Academics

The State Board of Education has designated Ruskin High School as an A+ school. Eligibility requirements and procedures for applying can be found at www.hickmanmills.org

Students may earn an academic letter from Ruskin High School by achieving a 3.75 grade point average cumulative of both semesters during one school year. The qualifying criteria includes:

 

1.     GPA will be computed on a yearly basis, averaging the first and second semester GPA.

2.     First year qualifying students will receive an academic letter.  In subsequent years, students will receive a bar.

3.     The academic letter is independent of all other letters.

4.     Students enrolling during the school year will use transfer grades to determine the GPA.

5.     Credit earned in summer school or independent study is not applicable to the academic letter.

 

The Advanced Placement program (AP) offered by the College Board is an opportunity for students to earn up to one year of college credit in certain subject areas. In order to receive college credit, students must pass the College Board examination in the given subject area at the end of the school year. Students scheduled into an AP course must remain in the course and take the AP exam unless released by the teacher and administration.

 

 

The Hickman Mills C-1 School District currently offers courses in the following CTE programs: Business and Finance, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Project Lead the Way (Academy of Engineering, Academy of Biomedical Science). Students can also enroll in CTE programs at the Herndon Educational Center and the Summit Academy. Articulation agreements are available that link high school CTE programs with Associate Degree programs at area community colleges. Real-World Learning (RWL) opportunities are also available on and off campus throughout the school year.

Academic integrity is defined as the conscious intent of students and staff to honestly and responsibly use original, unique yet informed thoughts, ideas, opinions, and products toward the achievement of personal or professional academic goals. A violation against the Academic Code of Ethics is an act which could deceive, cheat, or defraud so as to promote or enhance one’s academic standing. Academic dishonesty also includes knowingly or actively assisting any person in the commission of a violation of the Code.

 

A violation of the Academic Code of Ethics may result in disciplinary action. Violations can include, but are not limited to:

 

1.     Plagiarism—Failure to use original, unique yet informed ideas, thoughts, words, images or products with the intent to represent the work of others as one’s own.

2.     Cheating—the willful intent to use sources improperly for personal gain.

3.     Forgery/falsifying documents—Counterfeiting documents for personal unwarranted advantage in terms of grades, standardized testing, academic standing, recognition, postsecondary placement, eligibility or privileges.

A student’s cumulative grade point average begins their first semester of 9th grade and is the basis for all class rankings. The rank is computed by using grades for all subjects including weighted or honors courses. Students should see their counselor with questions regarding their status. Summer school courses and PLATO course work will impact a student’s GPA and class ranking. Please refer to the course description book for courses that have weighted credit.

 

 

 Dual enrollment is the process by which a student is enrolled in both a high school and a college or university, and credit earned applies toward both high school credit and a college certificate or degree. Any high school student who meets the qualifications of Dual Enrollment may enroll in a dual credit course and use the credits earned to meet high school graduation requirements.

 

Students must earn 25 required credits in order to graduate from high school:

 

1.              Freshman                                  Less than 5 credits

2.              Sophomore                               5 credits + 2 semesters

3.              Junior                                       11 credits + 4 semesters

4.              Senior                                       18 credit + 6 semesters

 

Students may increase their cumulative weighted district GPA through advanced coursework.

 

1.              Principal’s Honor Roll    4.0 and above GPA

2.              “A” Honor Roll             3.5 – 3.99 GPA

3.              “B” Honor Roll             3.49 – 3.00 GPA

Make-up work is permitted and graded for full credit when the absence is excused. It is the student’s responsibility to secure make-up work from his/her teachers upon returning from an absence.  Absences must be for three days or more in order to request homework which should be picked up within 24 hours.

 

 

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) is based on the idea that students can learn appropriate behavior in the same way that students can learn a new concept or skill—through instruction, practice, feedback, and encouragement. 

Students in Grades 9-11 are encouraged to take the PSAT exam. The PSAT is the qualifying test for the National Merit Program, the National Achievement Program, and the National Hispanic Scholars Program.

In addition to meeting state and district graduation requirements, graduates are required to have participated in the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s End of Course (EOC) exams in the subject areas of: Algebra I, Algebra II (if taken Algebra I prior to 9^th grade), English II, Biology, and Government.  Students must also pass the U.S. and Missouri Constitution exams. Beginning with the class of 2021, all students must pass an American Civics exam. Prior to graduating, students must have received 30 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) instruction, and training in the proper performance of the Heimlich maneuver or other first aid procedures for choking.

 

 

Students who fail to meet ALL academic and financial obligations the Friday prior to graduation (May 5, 2023) will not have their name printed in the Commencement Ceremony Program.  

To facilitate school-to-home communication, RHS has an internet program called the Parent Portal, which allows parents to engage in their child's day-to-day education using Infinite Campus. Parents and students can access pertinent information about attendance, grades, homework assignments, and a history of academic work.

 

 

 

Student Services supports students and their parents in the following ways:

 

1.     Facilitate the exploration of college, career or military options after high school

2.     Provide guidance for scholarship and financial aid information

3.     Manage class schedule

4.     Assist with personal and emotional issues

5.     Assist with conflict mediation

6.     Provide referrals to community resources

7.     Assist with school records and transcript requests

 

The main objective of the RHS counseling staff is to counsel, coordinate and consult. Counselors are trained to give students guidance and help with the complexities and opportunities of the high school experience. Each student will be assigned a counselor who will monitor the student’s high school academic experience. The school counselor will assist students in seeking solutions to questions and problems related to their education, career decisions, and social-emotional wellbeing. Counselors can address students’ questions about classes, testing, career plans, college entrance, graduation requirements, and other topics related to high school. A primary focus is to assist students with their four-year academic goals. Students may make an appointment to meet with their counselor through the Registrar. Parents can arrange a meeting with their student’s counselor by calling the registrars for Grades 11-12 at 316-7500, or Grades 9-10 at 316-7305.

The Counseling Department and many other staff devote a significant amount of time and effort to the scheduling process. Students are involved in the process at every step of the way. Therefore, limited schedule changes will be allowed, and only with administrative approval. 

Any student wishing to take finals early must receive permission from the classroom teacher. Once they have received permission, a building administrator must approve of the schedule.

 

Small Learning Communities (SLCs) are personalized learning communities within a high school or middle school that select a group of students and teachers for a two, three, or four-year span. SLCs integrate a rigorous academic curriculum with a rigorous college and career readiness curriculum, and involve teachers from different content areas working together as a team.

 

SLCs include the following essential components:

1.     a small learning community of students and teachers

2.     a college-prep curriculum with an academic/career theme

3.     a variety of partnerships with business and industry, the community and postsecondary education

Service learning integrates classroom instruction with community service to create meaningful opportunities to enhance both the classroom environment and the overall community. All students in grades 9-12 will have the opportunity to participate in service learning through their Social Studies courses. Additional opportunities may be available through extracurricular clubs and organizations. Beginning with the Class of 2021, all students will be required to participate in service learning in order to fulfill District graduation requirements. 

Students are loaned textbooks, library books, and other school-issued technology for academic use. School property must be returned to the school in the same condition as issued. Failure to do so will result in a student being placed in obligation to the school. These obligations are the student’s responsibility to clear. Fees for lost books vary. A price list is available from the librarian.

A transcript is a record of all course work completed by a student from grades 9-12, including a copy of standardized test results. Official transcripts always carry the school seal. A signed transcript request form must be on file prior to RHS sending a transcript. There is a 24-hour turnaround time on all requests. Students are allowed to send three transcripts to any school or place of employment at no cost. There is a charge of $4.00 for each additional transcript.

Transfers from Accredited Schools

An "accredited school" includes the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program (MoVIP), a private agency that places students with disabilities in public schools; and/or any school accredited by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) or the University of Missouri Committee on Accredited Schools Non-Public (CAS). If a school is located in another state or country, that school must be accredited by that state's or country's department of education, NCA, ISACS or the equivalent agencies. All credits must be equated to the Carnegie Unit as defined in the state of Missouri. Only credits that correspond to course offerings accepted by the Missouri State Board of Education or the District may be accepted to meet graduation requirements.

Transfers from Unaccredited Schools

An "unaccredited school" is any public, private or home school that does not meet the definition of "accredited" above. In general, if a student transfers to the District from an unaccredited school, the principal or designee will examine various criteria to determine grade-level or class placement including age, achievement tests or other performance data, transcripts, course descriptions, textbooks used and home-schooling logs. If necessary, the district will administer additional tests to aid placement decisions. All credits must be equated to the Carnegie Unit as defined in Missouri. Only credits that correspond to course offerings accepted by the Missouri State Board of Education or by the district may be accepted to meet graduation requirements.

 

In order for a student to be the valedictorian or salutatorian, their last full year of high school must be at RHS. The valedictorian will be the student with the highest weighted GPA. The salutatorian will be the student with the second highest weighted GPA. Students’ transcripts will be clearly marked to indicate selection as the valedictorian and salutatorian. In addition, the top 10 students with the highest weighted GPA will be recognized at graduation; the valedictorian and salutatorian are included in the top 10.