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Grades, Credits, & General Info

Multiple Credit for a Single Course
It is sometimes necessary to consolidate advanced courses in some activities and skill-developing subject areas in order to reach minimum acceptable class sizes. In such cases a student may take the same course more than once to enhance his learning in the subject. The same process applies in performing groups (band, orchestra, chorus) and some art courses, wherein a course may be repeated.

However, in the cases of academic classes where the emphasis is on learning concepts and/or a given body of knowledge, any student who received a passing grade in such a course will not be permitted to earn an additional credit if he/she repeats the course. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the teacher and/or the counselor regarding classes which appear on the schedule for which credit has already been earned.

Course Retake Option
A student who earns a C, D, or F grade in any course may retake the course for improved achievement. The grade and credit from the original course will be deleted from the transcript. The grade and credit earned for the retaken course will become part of the permanent record. Caution must be observed when athletes replace courses on their transcripts. Families should contact the NCAA Eligibility Center, in advance, to understand the ramifications, if any, in the altering of a transcript which has been sent to the NCAA Eligibility Center for processing.

Student Load
Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors must elect six or seven periods of class work in the seven-period day. Homework may be required in all full credit subjects and is recommended for other subjects as it is needed. During the senior year, a student may choose to be unassigned seventh period only in lieu of study hall.

Credits Required for Student Classification
ClassCredits ClassCredits
Sophomore5 Senior15
Junior10 Graduation21.5


Credit Flexibility
An effective educational program is one that provides opportunities for students to customize aspects of their learning around their respective needs, interests and skills. Credit flexibility is one method to motivate and increase student learning by allowing access to more resources, customization around individual student needs and the use of multiple measures of learning.

Credit flexibility shifts the focus from "seat time" to performance. Students can earn units of high school credit based on an individually approved credit flexibility plan. The intent of credit flexibility is to meet increased expectations for high school graduation in response to globalization, technology, demographics, and 21st Century Skills.

A credit flexibility plan enables students to earn high school credit by completing coursework and/or successfully completing assessments that show mastery of course content. Other possibilities would be screened and approved through the Fairmont High School Credit Flexibility Access process. These might include educational programs and/or individual student proposals for obtaining credit.

A student considering a credit flexibility plan should discuss the possibility with their parents, teachers and school counselor. A copy of Fairmont High School's credit flexibility application and guidelines can be picked up from your counselor or downloaded from the school website. Completed applications need to be submitted directly to your counselor. Deadlines for submitting credit flex applications are August 15th, December 15th and June 1st.

Scholastic Honor Roll
Purpose: (a) To give individual recognition to students who are doing above average work in academic classes; (b) To encourage the student body to maintain high academic standards. A student qualifies for the Honor Roll by earning grades of "B" or above in all subjects for the grading period.

Guidance Services
Guidance services are designed to assist the individual student to make the most of his/her own abilities and opportunities while at Fairmont. The counselors value the opportunity to help each student. Counselors utilize both individual and group techniques to meet the needs of their students. Appointments will be scheduled as soon as possible following a student's request. Parents are welcome; it is best to call the guidance office to make an appointment.

The classroom teacher will gladly confer with students. It is highly recommended that students/parents contact the teacher at the first sign of academic difficulty. Parents and students may access grades at any time on the Internet through our online gradebook.

Acceptance of Credits
The Kettering City School District shall accept credits earned toward graduation from any high school accredited or approved by a State Department of Education. An official transcript, except as provided by Section 3313.642, Revised Code of Ohio, shall be furnished by the sending school to verify credits earned.

Course Levels
Standard Courses: These courses focus on the development of basic skills and prepare students to pass the PARCC/ODE Assessments. These courses utilize the standard grade point average, but are not considered a college prep class unless otherwise noted in the course descriptions

College Prep Courses: Most courses at Fairmont High School are designed as college prep courses, and these utilize the standard grade point average. These courses fulfill the general and college prep curriculum to prepare students for entry into college.

College Credit Plus: These courses offer students the ability to take college coursework while still in high school. Students can take available coursework at Fairmont High School or through partnering universities. Students must complete the Intent to Participate Form before the deadline. They must also apply and be accepted into the partnering university in order to take College Credit Plus coursework. Grades earned while enrolled in a College Credit Plus class are calculated the same as the highest weighted course in that subject area.

Honors (H), Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) Courses: Courses designated as Honors (H) are enriched and offer acceleration beyond ordinary high school standard courses. There is more in-depth coverage of curriculum objectives, a quicker pace, increased rigor, additional homework and greater responsibility for outside projects, etc. Passing grades for honors courses receive an additional .5 quality points over the standard courses.

The Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses at Fairmont are directly aligned to curriculum requirements established by each organization. These nationally (AP) and internationally (IB) recognized programs allow students to participate in college-level courses and exams during their high school experience. Passing grades for AP and IB courses receive an additional one quality point over standard courses due to their academic rigor.

Students may choose AP or IB courses with the recommendation of their teachers and completion of any stated prerequisites. AP and IB courses are accelerated to a collegiate level, require strong reading/ writing skills.

Fairmont students who to take AP or IB classes receive one (1) additional quality point for a weighted grade. (See Standard and Weighted Grades section that follows.) The cost of taking the AP and/or IB tests is determined by each organization. Students with financial need who qualify for free and reduced lunch should speak to their counselors for confidential assistance to cover testing costs.

Semester and Final Exams
All students are required to take semester and final exams in each subject. Their two hour exams will count toward 20% of the semester grade. Students may earn exam exemptions through outstanding attendance and/or grades.

Standard and Weighted Grades
In general, students interested in a high weighted GPA should enroll in as many honors, AP and IB classes as possible, avoid study halls and unassigned periods and take physical education during the ninth and tenth grades. Standard (4.0 grading scale) and weighted GPA and class rank will be established at the completion of each semester. In this dual-grading system, weighted grades are awarded for credit earned in Honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate level courses. Grades earned while enrolled in a College Credit Plus class, are calculated the same as the highest weighted course in that subject area. When students move into Fairmont from another high school, transferred weighted grades are only awarded when Fairmont High School offers an equivalent course during the same school year the transferring grade was earned. AP, IB and honors courses that have no equivalent course in the Kettering curriculum will be calculated using the standard 4.0 grading scale.

Both standard and weighted GPAs and ranks are listed on the high school transcript, college applications, etc. The grading system is as follows:

Letter GradeNumerical ValueStandard Quality PointsWeighted Honors Quality PointsWeighted AP/IB Quality Points
A90-1004.004.505.00
B80-893.003.504.00
C70-792.002.503.00
D60-691.001.502.00
F0-590.000.000.00

The standard GPA and class rank will continue to be calculated by dividing total quality points by credits attempted. However, a student's weighted GPA and class rank will be determined at the conclusion of a student's freshman and sophomore year by dividing the student's total quality points by the greater of either the credits attempted by the student OR 6.75 credits for freshman year/13.5 credits for sophomore year. After the sophomore year, a student's weighted GPA and class rank will be determined at the conclusion of each succeeding semester by dividing the student's total quality points by the greater of either the credits attempted by the student OR 13.5 credits plus the number of semesters completed after the sophomore year multiplied by 3.5.


Class Rank
Class rank is a numerical rank assigned to students according to their cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) earned in all academic work. The GPA is determined at the end of each semester and varies with the amount of credit and the grade in each course.

Three Year and January Graduation
A pupil may graduate within three years or as a January graduate in their senior year and participate in commencement ceremonies if the following criteria are satisfied:
  1. The pupil shall have fulfilled all course requirements, earned the minimum number of total credits required for graduation, and passed the appropriate state tests.
  2. All credits shall have been earned in the regular and summer terms of an accredited high school
  3. The pupil shall be in residence one semester of the graduation year.
  4. The pupil and parent/guardian shall confer with the counselor prior to submission of a formal request.
  5. A formal request, in writing, shall be submitted to the counselor and approved by the principal


The diploma may be issued at the time of graduation or held for the regular graduation ceremony exercises in May.


Valedictorian and Salutatorian Criteria
Students who transfer to Fairmont High School from a chartered school, non-chartered school or home-based schooling shall have no established GPA or class rank for purposes of graduation honors of valedictorian or salutatorian until such time as they have completed three semesters at Fairmont High School. No student shall be eligible for graduation honors of valedictorian or salutatorian unless they have been enrolled for two consecutive semesters prior to the final semester utilized for purposes of determining such honors. (Board of Education Policy #5430.)

Early graduates are not eligible to be designated with either graduation honor.

The weighted GPA and class rank will be used to determine valedictorian and salutatorian status, based on all eight semesters of high school work.

In general, students interested in a high weighted GPA should enroll in as many honors, AP and IB classes as possible, avoid study halls and unassigned periods and take physical education during the ninth and tenth grades

High School Courses Taken at Middle School
Middle school students successfully completing high school courses offered as part of the middle school curriculum (ex.: Algebra I) will earn high school credit, but the grade will not be included into the high school GPA. Middle school students successfully completing high school courses NOT offered as part of the middle school curriculum (ex.: Honors Geometry) will earn high school credit and the grade will be included in the high school GPA. This would include any weighted grade.

Schedule Changes
During the third quarter, a series of scheduling activities takes place to assist each student in selecting appropriate courses for the next school year. Teachers recommend courses and students meet with their Advisory teachers and counselors to fill out a scheduling sheet.

Students and parents should then carefully review the courses selected, taking into consideration the student's abilities and four year high school plan. The parent and student sign the course request verification form and return it to their Advisory teacher. Students must also input course requests online. Students who fail to turn in a signed verification form may be scheduled by their counselor and may lose the privilege to develop their own program.

The final step in the process allows students and parents the opportunity to review, correct, and/or change selections. It is expected that students develop a sound educational plan and an appropriate schedule in March.

Changes to new courses will only take place in the first 5 days of that course. The following are reasons that may justify schedule changes:
  1. Semester imbalances
  2. Replacement of summer school course(s) successfully completed
  3. Adjustments that accommodate special education students' needs
  4. Inappropriate course level as dictated by the prerequisite course final grade and/or teacher/counselor recommendation
  5. Changes in courses which can be done by direction substitution or by replacing an existing study hall (room must be available and student will be placed in the smallest section of the new class).
  6. Obvious program error such as omission of required subject or selected subject
  7. Failure of a subject last year and scheduled into advance level without meeting prerequisite course requirement.


School Day
Kettering Fairmont's school day is from 7:50 a.m. to 3:05 p.m. There are several different daily schedules for early dismissals and extended advisories. All schedules can be found in the student planner given out at the beginning of school year.

ID Cards
Each new student will be issued an ID card at the start of the year. This card will be used for personal identification (ex. dances), lunch, and checking out books or using computers in the school library. Any student who has a free or reduced lunch MUST use the card each day in the cafeteria check-out line. Students may also put a sum of money into an account for lunch and use the ID card instead of cash. The student scans the card which debits the account The cashier will notify the student when the account is low so more money may be added.

Special Education Services
Special education students are scheduled in this program based upon the recommendations of the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Special education services are provided to students with disabilities as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These services include special class/learning centers, individual/small group instruction, and co-taught classes with a special education teacher and a general education teacher working together to meet the needs of students.

Other special education services such as occupational therapy, adapted physical education, speech/language therapy, physical therapy, interpreter services, aide services, and a counseling component are available based on student need. KFHS provides a work adjustment program to serve students with disabilities who have this need. This includes career orientation, vocational assessment, a work adjustment lab (Fairmont Industries), work experiences, job training, and drop-out intervention program.

Summer Session
Fairmont High School's summer session is offered to students on three levels:
Level 1For students wanting to earn additional credits and enrich their education.
Level 2For students requiring remedial work to make up necessary credits for graduation due to failing a course during the regular school year.
Level 3For students needing remediation and retesting for state-required tests. One-half credit in Study Skills is earned if a student attends all sessions and participates in the summer test administration offered for the needed area: Reading, Math, Writing, Science, and/or Social Studies.


Two types of summer school are offered at Fairmont: traditional on-site summer school and on-line summer school through APEX. Registration for summer school will take place in April and early May. First preference will be given to Fairmont students and Kettering residents.

ODE Graduation Pathways
To Earn a high school diploma in Ohio, students must meet state assessment minimum scores in at least one of the following graduation pathways:
  • Ohio's State Tests - Students must earn at least 18 points over seven end-of-course state assessments. End-of-course assessments are taken during the freshmen and sophomore years in ELA 1, ELA 2, Algebra, Geometry, American Government, American History, and Biology. Each test score earns students up to five graduation points. Students must have a minimum of four points in English, four points in math, and six points across social studies and science.
  • College and Career Readiness - Students must earn remediation-free scores on either:
    • ACT: English - 18 or higher, Math - 22 or higher, Reading - 22 or higher
    • SAT: Writing - 430 or higher, Math - 520 or higher, Reading - 450 or higher


Fairmont will give the ACT to all juniors free of charge during the spring of the students third year of high school.

  • Industry Credential and Workforce Readiness - Students must earn a minimum of 12 points by receiving a State Board of Education approved industry-recognized credential or group of credentials in a single career field and earn a 13 on WorkKeys, a work-readiness test.



English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
The ESOL Program is available to students whose first language is not English. It is designed to help non-native English speaking students develop the appropriate English language skills to succeed in all aspects of their education. Students who test into the program receive one to three periods of ESOL instruction in addition to their core classes. They receive individualized instruction in reading, writing, listening and speaking. ESOL students are also entitled to curriculum and assessment modifications in their core classes based on their language level. The ESOL specialist works closely with the students, their teachers, guidance counselors, and families.

Semester Grade Calculation
Semester grades are calculated upon the formula below:
  • 1 Sem = (40% 1Q Percentage) + (40% 2Q Percentage) + (20% 1 Sem. Exam)

  • 2 Sem = (40% 3Q Percentage) + (40% 4Q Percentage) + (20% 2 Sem. Exam)


Study Tables
The FHS Study Table is available to ALL students twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:10 to 4:00 p.m. in room 328 in West Unit. Study tables are an excellent way to receive help in different academic areas. Tutoring is available for any subject and there is no cost to participate. Study tables are purely academic in nature. Students will be expected to bring all necessary materials and assignments that they need assistance with.

FHS Library Media Center
The Library Media Center is a facility for all students and staff. This facility serves three purposes. It is a place where the students may learn and practice library skills. It also provides a source of supplementary information for the course of studies. Finally it provides enrichment and pleasurable reading for all students. The Library extended hours are 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. There is also a printer available for students to print off assignments for class. The library purchases multiple databases for students to use for their research. Students can search for resources in the library using the Destiny Online Card Catalog.

Summer Orientation Program
Fairmont 101, the freshman orientation program, will take place one week before school starts. This program will provide freshmen with all of the basics about how to succeed at Fairmont High School. Topics include a building tour, getting involved in clubs/organizations, the keys to academic success, and how to show your Firebird spirit! Students who participate in the entire program will have the chance to pick up and walk their schedules at the end of the day. This program is only for incoming freshmen students and there will be a short parent meeting at the beginning of the program. A letter will be sent home in late July/early August that will provide the specific day, time and additional information about this program.