Below is the revised annual scheduling timeline for students currently in grade 6 who will be taking classes (including honors classes) in grade 7 next school year AND for students currently in grade 7 who will be taking classes (including honors classes) in grade 8 next school year.

 

April

• Marking Period 3 ends
• Student eligibility for honors is determined based on course/subject specific data points as listed within the honors eligibility section of this web site by end of month 

May

• Arcola Administration provides communication to current 6th and 7th-grade parents to:
• Notify parents of the general scheduling process and remaining timeline
• Notify parents of the descriptions of World Languages and the selection process for next year

• Students complete the electronic World Language selection for next school year

June

• Arcola Administration provides communication to current 6th and 7th-grade parents (beginning of month) on the following:
  • How and when to access course assignments via Parent Portal
  • Procedures for inquiries about course assignments
  • Description of appeal process
• Access to student course assignments enabled in PowerSchool Parent Portal (mid-month)
  • This allows parents/students to see the courses, including honors courses that are included in next year’s student schedule. The actual schedule with teacher assignments is provided in August as per this timeline.
• Deadline for submission to the Arcola Administration of all honors courses appeals (end of month)
• Last day of current school year

 August

• Access to individual student schedules enabled in PowerSchool Parent Portal (last week)
• This allows parents/students to see the courses including honors courses and the daily schedule along with assigned teachers for the coming year

Specific data points for each course/subject are used to determine appropriate placement of students in honors courses. Data points through the end of the 3^rd marking period in the current year are used to ensure appropriate inclusion of student performance and associated notification to parents/students. Each course/subject assigns a value to each data point where a cumulative cut score is required to be considered for inclusion in honors courses. The data points are listed below:

 

GRADE 7 HONORS (for students in grade 6 seeking honors courses in grade 7)

Math

• Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test
  • The Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT) assesses students’ readiness for Algebra I, including any additional support and intervention they may need to become successful in the algebra classroom.
• Orleans-Hanna Algebra Readiness Test
  • Orleans-Hanna Algebra Prognosis Test is a problem-solving assessment that helps predict a student’s readiness for algebra courses.
• Progress on ALEKS (web-based learning system)
• Main 6^th grade Math end of unit common assessments average of Chapters 1-7
• Fall benchmark local assessment score
• *PSSA (5th grade) math raw score

ELA (English Language Arts)

• Main 6th grade ELA textbook Reading Comprehension Assessment Scores (average score for the year (5 per year)
• Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading: STAR test produces an Instructional Reading Level, IRL (Highest score of the 3 STAR Assessments given throughout the year)
• Accelerated Reader (AR) Score Average for year
• Writing Assessment (average of the 3 common writing assignment scores given in 6^th grade)
• *PSSA (5th Grade) ELA Raw Score

Science

• Main 6th Grade Science Common Assessments (average of 3 unit tests)
• *PSSA (5th grade) ELA and Math Raw scores
• Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT) scores, Nature of Science and Earth and Space
• Main 6^th grade Math end of unit common assessments average of Chapters 1-7

Social Studies

• Main 6th grade Geography Textbook Common Assessments Scores (average score for year of 3)
• Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading: STAR test produces an Instructional Reading Level, IRL (Highest score of the 3 STAR Assessments given throughout the year)
• Writing Assessment (average of the 3 common writing assignment scores given in 6^th grade)
• *PSSA (5th Grade) ELA Raw Score

 

GRADE 8 HONORS (for students in grade 7 seeking honors courses in grade 8)

ELA

• Teacher Created Comprehension Assessments for Grade Level Text (average for year)
• Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading: STAR test produces an Instructional Reading Level, IRL (Highest score of the 3 STAR Assessments given throughout the year)
• Accelerated Reader Score (average for year)
• Writing Assessment (average of the 3 common writing assignment scores given in 7^th grade)
• *PSSA (6th Grade) ELA Raw Score

Algebra I

• Test average and class average in Pre-Algebra
• Class average in Honors Pre-Algebra

Geometry

• Class average in Honors Algebra 1 in 7th grade

Science

• Main 7th grade Science textbook common lab assessments (average of 3 test scores)
• Quarterly science tests
• *PSSA (6th grade) ELA and Math Raw scores
• Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT) scores, Nature of Science
• Math assessment average

Social Studies

• Main 7^th grade Social Studies Textbook Common Assessment Scores (average score for the year of 3)
• Standardized Test for the Assessment of Reading: STAR test produces an Instructional Reading Level, IRL (Highest score of the 3 STAR Assessments given throughout the year)
• Writing Assessment (average of the 3 common writing assignment scores given in 7^th grade)
• *PSSA (6th grade) ELA Raw Score

*If there is no PSSA score, rubric formula will be adjusted

Click here to download the Honors Rubric.