A. Program of Study: General Requirements for Grades 6, 7 and 8 Pursuant § 1003.4156, F.S., in order for a student to be promoted to high school from a school that includes middle grades 6, 7, and 8, the student must successfully complete the following 12 courses:

Middle Grades Curriculum (Grades 6 - 8)

1. Language Arts Three years of successful completion of language arts are required for promotion to high school.

2. Mathematics Students are required to successfully complete three middle grades or higher courses in mathematics for promotion to high school. Middle school students have formal math instruction in small ability-level groups. These groups occur in the same daily time block of 40-70 minutes per day and allow us to offer more levels while maintaining the integrity of developmental placement.

• The levels offered in the sixth through eighth grade are Mathematics 2, Mathematics 3, Algebra I, and Geometry.
• The successful completion of Algebra I and Geometry are eligible for high school credit.

Students who pass course work for the high school Algebra I Honors course but fail the Algebra I End-Of-Course (EOC) assessment will receive credit for the course provided their final course grade, which includes the EOC as 30 percent, is a passing grade. Students who pass the course work for Algebra I Honors in middle school with a C or D but fail to pass the Algebra I EOC before they enter high school will retake Algebra, lI Honors in their freshman year in high school. Students must pass the Algebra I End Of-Course (EOC) assessment or earn a comparative score on a state approved assessment to meet graduation requirements

3. Science Students are required to successfully complete three middle grades or higher courses in science.

4. Social Studies Three years of successful completion of middle grades or higher courses in social studies is required for promotion to high school. One of these courses must be at least a one-semester civics education course that includes the roles and responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments; the structures and functions of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government; and the meaning and significance of historic documents, such as the Articles of Confederation, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States. Each student’s performance on the statewide, standardized assessment in Civics education constitutes 30 percent of the student’s final course grade.

5. Physical Education and Health In accordance with §1003.4156, F.S., students are required to enroll in one semester of physical education in grades sixth through eighth. Students may waive the requirement if they meet any of the following criteria: • The student is enrolled in a remedial course. • The student’s parent/guardian requests in writing that the student enroll in another course from among the courses offered as options by the school district by completing the Middle School Physical Education Waiver. • The student’s parent/guardian indicates in writing that the student is participating in physical activities outside the school day which are equal to or in excess of the mandated requirement through the Middle School Physical Education Waiver and completion of the Physical Activity Log.

The comprehensive health education curriculum for students in grades 7 through 12 must include a teen dating violence and abuse component including, the definition of dating violence and abuse, the warning signs of dating violence and abusive behavior, the characteristics of healthy relationships, measures to prevent and stop dating violence and abuse, and community resources available to victims of dating violence and abuse.

6. Elective Program The remainder of the middle school experience will include elective courses. Electives may include but are not limited to: Fine Arts, World Languages, Technology, and Physical Education.

C. Grading System According to §1003.43, F.S., grades will be reported by letter grade or numerical score in recording student progress as follows:

The grading system and interpretation of letter grades used for students in grades 6–8 shall be as follows:

• Grade "A" equals 90 percent through 100 percent, has a grade-point average value of 4, and is defined as “outstanding progress.”
• Grade “B” equals 80 percent through 89 percent, has a grade-point average value of 3, and is defined as “above-average progress.”
• Grade “C” equals 70 percent through 79 percent, has a grade-point average value of 2, and is defined as “average progress.”
• Grade “D” equals 60 percent through 69 percent, has a grade-point average value of 1, and is defined as “lowest acceptable progress.”
• Grade “F” equals 0 (zero) percent through 59 percent, has a grade-point average value of 0 (zero), and is defined as “failure.”
• Grade “I” equals 0 (zero) percent, has a grade-point average value of 0 (zero), and is defined as “incomplete.”

Students who enroll in school or class late shall be allowed to make up the classwork. In order to receive full semester credit, a student must be enrolled in any school a minimum of forty-five days

F. Grading System and Reporting Procedures

1. Promotion and Retention Academic subjects required for promotion per the Florida A++ Legislation are defined as language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Pursuant § 1003.4156 F.S., in order for a student to be promoted to high school from a school that includes middle grades 6, 7, and 8, the student must successfully complete 12 core academic courses to include 3 courses in each of the following academic areas: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies (to include Civics).

At the end of each nine-week grading period, if a student is not meeting the state requirements for promotion in the courses of ELA, mathematics, science or social studies a Progress Monitoring Plan must be put into place immediately to support remediation, monitored throughout the school year, and placed in the student’s cumulative folder. § 1008.25, F.S.

Parents must be notified when, during a reporting period, it is apparent that the student is failing or in danger of failing. In addition to report cards and interim reports, notifications may include letters, documented telephone calls, emails, and/or parent conferences. The opportunity for a conference with the teacher or principal must be provided to the parent of any student who may be retained.

Student Promotions

• 6 th grade students with at least 2 core course completions and 1 year in middle school may be promoted to grade 7
• 7 th grade students with at least 4 core course completions and 2 years in middle school may be promoted to grade 8
• 8 th grade students must have successfully completed all 12 core academic courses to include 3 courses in each of the following academic areas: language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies (to include Civics)