Handbook - Academic Expectations
Academic Integrity
Academic honesty is essential for true academic success. Students are expected to act with integrity. Acts of dishonesty violate the city-wide Discipline Code. Plagiarism is cheating. The Discipline Code states the consequence for cheating. Students should ask their teacher befroe turning in an assignment if their is a question about plagiarism. In group work, each student is to respond in their own words. Group members having the same answer is only acceptable if one group answer is submitted. Regents Exams and AP Exams have policies established by outside organizations.
Academic Integrity: Incidents
The school considers incidents by a particular subject area. Student work is assessed in many different ways.
First Occurrence
For the 1st occurrence, the teacher and department supervisor investigate. The teacher will contact the family, and the student will be given a zero on the assignment. The student has the opportunity to complete an alternate assessment. Once a satisfactory alternate assignment is turned in, the zero will be converted to the alternate assessment grade. The highest grade on the alternate assessment is a 65.
Second Occurrence
For the 2nd occurrence, The consequences are the same as the 1st. Additionally, the teacher must submit a written statement to the Deans Office. The student will receive 2 days of detention.
Third Occurrence
For more than 2 occurrences, the same applies as above. The student may be given a Principal’s suspension.
Regents Exams
The State Education Department determines the consequences for Regents Exam fraud. Fraud is cheating. Students cannot either obtain or give help while taking a test. The consequence for fraud is the cancellation of the student’s examination. Students should follow all instructions given prior to the Regents Exam. This will help students inadvertently avoid breaking rules.
In addition, a student who committed fraud cannot retake that exam until the principal feels the student has demonstrated exemplary behavior and citizenship. Students who violate exam policies are subject to school discipline. An example would be leaving the room without permission.
Students may not use any electronic device while taking a Regents Exam. Electronic devices are considered communication devices. These devices are not allowed in the testing room or while on a break. Students in possession of an electronic device during a Regents Exam will have their score invalidated.
College Board Exams Incidents
The College Board sets policies about cheating on College Board exams. Students suspected of cheating may be removed from the testing room. Their scores may be invalidated. The incident may be notated on score reports. Students should follow all instructions given prior to the exams. College Board Exams are the PSAT, SAT, and AP.
Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
Students will always fully and accurately credit sources for written work and never engage in plagiarism. Plagiarism is taking someone else’s work and passing it off as one’s own.
Respecting the rights of copyright owners is required. Copyright infringement occurs when you inappropriately reproduce a work that is protected by copyright. If a work contains language that specifies appropriate use of that work, you should follow the expressed requirements. Direct any questions regarding copyright usage to your teacher.
How to Avoid Plagiarism
Cite a source time you use it. Whenever you use someone’s exact words, indicate this by using quotation marks. Give credit to the author even if you are using all your own words (paraphrasing).
Daily Session Time/Student Schedules
Note: Length of school day and lunch requirement may be adjusted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The minimum length of the school day for all students is 5.5 hours per day, exclusive of lunch. This equates to a student being present for 8 periods daily, including lunch. Lunch may not be dropped from a student's schedule.
Advanced Placement (AP) Policy
Advanced Placement courses are based on curriculum approved by CollegeBoard to introduce students to the rigor of college-level content and skills. AP courses are one way that LaGuardia Arts provides options to access rigorous curriculum. All students, regardless of their level of participation in AP courses, are enrolled in college and conservatory preparatory coursework during their four year sequence at LaGuardia. We also strongly encourage students to take advantage of our College Now partnership with City University of New York City College and Hunter College campuses. College Now courses are college courses at no cost to the student. Students earn guaranteed, transferable college credits towards college graduation.
Neither taking the AP course nor taking the AP exam guarantees student credits towards college graduation. Colleges constantly update and change their AP credit policies. Be sure to check for the latest policy specific to each college, each course, and often each student (depending on the student's major).
COVID-19 has accelerated colleges moving away from considering standardized test scores in their admissions and/or financial aid criteria. Colleges are opting for an even more holistic approach to reviewing applicants, focusing on the “whole student” and their experiences, rather than single data points, such as a standardized test score. Colleges recognize that many factors outside of students’ control impact their access to taking a standardized test. Colleges acknowledge that standardized test scores reflect systemic racism more than student achievement.
Students are not required to take the AP Examination associated with the AP course. There is a fee charged by the CollegeBoard to take an AP Exam. Based on the Income Verification Form, students who qualify may be eligible for fee waivers.
During the college application process, AP Examination scores do NOT appear on your Official Transcript. AP Examination Official Score Reports are NOT sent to colleges. AP Examination scores can -- but are not required -- be self-reported to colleges, but the scores are NOT verified by colleges. Colleges do NOT receive school-specific data on student performance on AP Examinations (number of eligible test-takers, number of actual test-takers, score distribution, year-to-year comparison, etc.)
Excellent attendance and punctuality is critical to maintain the fast-paced rigor of the AP course. All AP courses are commitments and cannot be dropped from a student’s schedule beyond the add/drop period.
AP courses are weighted at 1.05 according to DOE policy.
Students should speak with their guidance counselor about other thoughtful ways beyond enrollment in AP courses to rigorously engage in experiences that support their interests, college preparation, and career goals.
Seniors have priority when programming students in courses with limited enrollment, including AP classes.
Student Ranking
"LaGuardia Arts does not rank students." LaGuardia Arts does not rank because of different studio grading and course requirements. Student rankings may be determined for school purposes only. Internal rankings are never released to students or to the public.
Grading Policy, Report Cards, and Transcripts
Remote Learning Grading Policy for Spring 2020
LaGuardia Arts' Remote Learning Grading Policy is in compliance with the DOE Academic Policy.
- Passing: 65-100 in increments of 1
- NX: In the situation that a student has not had the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of course content and skills due to special circumstances, schools may award special marks as final grades to students who were unable to complete the course due to extenuating circumstances (NX).
- Students whose final grades are failing must be awarded a grade of NX (course in progress).
- Students for whom there is insufficient work to determine a final grade must be awarded a grade of NX.
- Students must complete the necessary work by the end of the Fall Term.
- No student should be given a failing grade
Once a numeric grade appears on a transcript, parents/guardians may request selection of CR instead of the numeric grade. Graduated seniors should complete the CR Selection Request Form by July 10. This will ensure final transcripts are updated prior to transmission to colleges/universities. The deadline for completing CR Selection Request Form is November 30, 2020. A CR does not affect a student's GPA.
Grading Policy
LaGuardia Arts' Grading Policy aligns with the DOE Academic Policy. There are four areas that may be graded. These areas are:
- Major Assessments
- Participation/Classwork
- Homework/Preparation
- Final Exam/Project
The percentage weight for each area varies by department. Department grading policies are listed on each department's webpage.
Transcripts
Only grades issued at the end of each semester are recorded on the transcript. Each student should review their transcript at the beginning of each semester for accuracy. If corrections are necessary, immediately contact the guidance staff. Corrections may be made for clerical error, miscalculation, or faulty entry. Accurate transcripts help ensure that students are correctly programmed for classes and progress towards graduation can be followed. DOE Academic Policy establishes the length of time when a transcript update may be submitted.
Report Cards
Report cards are issued 3 times each semester at the end of a Marking Period. Each semester, only Marking Period 3 grades appear on your transcript.
Passing Grades: 65 - 100 in increments of one.
Failing Grade: 55
In documented, extenuating circumstances that prevent a student from completing the course in the established time frame, NX is used to indicate “incomplete.” A student who receives a grade of NX must successfully complete the remaining course requirements by the end of the next term.
The numeric grade of 45 (no-show) may be given for Marking Period 1 only.
PE is Required for All Students
All students must take PE each term. There are no waivers for PE/Dance requirements.
NYS regulations state that “individual medical certificates of limitations must indicate the area of the program in which the pupil may participate.” Students with documented medical conditions will have their PE/Dance activity modified to meet their needs. The documentation must be from a medical doctor. The doctor’s note must state activities that a student can do. The note should not include what a student cannot physically do.
Diploma Endorsements
Honors Designation
Students must earn an average of 90 or higher on the required Regents exams for their diploma type.
Arts Endorsement
- Earn 10 credits in a single art form (dance, theater, music, or visual arts), which may include those required to meet the 44 credits for graduation
- Pass the NYCDOE assessment in that art form/discipline57
- For the advanced Regents diploma, only two LOTE course credits instead of six credits are required, and a LOTE exam is not required
Mastery in Math
Meet requirements for an Advanced Regents diploma.
Achieve a score of 85+ on each of the three required math Regents exams (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II).
Mastery in Science
Meet requirements for an Advanced Regents diploma.
Achieve a score of 85+ on any three science Regents exams. (Two science Regents exams are required for the Advanced Regents diploma.)
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Our Technical Theater program is the only State-approved CTE program.
Earn course credits in NYSED-approved Career and Technology Education (CTE) sequence (number of credits varies by sequence but must be a minimum of seven, including one-course credit in Career and Financial Management [CFM]).
- CFM can be embedded to fulfill a distribution requirement or can be offered as a stand-alone course
- Students may be required to exceed 44 total credits
- For the Advanced Regents diploma only, if a student fulfills a course sequence that extends to 10 credits or more, only two World Languages course credits are required. The World Languages Regents Exam is not required.
Service Seal
Meet a minimum of 100 hours of school or community service over the student’s high school years. Hours must be verified using the x2VOL software program.
College Readiness
Students are encouraged to graduate with high-level math and science classes. Students who do not meet college readiness benchmarks may need to take remedial college courses before starting credit-bearing courses. Students shold be prepared for college and career and have a plan for your future. Aim for a GPA of 80% or above in each class. This will help you to apply to the widest range of colleges.
There are several ways to determine college readiness.
Rigorous Course Work
Students should take rigorous courses and/or exams. These would include Advanced Placement (AP), College Now, and/or advanced courses.
Students meet the college readiness standard if they take a rigorous schedule. This includes:
- 8 credits of math, (Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra 2/Trigonometry)
- 8 credits of science, including at least three of the following: Living Environment, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, or AP Science.
- 6 credits of a World Language.
Advanced Diploma Designations
Students earn one or more advanced diploma designations. Examples include Advanced Regents Diploma, Arts Endorsement, or Career and Technical Endorsement. Each Advanced Regents Diploma has it's own requirements.
Regents Exam Scores in ELA and Math
Students meet the college readiness requirements through Regents Exams. A student must score 75+ on ELA Regents and 70+ on common core-aligned Math Regents.
Weekly Testing Schedule
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make-Up |
Health Social Studies |
English |
Science Studios |
Math World Languages |
Vacation Assignments
LaGuardia Arts recommends homework-free vacations. Teachers can assign work over vacations. The work must be non-location-specific. This means the student can complete the assignment wherever their family is. For example, a student traveling abroad cannot visit a specific NYC location. Families may not have internet access during vacation.
Many students are unavailable to complete assignments over a vacation period. Teachers are to assign work no later than 3 days prior to the start of the break. Assignments can be due no sooner than 3 days after students return.
Standardized Testing for College Applications
Many colleges require standardized test scores as part of the application packet.
It is recommended that students take the standardized test once in the Spring of the Junior year and once in the Fall of the Senior year.
Testing Organizations
Colleges That Do Not Require Standardized Tests
test optional colleges: www.fairtest.org
Junior Year Testing Strategy
Juniors are encouraged to follow one of the two suggested testing schedules. The primary factor in determining the schedule is whether or not you are taking AP classes.
Due to COVID-19, PSAT, SAT, AP, and ACT exam schedules may vary. Individual colleges may also adjust their standardized test requirements.
Any SAT/ACT preparation should culminate prior to your test date. It is not recommended to take any commercial preparation courses for the PSAT. Also, it is not recommended to take any commercial preparation courses that do not prepare you to immediately take the exam.
Option 1: Not Taking AP Classes
| October | March | May | June |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSAT | SAT or ACT | SAT or ACT | SAT Subject Tests |
Option 1: Taking AP Classes
| October | March | May | June |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSAT | SAT or ACT | AP Exams | SAT Subject Tests |
Senior Year Testing Schedule
It is recommended that students take their standardized test the second time in the Fall of their Senior year. There is no statistically significant advantage in taking a test more than twice. Students should study their score reports from their Junior year. This will help devise a testing strategy.
Any student who is interested in the Early or Rolling Admissions process should plan on taking the October administration.
