Requirements & Credit Information

Proficiency Based Grading System

The State of Vermont has mandated that beginning with the Class of 2020 students will be assessed relative to a set of standards, or proficiencies, in order to make progress toward earning a diploma.  Each course taken will have a set of proficiencies associated with the class.  Success on those proficiencies will determine if a student will earn credit for the class.  Grades within this system will be recorded and reported on a four-point scale, with the points indicating a student’s level of mastery of the individual proficiencies according to the following table:

As well as state mandated proficiency grades, we will also still be reporting “traditional grades.” That system is summarized below:

Letter Grades

Failing grades (grades of F) will be assigned as the final grade when the student performance is below the standard for content mastery and the most reasonable recourse for mastering the content is to repeat the course.

Students who receive grades of I or F as a progress grade (a grade prior to the final grade) will be expected to meet with his/her teacher outside of the normal class time on a regular basis until the grade is improved to a C- or better.  Receipt of a failing grade as a final grade will require repeating the course in order to receive credit.  A grade of I at the end of the course will require successful completion of a “Plan for Recovering Credit” that must be completed within a reasonable time frame as determined by a meeting between the teacher and student.

Failing grades (grades of F) will be assigned as the final grade when the student performance is below the standard for content mastery and the most reasonable recourse for mastering the content is to repeat the course.

Students who receive grades of I or F as a progress grade (a grade prior to the final grade) will be expected to meet with his/her teacher outside of the normal class time on a regular basis until the grade is improved to a C- or better.  Receipt of a failing grade as a final grade will require repeating the course in order to receive credit.  A grade of I at the end of the course will require successful completion of a “Plan for Recovering Credit” that must be completed within a reasonable time frame as determined by a meeting between the teacher and student.

A weighted system reflecting the level of instruction of each course is used to determine class rank.  All leveled classes are included in computing the Grade Point Average using the following grade point table.  Courses not leveled have no effect on the Weighted GPA.

Levels of instruction are used to determine expectations for student work and compute a Weighted Grade Point Average (GPA) which determines Class Rank.. Some courses are not leveled, and available to students to broaden their education without penalty to their Weighted GPA.

Level 2 - Basic Courses: 

These courses are designed to provide students with instruction in basic skills and content, covering the Vermont Standards at a slower pace. These courses are designed to prepare students for the rigor and content in Level 3 and above courses.

Level 3 - Standard Academic Courses:

These courses are designed to provide students with a solid background in reasoning, reading, mathematics, writing, and content, with the intention of preparing students to continue their education and/or enter the workforce after high school. Students will be expected to meet the Vermont Standards. 

Level 4 - Honors or Accelerated Courses:

These courses are designed to prepare students for continuing their education in college or in a challenging career path after high school. Curriculum taught at this level will enable students to compete at selective four-year colleges. These fast-paced courses will require extensive homework, critical thinking skills, independent projects, research papers, in-depth exploration of content, and a strong work ethic.

Level 5 - Advanced Placement (AP) Courses:

These courses are the equivalent of college freshmen courses. Successful achievement in AP course examinations is normally recognized by colleges for degree credit and advanced standing. In addition to Level 4 expectations, Level 5 will include extensive readings and research as well as summer assignments.  Students who take AP classes will take the associated AP Tests through the College Board in the spring.

Courses Not Leveled (U):

Unleveled courses will be courses in physical education, health, driver education, special education, title reading and title math, and any course in the art, music, family and consumer science, and technical education departments.  These courses are not averaged into the weighted GPA, but do get averaged in the unweighted GPA.

Flexible Pathways Summary

At the Bellows Falls Union High School, students can make progress toward earning a diploma through a variety of non-traditional learning experiences.  Those experiences are summarized below:

Dual Enrollment coursework:  

Currently, BFUHS offers two classes in-house for both high school credit and college credit.  Our Advanced Placement Calculus courses can earn a student college credit through River Valley Community College. Credit through Community College of Vermont can be obtained through successful completion of the following courses: Honors American Literature, and 21st Century Writing.  Students can also earn Dual Enrollment credit by successfully completing courses taken at colleges and universities, with prior approval from the school administration.  Students have the option to take courses at colleges/universities as a level 4-Honors or unleveled.  This must be finalized with their school counselor. 

Early College Program:  

Qualified students can spend their senior year of high school as a fully enrolled college student, thus finishing their requirements for their high school diploma while also completing their first year in college. 

Work Based Learning:  

Students can make progress toward earning a high school diploma by earning credit through “on-the-job” experiences.  Our School Counseling Department has a School Counselor who is tasked with helping students create a work based experience that meets the needs of the student and the workplace, while demonstrating sufficient documented new learning to earn credit toward graduation.  While this learning opportunity is available to all students, based upon their interest and available work experiences, these experiences  are most commonly accessed by (1) Special Education students, and (2) students who access one of our two career centers.  

Independent Studies:  

When students have an interest in taking BFUHS courses but have schedule conflicts, they may be able to take a class as an “Independent Study” (if a teacher is available).  Students will only be approved for an independent study if the teacher, school counselor, and administrator all agree that the student has the skills needed to work independently, with a couple of meetings with the teacher in a week, and still meet the expectations of the course in question. 

Online “Virtual” learning:  

Students seeking to explore classes that are not available as part of the regular curricular offering within the high school can explore online course availability and readiness with their School Counselor. Online learning requires that students learn independently and skills such as initiative, self advocacy, time management, and organization are very important for success.

While online courses provide increased educational options and flexibility, it is imperative for students to know that taking an online course is a significant commitment.  ** All final online course grades (passing or failing) are officially reported on the transcript and affect a student’s overall GPA.**   Students and parents must sign the Online Student Course Contract before being enrolled in an online course.