Academics

2010-2011 STUDENT HANDBOOK

Senior Scholarships

The mission of USD #270, through the cooperation of students, staff, parents, patrons and the board of education, is to provide educational opportunities in a safe environment and to promote lifelong learning skills.

Enrollment Information

The courses a student selects in high school may affect the kind of work, the amount of income, the kind of post- high school education, and the friends one will have in both school and adult life. Careful planning is necessary if a student is to gain the most from his high school experience. Every student is encouraged to discuss their course selection with parents, counselors, and teachers and to know college, vocational school, or job requirements before making final course selections.

Business English FineArts Health Industry ITV Math Science Spanish SS Studies Line Schedule

Graduation Requirements

1. English Language Arts – The four language arts units must consist of En­glish I, English II, English III, and English IV or dual credit College English and include reading, writing, literature, communication and grammar.
2. American History – One full credit required
3. Government – ½ credit required
4. Elective Social Studies – Geography, World History, Economics, Current Affairs – 1 ½ credits
5. Mathematics – 3 credits (including algebraic & geometric concepts)
6. Lab Science – 3 credits (The laboratory science unit may consist of Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physiology, or Principles of Technology.)
7. Physical education (1 unit), which shall include health, and which may include safety, first aid, or physiology. This requirement shall be waived if the school district is provided with either of the following:
1. A statement by a licensed physician that a pupil is mentally or physically incapable of participating in a regular or modified physical education program; or
2. A statement, signed by a lawful custodian of the pupil, indicating that the requirement is contrary to the religious teachings of the pupil.

* Starting with the graduating class of 2011, USD # 270 and Plainville High School will require 24 units for graduation.  For the graduating classes of 2010, 21 credits are required.  All students must enroll in 7 classes every year plus Student Improvement Period (SIP) unless they have special permission from the principal.

Any additional requirements of the local board of education that increase the number of units of credit required for graduation apply to honor roll requirements.

Honor Roll Requirements: The honor roll is compiled at the end of each nine weeks and semester. For the Administrator's Honor Roll, a student must have a 3.75 to a 4.00 GPA. For the Regular Honor Roll, a student must have a 3.33 to a 3.74 GPA. For Honorable Mention, a student must have a 3.00 to a 3.32 GPA. Students receiving a grade below a "C-" or an incomplete in any subject will not be eligible for the Administrator's, Regular, or Honorable Mention. The honor roll will be published no later than 5 days after the end of each grading period.

Beginning the fall semester of 2001, students applying to any of the six Kansas Regents
universities must meet certain admission criteria.

Admission Requirements
To qualify for admission to any of the six Kansas Regents universities, you must meet one of the following requirements:
- Complete the precollege curriculum with at least a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0
scale; or,
- Achieve an ACT score of 21 or above; or
- Rank in the top one-third of your high school's graduating class.

Precollege curriculum
One of the ways to meet university admission requirements is to successfully complete the precollege curriculum as outlined by the Kansas Board of Regents. You must complete the curriculum with at least a 2.0 GPA (a "C" average) on a 4.0 scale. The following outlines the high school courses that are required to meet the requirements for admission to any of the Kansas Regents universities. Courses that are encouraged, but not required, are italicized.

Note: 1 unit = 1 year

English - 4 units required
* At least one unit of English or language arts must be taken each year of high school.
* Beyond this requirement, students are encouraged to take courses in journalism, speech, drama/theater, and/or debate.
-Writing
-Reading
-Literature
-Communication
-Grammar

Natural Science - 3 units required
* Students must take three units chosen from the following courses. At least one unit must be in chemistry or physics.
-Biology;
-Advanced Biology;
-Chemistry;
-Physical/Earth/Space Science; and/or,
-Physics
* Students may take up to two units in Applications in Biology, Applications in Chemistry and/or Applied Physics, if these courses offered at your school have been approved by the Kansas Commissioner of Education. Check with your counselor for confirmation.
*Applied/technical courses may not be substituted for the requirement that one unit of natural science credit must be in chemistry or physics.
* Students are encouraged to take one additional unit of science chosen from the courses listed above.

Math - 3 units required

* Students must take one unit each of Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. Completion of any of the three required mathematics courses prior to entering high school satisfies the requirement for that course.
* Completion of Applied Mathematics I and II can be substituted for Algebra I.
* Students are strongly encouraged to take a mathematics course every year of high school.

Social Sciences - 3 units required

* Students must complete the following:
-One unit of U.S. history;
-One-half unit of U.S. government;
-One unit selected from one or more courses in psychology, economics, civics, history, current social issues, sociology, anthropology and/or race and ethnic group relations.
-One-half unit selected from world history, world geography or international relations;

Computer Technology - 1 unit

* One unit of computer technology is required.
* Applicants to the Regents universities may fulfill this requirement by passing a proficiency examination offered by the Regents universities.

Precollege curriculum element for scholarship applicants
As a Kansas high school graduate, you may be eligible for one of three state-sponsored scholarship programs.

* State Scholarship Program;
* Minority Scholarship Program;
* Kansas Teachers Scholarship.
To be eligible for one of these scholarships, you must complete all the required courses for the precollege curriculum plus an additional three units, as follows:

Math - 1 additional unit; total of 4 units required

* In addition to Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry, students are required to complete one unit of
advanced mathematics selected from analytic geometry, trigonometry, advanced algebra, probability and
statistics, functions, or calculus.

Natural Science

Students applying for a state-sponsored scholarship must take Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

USD #270 does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, handicap, or age in admission or access to, or treatment of students or employees in, its programs or activities. Any questions regarding the district’s compliance with Title VI, Title IX or Section 504, including information about the existence and location of services, activities, and facilities that are accessible to and usable by disabled persons may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator or Section 504 Coordinator who is the Superintendent of Schools and can be reached at 913-434-4678, 111 West Mill, Plainville, Kansas 67663, or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, the U. S. Department of Education.

SUGGESTED CURRICULUM FOR VARIOUS OCCUPATIONAL CHOICES