Academic Overview

A St. Lucy's student will earn 280 credits by the time they graduate. Under certain circumstances, the administration may allow a student to have up to 10 fewer units or to make substitutions for required classes. All such decisions, however, are made after an administrative review of the student’s individual circumstances.

Course descriptions and specific departmental requirements and electives are found in the Course Description Guide published annually.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty refers not only to cheating on classroom exams but also to any behavior that violates academic standards, such as plagiarism, copying homework, misuse of technology and unapproved use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The usual penalty for academic dishonesty is to receive zero credit on the test or assignment. In certain cases, further disciplinary measures may be implemented. Students need to be aware that colleges will expel students for cheating and plagiarism.

Academic Dismissal

Academic Probation

Academic Progress Reports

A weekly Gradebook Progres Report is sent via email to families each Sunday, or can be checked through the FACTS FamilyWeb Portal at any time. Additional progress reports may be sent at mid-quarter to parents of students who need special academic attention. These reports do not necessarily mean that a student is failing, but that an academic deficiency (e.g., homework, attendance, participation, test results, etc.) that needs correction is noted. Quarter failures may appear on the report card without any special warning; however, the teacher generally makes an effort to notify parents of unsatisfactory achievement.

Back To School Night

Class Schedule Changes

Classes Taken At Other Schools

Core curriculum and required classes taught at St. Lucy’s must be taken at St. Lucy’s, including required college preparatory courses for graduation and/or college admissions; e.g., English, science, mathematics, social science, religion, language, visual and performing arts and physical education courses.

Courses taken at other schools may be sent to St. Lucy’s and added to the student’s transcript, and these grades and credits can be a substitute for the grades or units required by St. Lucy’s. Required courses and core curriculum classes are suggested to be taken at St. Lucy’s as part of the minimum units needed for graduation. Summer courses may not exceed 10 credits for any student.

Students may not use chemistry, or third year foreign language classes taken online or at another school as the prerequisite for the fourth year of foreign language or other courses at St. Lucy’s.

The core courses of Chemistry, a third or fourth year of foreign language or other core curriculum classes are considered central to the curriculum that must be taken at St. Lucy’s. Should a student choose to take the core course elsewhere, the education institution must submit the official transcript to St. Lucy’s.

Online courses are often taken to make up for a deficient grade in a required course. In these cases, the grade will be included on the transcript. The University of California, however, will not accept an original credit or make-up online course from the high school transcript. The student planning to attend a UC campus must have an original transcript from the online provider sent directly to the UC of choice.

Before registering for classes at another high school, online provider, or community college, students should consult with their academic/guidance counselor, since these decisions often impact college admission.

Course Registration

Diploma And Graduation

A student may be excluded from participation in graduation exercises for reasonable cause. Participation in the ceremony is a privilege, not a right. Only students who are currently attending school and who have earned a diploma may take part in graduation ceremonies. A St. Lucy’s diploma is awarded after the completion of the required units.

Diplomas are not granted at the conclusion of the first semester. St. Lucy’s only grants a diploma to a student who is currently enrolled in the school’s academic courses.

The school’s tradition is that all students are congratulated at graduation and a valedictorian and salutatorian are not recognized during the ceremony.

Diplomas may be withheld until students or parents satisfy their financial obligations and fulfill educational or disciplinary responsibilities.

Final Exams

School calendars are published in advance and students are required to attend the legal number of days in order to receive credit. Semester exams are not administered earlier than scheduled. If a student will be absent for exams, the student must contact the Teacher. The teacher and student must arrange date and time of when the administration of the exams will occur. Due to additional staffing that may be required, a fee may be assessed for accommodation to proctor exams as personnel must be assigned outside of the previous scheduled time.

Homework

It is expected that students perform an adequate amount of study outside school hours. At least three to four hours of daily homework may be required in the academic studies.

Homework may be assigned each night. If an extension of time is needed for long-range research papers, projects, or supplementary readings, the student must make arrangements with the teacher before the assignment is due.

Honor Roll

The purpose of the Honor Roll is to encourage every student to measure up to her full academic potential. Requirements are as follows:

3.8 to 4.0 grade point average and above - Honor Roll Award
3.5 to 3.7 grade point average - Academic Achievement Award

A student must take at least four academic classes to qualify for the Honor Roll. Also, a student who has an unsatisfactory, "U," in effort or conduct, a "D" OR "F" in any subject, or three or more "NI’s" on a quarterly report is not eligible for honors.

Honors And Advanced Placement (A.P.) Courses

Students who have earned a 3.5 or better each quarter are encouraged to challenge themselves academically by enrolling in honors or advanced placement courses. In addition to the 3.5 G.P.A., classes may have other prerequisites. Furthermore, final enrollment in the class is at the discretion of the teacher and the Assistant Principal. These courses are more challenging than the regular courses, cover the material in greater depth and demand from the student a high level of self-discipline, creativity and involvement. Students in advanced placement classes prepare for exams in May that, if passed, can result in college credit. Students enrolled in A.P. classes are required to take the Advanced Placement Exam. Students enrolled in Honors Chemistry and A.P. classes receive an extra grade point in their St. Lucy’s G.P.A. for grades of "C" or better.

Incomplete Grades

Grade "I," Incomplete, is assigned to a student who has failed to complete all the assignments or who has missed the final examination. With the approval of the teacher, a student may complete the work no later than three weeks after the end of the quarter. The student is then assigned the grade based on her quarter work and the performance in the examination. If after the three weeks the "Incomplete" is not removed, the grade automatically becomes an "F."

Learning Disabilities

Although the school does not have the resources or personnel to assist students with serious learning disabilities, every feasible effort is made to accommodate students with identified learning disabilities. Parents who know or suspect that their daughter may have a learning disability should contact her counselor during freshman year or as soon as possible. Classroom adjustements must be in place for four months prior to requesting assistance in standardized testing. The first standardized test is in October of sophomore year; paperwork must be submitted at least 2 months in advance.

Make-Up Grades / Late Tests

Parent Conferences

A parent conference night is scheduled in October. If additional meeting time is needed, a conference can be scheduled by appointment at a convenient time for both parents and the teacher. Parents are asked to request a meeting with the teacher via email. Meetings can take place before school, after school or during a prep period if a teacher is available. No teacher is free during class hours or while serving in any supervisory capacity.

Report Cards

Quarterly reports are emailed to parents or guardians and available in our Student Information Portal (FACTS); dates and times are announced in the school Newsletter. Report cards are normally issued seven to eight days after the end of each quarter.

Quarter grades serve as progress reports and do not appear on the permanent record. Semester grades are final and appear on the transcript (permanent record).

A final semester grade of an "F" in a required course means that the course must be repeated. Two or more failures received in any one quarter may bar the student from readmission to the school.

Grade Equivalents

A (93-100) : Excellent
A- (90- 92)
B+ (87- 89)
B (83- 86) : Good
B- (80- 82)
C+ (77- 79)
C (73- 76) : Average, Satisfactory
C- (70- 72)
D+ (67- 69)
D (63- 66) : Below Average, Passing
D- (60- 62)
F Below 60 : Failing
I Incomplete
P Passing

May be granted under special circumstances

NC No Credit

No credit issued, No grade issued

WF Withdrawn Failing

Failing at the time of Withdrawal

M Medical

Temporary medical excuse from PE

Percentage grades ending in .5 or higher will be rounded up to the next highest numeral.

The college recommended grade is a 2.5 or higher (B-/C+). D grades are NOT accepted by California public universities and selective colleges.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Each student’s grade point average will be calculated on the following point systems:

Regular Classes

A = 4.00
B = 3.00
C = 2.00
D = 1.00
F = 0.00

A.P. and Honors Chemistry Classes

A = 5.00
B = 4.00
C = 3.00
D = 1.00
F = 0.00

Physical Education is not considered in the academic G.P.A. St. Lucy's follows the U.C. policy for weighting Honors and A.P. classes; therefore, Honors Chemistry and all A.P. classes receive the extra grade point.