Serious preparation for successful college work
requires that the student develop habits of organization,
inquiry, perseverance, goal setting, self-activity,
and a host of other skills. A serious student will
learn how to succeed and how to profit from failures
as well as to minimize them.
Interest and seriousness of purpose are essential
for any degree of success in a demanding and difficult
college preparatory program. Such traits will make
it much easier for the Prep student to devote the
three hours of study-time required on regular school
nights. All homework assignments are geared toward
the student’s academic growth and are integral
to the curriculum. Parents would do well to make
periodic checks on these especially on the quality
of written assignments.
Attendance is absolutely essential to the accomplishment
of the mission of the school. Students are encouraged
to strive for perfect attendance. Absenteeism is
closely monitored; parents are contacted and interviews
are conducted if the student has a high rate of
2. GRADING AND REPORT CARDS
Report cards are distributed four times each year.
These reports will include numerical averages for
each course in each quarter and the cumulative average
to date in all courses. After each of the first
three quarters, students are given the reports to
take to their parents. They are issued approximately
one week after each quarter ends. At the end of
the year, grades are mailed home.
Parents are reminded that their children are part
of an academically gifted and competitive community.
Grades are meant to report relative progress and
to encourage greater achievement. Therefore, some
students will have lower grades than they have experienced
in the past even though they are expending greater
Prep grades on a 100-point scale, with 70 serving
as the minimum passing grade. The table below provides
qualitative descriptions and rough equivalencies
to other grading systems.
96-100 = A+ = 4.0 = TRULY EXCEPTIONAL
90-95 = A = 3.7 = EXCELLENT
87-89 = B+ = 3.5 = VERY GOOD
84-86 = B = 3.0 = GOOD
80-83 = C+ = 2.5 = AVERAGE
77-79 = C = 2.0 = FAIR
73-76 = D+ = 1.5 = POOR
70-72 = D = 1.0 = UNSATISFACTORY
BELOW 70 = F = 0.0 = FAILING
3. MID-QUARTER REPORTS
Mid-quarter reports are issued in the middle of
each of the four quarters (marking periods). Reasons
for poor and/or unsatisfactory academic performance
are explained in such a way that more effective
cooperation between parents and teachers will be
realized. Also, demonstrated student improvement
may be noted on the report. Interest of parents
in their child’s progress can be demonstrated
through words of praise for satisfactory work and
concern for finding the causes for unsatisfactory
4. EXAMINATIONS / FINAL GRADES / EXEMPTION
All students are required to take examinations in
each subject at the conclusion of the first semester
in January. At the conclusion of the second semester,
a student may be exempt from taking the examination.
The following policy is used to determine exemptions.Scranton Prep is sensitive to the fact that emergencies and other circumstances arise that may prohibit attendance (illness, funerals, vacations, college visits, medical appointments, non-school athletic events, or any other non-school related absence) Therefore, a student will not be ineligible for exemption until their absences exceed ten days.
A student must not be absent for more than TEN DAYS
IN THE SCHOOL YEAR.
In order for a freshman, sophomore or junior student
to be eligible for an exemption, he or she must
have a 90% average or above for the year in a given
subject area and a 90% average or above in the fourth
In order for a senior to be eligible for an exemption,
he or she must have an 87% average or above for
the year in a given subject area and an 87% or above
in the fourth quarter. The individual teacher and
the Principal may decide whether an eligible student
is to be granted exemption privilege.
The final grade for each course is assigned by the
teacher upon consideration of the grades previously
gained for each quarter and examinations.
In order for a student to be eligible to take a
mid-term or final exam, all tuition and account
balances must be current. In addition, for final
exams, all textbooks, library books, and sports
equipment must be returned, and senior transcript
fees must be paid. Failure to do any of the above
will keep a student from taking the exam.
The final grade in all subjects must be 70 or above
to allow promotion to the next year. Students who
fail more than two subjects for the academic year
will be asked to withdraw. Students whose final
grade is below 70 in one (or two) subject(s) must
attend summer school and receive a passing grade
in the subject(s) before being promoted to the next
year. Students must be present every day
to pass summer school. Students who fail two subjects for
the academic year more than one time during their
time at Prep will be asked to withdraw. Seniors
who fail more than two subjects for the year, or
who fail a subject in summer school, must repeat
their senior year in another secondary school.
6. ACADEMIC DISQUALIFICATION
Students receiving two or more mid-quarter reports
must attend tutoring sessions to continue participation
in extra-curricular activities. Students failing
two or more subjects at the end of a quarter are
disqualified from participation in extra-curricular
activities for two weeks. The decision to re-qualify
for an activity is that of the Principal.
7. REPORT OF GRADES TO COLLEGES
Transcripts submitted by Scranton Prep to colleges
contain only the final grades for courses. After
first semester of senior year, an interim report
is submitted to the colleges with grades for the
first two quarters and the midyear exams. Report
of grades to colleges anytime during an academic
year requires that tuition payment be up to date.
Official transcripts do not include any ranking
of students. Scranton Prep does not believe that
minute fractional differences in averages properly
distinguish student performance. Because rank cannot
accurately reflect the selective nature of Prep’s
student body, the rigorous college preparatory curriculum
and individual achievement, it could be a misleading
indicator of a student’s true academic ability.
Diplomas are granted to those students who have
successfully passed all subjects for all four years.