junior high Algebra I grades may be reprieved (see Reprieve section above).

The teachers at the high school shall use a five-letter scale in assigning grades.  Exceptional students shall be graded according to their Individualized Educational Program (IEP).  At the high school level a weighted grades system will be used to reward students for taking higher level core academic courses.  The system gives a 1-point bonus to students receiving an A, B, or C.  See the course catalog portion of this handbook to find weighted grade courses.

 The following grading scale will be used in the evaluative procedures appropriate to the instructional level of the students:

 Letter Grade Grade Points High School Weighted Points

A 4 5

B 3 4

C 2 3

D 1 1

F 0 0

Incomplete

Pass/Fail

A secondary student may take up to a maximum of two credits on a pass-fail basis.  The course will be counted (if passed) as credit toward graduation, but will have no effect upon grade point average. The student must make a request with the teacher and their counselor that he/she intends to take the class Pass/Fail within the first two weeks of the semester. Note: Students taking a class pass/fail WILL NOT be allowed to graduate with honors.

Prerequisites for Honors Classes vary by class.  Please see each class description for specific information.

Students are expected to maintain a 70% or higher in Honors Classes.  Falling below 70% at the end of the first semester could prompt a change of course placement.

English Mathematics Social Studies

Honors English I Honors Geometry Honors US History

Honors English II   Honors Algebra II Honors World History

AP Language and Comp AP Precalculus AP/DC US Government

AP Literature and Comp AP Calculus AP Comparative Govt/Politics

AP/DC Psychology

Science Foreign Language Other

Honors Physical Science AP Spanish AP Art

Honors Biology AP French

Honors Chemistry

AP/DC Chemistry II

AP/DC Biology

Anatomy and Physiology

AP Physics I

AP Physics II

Note:  In addition to the above courses, some Dual-Credit Courses are also weighted. See Dual Enrollment Offerings for information.

In an effort to reward and recognize students at Ozark High School who have excelled in their class work, academic honors are awarded in the following manner:

• Qualifications – Students should have a 3.85 cumulative GPA
• Awards presented after first semester of:
  • 9^th grade – certificate of recognition
  • 10^th grade – letter and bar
  • 11^th and 12^th grades – bar
• · Students who obtain a 3.85 cumulative GPA at later dates are recognized during the spring of each year.

Transfer students become eligible for the academic awards after attending Ozark High School for one year, with the exception of ninth graders who become eligible after the first full semester of their freshman year. These awards are based on GPA at the end of the fall semester each year.

Students desiring to graduate with honors must meet the criteria established in Ozark R-6 School District Board Policy IKC.  The criteria are

• Have attended Ozark High School for one full year directly prior to graduation
• Must not have taken any classes Pass/Fail
• Cum Laude honors
  • 3.85 cumulative weighted GPA (7 semesters)
• Magna Cum Laude honors
  • 3.85 cumulative weighted GPA (7 semesters)
  • ACT score of 21 or higher, or Gold on WorkKeys
• Summa Cum Laude honors
  • 4.00+ cumulative weighted GPA (7 semesters)
  • ACT score of 21 or higher, or Platinum on WorkKeys

• Distinctive honor graduate regalia include gold tassels for both Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude graduates and a gold tassel and red/black entwined neck cord for Summa Cum Laude graduates.

In order to be eligible to participate in Activities or Athletics, students must meet academic standards.  For more details, contact the Athletic Director’s office.

• Must attend OHS full-time.  Homeschooled students must enroll in at least two seated classes at OHS.
• Must have passed 7/8 classes the previous semester.

High school seniors who wish to play athletics at NCAA Division I, II, or III colleges must be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse to receive eligibility.  Students must complete 16 core and approved (by NCAA) courses.  Core courses include subject matters of mathematics, English, science, social studies, and foreign language.   Ten of the 16 core courses must be completed before the senior year (7^th semester) of high school.   Along with completing the 16 core courses, students must also:

• Have a minimum core course GPA of 2.3
• Meet the sliding scale requirement of GPA and ACT/SAT score (Visit NCAA Website for scale.)
• Graduate from high school

 NAIA schools require that students meet 2 out of 3 of the following:

• Minimum GPA of 2.0 on 4.0 scale
• 18 ACT or 860 SAT
• Graduation in top 50% of class

Please see the Activities Director’s office for the latest up-to-date information regarding registration, or visit the websites at www.ncaa.org and www.naia.org .

Ozark High School has been designated by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as an A+ School.

Goals of the A+ Schools program:

1. All students will graduate from high school.

2. All students will complete a selection of high school studies that is challenging and has identified learning expectations.

3. All students will proceed from high school graduation to a college or post-secondary vocational or technical school or high-wage job with workplace skill development opportunities.

Qualified students will be eligible for two years’ tuition and general fees for any Missouri public community college or vocational/technical school. This financial incentive is dependent upon continued funding from the state of Missouri and is not the responsibility of the Ozark R-VI School District.  Note: Books are not included in the financial incentive.  However, check with the school in which you enroll.

For current requirements for eligibility for the A+ Scholarship and to complete the required A+ Agreement form, please go to https://www.ozarktigers.org/domain/795  or contact the A+ office at 582-5711.

Seniors and juniors who meet criteria and who wish to be released from school to attend college classes must request permission to do so.  Each college class in which a student is enrolled will replace one of the required 8 blocks of attendance. Students requesting permission should consult with the counseling office and complete the appropriate paperwork. See Dual Enrollment Offerings for information.

May I repeat a course for graduation credit?

An academic course successfully completed with a passing grade can not be repeated for credit, except in certain circumstances (see next question).   Some electives such as Band, Choir, Publications, Weights, etc. may be repeated.

What if I have a lower grade in a course than I would like to have on my transcript?

You may repeat a course if the grade earned was a D or F, but credit will not be given twice.  Both grades will appear on your transcript, but only the higher of the two will contribute to your GPA.

May I remove a grade from my transcript?

A transcript is an official record of your high school coursework and grades.  Transcripts must accurately reflect all high school coursework, so grades may not be removed.  If you repeat a course or reprieve a grade (see page 2), the course and grade will still be reflected on the transcript. 

What happens if I fail a semester of a required full-year (1 credit) course?

Credits are earned by the semester (.5 credit per semester).  If you fail a required course, you will need to earn that credit either by repeating the failed semester until you successfully complete it or through Credit Recovery.  It is recommended that this be done as soon as possible.  Note:  Failure of a first semester class may result in removal from the second semester of the class.

How may I make up failed credits?

To earn credit lost by failing a class, you may retake the class, take the class during summer school if available, or earn the credit through Credit Recovery.  Credits recovered through Credit Recovery will be assigned a Pass (P) grade, rather than a letter grade, which will have no effect on GPA.

How can I earn extra credits in order to graduate early?

Credit may be earned in summer school.  In addition, three credits of correspondence/on-line courses from an accredited school or university may be applied to satisfy graduation requirements.  Each course counts as .5 credit.  To receive credit for correspondence courses, a student must receive permission from a counselor before enrolling.  The student is responsible for all costs. Other opportunities to earn credits outside of the regular school day are available through specific courses such as COE, AOE, Child Development II, and Flex.  See course descriptions for details.

May I take a class Pass/Fail?

A student may take a maximum of two credits on a pass/fail basis during his or her four years of high school.  If passed, the course will count as credit towards graduation, but will have no effect on GPA.  The deadline for requesting pass/fail for a class is within the first two weeks of a semester.  Students must pick up a written request form and return it to a counselor.  Note:  Students taking a class pass/fail will not be allowed to graduate with honors; In addition, NCAA will interpret a “P” grade as a “D” when determining eligibility.

May I change my schedule if I don’t like a class?

OHS desires that all students are enrolled in classes which are both valuable and enjoyable.  Class schedules may be changed for academic reasons, such as a schedule is in conflict, a prerequisite has not been met, to add graduation requirements, etc.  Class schedules will not be changed for non-academic reasons, such as teacher preference, to accommodate requests to have classes with friends, etc.  Students are allowed to schedule their own classes at initial spring enrollment, so students should develop an appropriate schedule at that time.

What happens if I withdraw from a class before the end of the semester?

Students must complete classes for which they are enrolled.  If a student transfers to another school, his/her current grades and transcript are sent to the new school after all books are returned and any outstanding charges are paid.