About Credits, Grading and Changes

Transfer Student Credits
LTS will honor all courses granted credit by the sending school provided the school is an accredited secondary school. LTS will not apply middle school credits to its high school requirements, nor does it accept independent study credit from other secondary schools.

Course Load
Students at Long Trail have an eight period day Monday-Wednesday and longer-period blocks on Thursday-Friday. Upper School students are permitted a maximum of four study hall periods a week. Students should expect to be assigned around 30-40 minutes of homework in most classes per night.

Grading
Teachers record a numerical grade at the end of the 1/2, 1/4, 2/2, and 2/4 marking periods.  Grades recorded at the end of the 1/1, 1/3, 2/1, and 2/3 marking periods are an assessment of current progress only and not official grades.

Teachers record comments at the end of the 1/2, 1/4, 2/2, and 2/4 marking periods; comments are optional in the other marking periods, required if a student has received a 1 or 2 in effort or a grade below 70. The Registrar’s Office issues semester evaluations that include comments, numerical grades, and effort assessments for the semester.

Numerical Grades:

A+ 97-100   B+ 87-89     C+ 77-79     D+ 67-69
A   93-96       B   83-86      C   73-76     D   63-66
A-  90-92      B-  80-82     C-  70-72     D-  60-62     No credit below 60

Teachers record effort rubric components and an overall effort assessment each marking period. Teachers record effort grades in five categories:

  • Assignment—The student produces high quality work that meets assignment expectations.
  • Assessment—The student consistently achieves well and is adequately prepared for quizzes/tests.
  • Preparedness—The student arrives to class on time prepared with all the appropriate materials as required by the teacher.
  • Participation—The student gives his/her full attention to the task at hand by listening and participating attentively and appropriately.
  • Behavior—The student conducts him/herself in a respectful and appropriate manner as outlined by teacher expectations.

Rubric Scale:

5 = excellent
4 = above average
3 = average
2 = below average
1 = unacceptable
NG = no grade

Add/Drop
During the first two weeks of the first semester (for first semester and full year courses) and at the beginning of the second semester (for second semester courses only), an Upper School student may follow the add/drop procedure to change courses. Students seeking to add/drop a course should see the Registrar first. Students are not permitted to add or drop a new course to their schedules after the add/drop period has ended. Students wishing to add/drop a course must complete a Course Change form.

Level Changes
Course selections and placements are made with the great care, but it happens occasionally that a student is misplaced in a course level. Students wishing to change levels must complete a Course Change form (also available from the Registrar’s Office) and submit it to the Dean of Academics for approval. Students must petition for a level change in the first six weeks of the school year. When a student changes course levels mid semester, an adjusted grade carries with him or her to the new course. Students wishing to change their course level must complete a Course Change form.

Course Withdrawals
Permission to withdraw from a course is granted by the Dean of Academics on a case by case basis. A student may not be permitted to withdraw from a course if it means that s/he will drop below the minimum course load. Students wishing to withdraw from a course must complete a Course Change form.

Independent Studies
Independent Studies are tutorial style courses in specialized topics not offered within the regular curriculum. They are offered on a volunteer basis by LTS Faculty. They are treated as exceptions, not rights, for students and should only be pursued by serious students. An interested student may plan an independent study with a faculty member and submit a proposal for approval to the Dean of Academics. Students are limited to one independent study credit per semester and with permission, the independent study can replace a course requirement. All proposals for first semester or full year independent studies must be submitted during the first two weeks of school or earlier to be considered. Proposals for second semester independent studies must be submitted to the Dean of Academics no later than the first day of December. Students, advisors, and faculty supervisors will be notified via email whether a student’s independent study proposal has been approved. An Independent Study Request form is available online or in the Registrar’s Office.