Quality Points Explained – Weighted vs. Unweighted Average – Grade Level and Homeroom Assignments – Planning at a Glance – Timeline for Planning Your Courses – National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
Quality Points Explained
As part of our District’s Mission and Vision, Hudson Falls believes in both broad opportunities and high expectations. One spot this belief is embedded is in our GPA calculations.
Hudson Falls uses a system of “Quality Points” to give added weight to our more challenging courses. Our intention is twofold. We want to encourage students to take more academically demanding courses. And, secondly, we do not want to penalize students who are challenging themselves and may score lower in these more demanding courses. By adding a bigger multiplier, or weight, to the Level II courses we aim to incentivize enrollment, which is also intended to offset any possible lower score. Please challenge yourself when you can.
Below you can see the multiplier, or weight, given to each passing grade in all Level I and Level II courses.
- Numeric Grade: 100 — Level 1: 6.500 — Level 2: 7.200
- Numeric Grade: 99 — Level 1: 6.400 — Level 2: 7.100
- Numeric Grade: 98 — Level 1: 6.300 — Level 2: 7.000
- Numeric Grade: 97 — Level 1: 6.200 — Level 2: 6.900
- Numeric Grade: 96 — Level 1: 6.100 — Level 2: 6.800
- Numeric Grade: 95 — Level 1: 6.000 — Level 2: 6.700
- Numeric Grade: 94 — Level 1: 5.900 — Level 2: 6.600
- Numeric Grade: 93 — Level 1: 5.800 — Level 2: 6.500
- Numeric Grade: 92 — Level 1: 5.700 — Level 2: 6.400
- Numeric Grade: 91 — Level 1: 5.600 — Level 2: 6.300
- Numeric Grade: 90 — Level 1: 5.500 — Level 2: 6.200
- Numeric Grade: 89 — Level 1: 5.400 — Level 2: 6.100
- Numeric Grade: 88 — Level 1: 5.300 — Level 2: 6.000
- Numeric Grade: 87 — Level 1: 5.200 — Level 2: 5.900
- Numeric Grade: 86 — Level 1: 5.100 — Level 2: 5.800
- Numeric Grade: 85 — Level 1: 5.000 — Level 2: 5.700
- Numeric Grade: 84 — Level 1: 4.900 — Level 2: 5.600
- Numeric Grade: 83 — Level 1: 4.800 — Level 2: 5.500
- Numeric Grade: 82 — Level 1: 4.700 — Level 2: 5.400
- Numeric Grade: 81 — Level 1: 4.600 — Level 2: 5.300
- Numeric Grade: 80 — Level 1: 4.500 — Level 2: 5.200
- Numeric Grade: 79 — Level 1: 4.400 — Level 2: 5.100
- Numeric Grade: 78 — Level 1: 4.300 — Level 2: 5.000
- Numeric Grade: 77 — Level 1: 4.200 — Level 2: 4.900
- Numeric Grade: 76 — Level 1: 4.100 — Level 2: 4.800
- Numeric Grade: 75 — Level 1: 4.000 — Level 2: 4.700
- Numeric Grade: 74 — Level 1: 3.900 — Level 2: 4.600
- Numeric Grade: 73 — Level 1: 3.800 — Level 2: 4.500
- Numeric Grade: 72 — Level 1: 3.700 — Level 2: 4.400
- Numeric Grade: 71 — Level 1: 3.600 — Level 2: 4.300
- Numeric Grade: 70 — Level 1: 3.500 — Level 2: 4.200
- Numeric Grade: 69 — Level 1: 3.400 — Level 2: 4.100
- Numeric Grade: 68 — Level 1: 3.300 — Level 2: 4.000
- Numeric Grade: 67 — Level 1: 3.200 — Level 2: 3.900
- Numeric Grade: 66 — Level 1: 3.100 — Level 2: 3.800
- Numeric Grade: 65 — Level 1: 3.000 — Level 2: 3.700
Weighted vs. Unweighted Average
A student’s unweighted average is also calculated and will be used for things like Transcripts, Report Cards, Honor Roll, and other awards.
The weighted average (Course Grade plus Quality Points) is used for Class Rank and permanent transcripts. Additionally, a student’s Class Rank prioritizes courses that lead to a Regents Diploma with an Advanced Designation. Please speak with your School Counselor as you chart your path through high school to maximize your Class Rank.
Grade Level and Homeroom Assignments
Grade levels and homerooms are assigned based on credits accrued:
- Freshman Class Standing: Less than 5 credits;
- Sophomore Class Standing: 5-10 credits;
- Junior Class standing: 10.5-15 credits;
- Senior Class Standing: Above 15 credits.
We are here to support every student’s successful path toward walking at graduation. In turn, we need all students to understand that full time attendance in their chosen academic program is expected. How do you accomplish this expectation? Enroll in six courses plus physical education each year of school.
- Grade 9/Freshman
- Promotion from 8th grade
- Grade 10/Sophomore
- Students who have earned:
- 5 cumulative credits including:
- 1 year of English or Social Studies
- 5 cumulative credits including:
- Students who have earned:
- Grade 11/Junior
- Students who have earned:
- 10 cumulative credits including:
- 3 units of English/Social Studies,
- 1 unit of Mathematics, and
- 1 unit of Science
- 10 cumulative credits including:
- Students who have earned:
- Grade 12/Senior
- Students who have earned:
- 15 cumulative credits including:
- 4 units of English/Social Studies,
- 2 units of Math,
- 2 units of Science.
- Additionally, the student must be enrolled in all courses that are required for him or her to graduate in June.
- 15 cumulative credits including:
- Students who have earned:
Planning at a Glance
Each student will have at least one individual meeting with their counselor every year to discuss their academic progress and future planning. The best ways to prepare for your future are to:
- Attend school regularly;
- Focus on your academics; and
- Be involved in your school and community.
Below are examples of grade level specific opportunities we strongly encourage students to pursue and counselors welcome discussing:
Grade 9
- Take the PSAT 8/9 exam
- Career Inventory on Choices 360*
Grade 10
- ASVAB**
- PSAT 10
- Tour BOCES, ECCA, or IB
Grade 11
- ASVAB**
- SAT/ACT
- Junior Parent Meeting
Grade 12
- Financial Aid Night
- College Caravan
*To set up a Choices360 account please see your guidance counselor.
**The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) measures an individual’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential for future success in four domains: verbal, math, science and technical, and spatial.
Timeline for Planning Your Courses
January-March
- Counselors will visit classes for course selections.
Note: Course offerings are based on enrollment and are subject to final budget approval.
Spring
- Course selections will be mailed home to be reviewed by students and families and also be available to view on SchoolTool.
- Students may submit course change requests with parental approval.
Late August
- Schedules mailed home. Student schedules available for viewing online.
- No schedule changes will be made unless a student is missing a required course.
First Day of School
- Students receive final hard copies of schedules.
- No drops will occur during the first two weeks of the school year.
Add/Drop Timeline
Add a semester course
- Within the first two weeks of the semester
Add a full-year course
- Within the first three weeks of the school year
Drop a semester course*
- After two weeks of trying the class, but no longer than five weeks into the semester
Drop a full-year course*
- After two weeks of trying the class, but no longer than five weeks into the school year
Level adjustment
- Within the first 10 weeks of the school year
*When dropping a course after the second week of school, it may not be possible to add a course in its place. Students must be enrolled in no less than 6.5 credits.
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
The NCAA has strict academic eligibility requirements in order to compete at the collegiate level in Division I or II athletics. In determining eligibility, the NCAA considers the academic courses a student takes, performance on standardized tests, and grade point average. Not all courses can be used toward eligibility to become a student athlete at the Division I or Division II level.
Please make note of the courses that are and are not NCAA approved in the course descriptions. Students are highly encouraged to meet with their counselor as early as 8th grade but no later than 10th grade if they are interested in playing a collegiate sport.
To further familiarize yourself with Hudson Falls’ course eligibility and other academic requirements, please review the NCAA course portal: https://web3.ncaa.org/hsportal/exec/hsAction
Hudson Falls High School’s CEEB code 332485