INTRODUCTION
The Whitefish Bay High School Academic Handbook describes the policies and guidelines which aid students, parents, and counselors in creating individual educational plans to fulfill graduation requirements and prepare students for life after Whitefish Bay High School. At this site, course descriptions corresponding to the curricular offerings for the 2013-14 school year are also included.

PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

It is the policy of the School District of Whitefish Bay that no person shall, on the basis of sex, race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, medical condition or disease, or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program, including Career and Technical Education courses, activity, or employment.  This policy also prohibits discrimination as defined by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1972, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The district encourages informal resolution of complaints under this policy.  Absent such resolution, any complaint regarding the interpretation or application of the district's nondiscrimination policy shall be processed in accordance with the following grievance procedures:

1.     Any student, parent/guardian, resident, or employee of the School District complaining of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or physical, mental, emotional, of learning disability or handicap in school programs or activities shall report the complaint, in writing, to the Director of Human Resources & Special Services.  The contact information for the Director of Human Resources & Special Services is Mark S. Kapocius, Director of Human Resources & Special Services, School District of Whitefish Bay, 1200 E. Fairmount Ave, Whitefish Bay, WI 53217, (414) 963-3871, mark.kapocius@wfbschools.com.

a.     Discrimination complaints relating to the identification, evaluation, educational placement or the provision of a free appropriate public education of a child with exceptional educational needs shall be processed in accordance with established special education appeal procedures. (Chapter 115, Subchapter V, Wis. Stats.)

b.     Discrimination complaints relating to programs specifically governed by federal law or regulation shall be referred directly to the State Superintendent.

2.     The Director of Human Resources & Special Services will provide a written acknowledgment within twenty (20) days of the receipt of the written complaint.  The Director of Human Resources & Special Services will investigate with the building principal, or other appropriate persons, the facts comprising the alleged discrimination and prepare a written report of the facts.  Within fifty (50) days after receiving the complaint, the Director of Human Resources & Special Services shall decide the merits of the case, determine the action to be taken, if any, and report in writing the findings and the resolution of the case to the grievant.

3.     If the grievant is dissatisfied with the decision of the Director of Human Resources & Special Services, he/she may, within five (5) business days of such decision, appeal the decision in writing to the School Board.  The School Board shall hear the appeal at its next regular business meeting, or a special meeting may be called for the purpose of hearing the appeal.  The school board shall make its decision in writing within ninety (90) days after the School District's receipt of the complaint, unless the parties agree to an extension of time.  Copies of the written decision shall be mailed or delivered to the grievant and the Director of Human Resources & Special Services.

4.     If the grievant is dissatisfied with the School Board's decision, he/she may within thirty (30) days appeal the decision in writing to the State Superintendent.

5.     Complainants are reminded that appeals may also be made to the Regional Director of the Office of Civil Rights for federal discrimination law violations. 

Any questions concerning this policy should be directed to the Director of Human Resources & Special Services, School District of Whitefish Bay, 1200 E. Fairmount Ave., Whitefish Bay, WI 53217.

EDUCATIONAL PLANNING
Educational program planning is a joint task shared by students, parents, and school personnel. The high school counselors work closely with students and parents to plan each year's schedule of courses as well as a multi-year organization of prospective courses. Planning takes place through student/parent/counselor and student/counselor conferences. Parents should feel free to contact their student's counselor regarding questions relative to course content, scheduling, and graduation requirements. Counselors may be reached via e-mail or by calling 963-3990.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

CRITERION 1: Base Requirements

A. Credit Requirement

All students wishing to obtain a diploma from Whitefish Bay High School are required to earn forty semester credits. Credits must be completed as follows:

B. Enrollment Requirement

Students wishing to obtain a diploma from Whitefish Bay High School also must have been enrolled in a class or participated in an activity approved by the school board during each class period of each day during high school.

CRITERION 2: Academic Performance

Students may demonstrate acceptable academic performance by obtaining a cumulative grade point average of C- (1.667) or higher at the conclusion of their high school career. Students who meet Criterion 1 and Criterion 2 will earn a diploma. Students who meet Criterion 1, but not Criterion 2, must meet Criterion 3 to earn a diploma.

CRITERION 3: Teacher Recommendation Criterion

Collaboration and communication among the school, student and parent/guardian of a student in danger of not graduating are important elements of Criterion 3. Students who have not met Criterion 2 may be eligible to graduate by meeting basic criteria for academic performance, attendance, citizenship, and effort as defined by the Teacher Recommendation Team (TRT).

Following a student's junior year, a student whose records indicate that he or she may be in jeopardy of not graduating shall be sent written notification to that effect.

A Teacher Recommendation Team shall convene not later than two weeks after first semester grades have been posted for seniors in danger of not graduating for failure to meet Criterion 2. The team shall consist of a high school administrator, the student's counselor, and one of the student's current teachers. The student and his/her parent/guardian shall be invited to attend the TRT meeting.  At this time, a contract will be drafted that outlines basic expectations for academic performance, attendance, citizenship and effort. The contract will be signed by the student, parent/guardian, and members of the TRT. Prior to graduation, the team will convene once again to determine if the terms of the student's contract have been sufficiently met. If so, Criterion 3 has been met.

Note: (1) Students enrolled in a Board approved alternative education program shall demonstrate completion of Criterion 3 by meeting the graduation related requirements set forth by that program. (2) Students who have an Individualized Education Plan who need to meet Criterion 3 shall do so by meeting the graduation related goals set forth therein, and may have curriculum modified to accommodate disabilities.

Students who meet Criterion 1 and 3 will earn a diploma. Students who meet Criterion 1, but not Criterion 3, may appeal to the Director of Human Resources and Special Services for a final determination of graduation.

Alternative plans for meeting graduation requirements may be established for non-graduating seniors.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

*Students identified to be in need of significant reading and writing support may satisfy English course requirements by taking English 9 in grade 9, English 1 and English 2 in grade 10, English 3 and English 4 in grade 11, and Advanced Composition and a literature course in grade 12.

EARLY GRADUATION PROCEDURES
Students who have met the graduation requirements may wish to graduate from high school before the end of the traditional eight semesters of attendance. After discussing alternative plans with his or her counselor, a student planning to graduate early must submit a written request for early graduation, including parent signature, to the high school principal prior to the start of the semester the student wishes to graduate. Given principal approval, the student and counselor may then plan accordingly. NOTE: Students who graduate early are not eligible to participate in extra-curricular activities beyond their early graduation date.

Students who plan to graduate at the end of six semesters: To be considered a senior, a student must be in the fourth year of attendance; therefore, early graduates will not be considered for scholarships designated for senior class members. They will be eligible for junior awards and honors, including election to the National Honor Society. They also qualify for senior final examination exemptions, and are urged to take part in commencement exercises.

Students who plan to graduate at the end of seven semesters: Since senior honors are based on seven semesters of high school performance, these students are eligible for senior honors and awards, including election to the National Honor Society. Those students who wish to attend college during the second semester should be aware that college calendars do not always correspond to the high school's calendar. Special arrangements may have to be made to complete the semester's work before the end of the high school semester. Seventh semester graduates are urged to take part in commencement exercises.

COLLEGE ENTRANCE TESTS
College entrance tests are given by two testing agencies. The College Board administers the PSAT/NMSQT (Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test), SAT I, SAT II, and Advanced Placement Exams. The American College Testing Program administers the EXPLORE, PLAN and the ACT. Detailed information concerning these tests is provided to students as part of the college counseling program.

COLLEGE ADMISSION CONSIDERATIONS
Given that well over ninety per cent of Whitefish Bay High School graduates plan to go on to college, it is very important that students and parents consider early on the general requirements for college admission. One cannot state that a particular pattern of preparation will invariably meet admission requirements at any one college, but it can be assumed that a four-year, comprehensive program in the core academic subject areas (four years of English, and three to four years of Math, Science and Social Studies) will meet most college admission requirements. Students should check with their counselors for admission requirements of specific colleges and universities.

To keep career options open, and because colleges value a breadth of educational experience, students are encouraged to take advantage of elective course offerings in the areas of Art, Business, Computer Science, Engineering/Design, Music, Theater and World Language. In addition, students are encouraged to become involved in some aspect of the school's extra-curricular program. Many colleges view depth of commitment to these experiences as an important factor in arriving at a decision on college admission.

Other factors considered in the admission process are grades earned, the degree of rigor associated with high school courses taken, performance on college entrance tests, grade point average, community service, and special talents in areas such as art, music, drama or athletics.  In many instances, colleges give additional consideration to letters of recommendation, high school reputation, and family legacies.

FINANCIAL AID
Financial aid for higher education, based on financial need, is available to students who qualify.  Usually this aid comes to qualified students through government loans and grants and college financial aid funds.  Information and application materials for financial aid are available through the counseling office.

SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship opportunities for higher education are available through various sources for qualified students. Scholarships are usually based on exceptional academic achievement or exceptional achievement in specialty areas such as art, athletics, music, and drama. Information about scholarship opportunities is provided to students via the daily announcements or directly to students by counselors.

COUNSELING SERVICES
Counseling at Whitefish Bay High School is a comprehensive, developmental program that includes orientation, academic advising, testing, career/interest exploration, assessment, program planning, social/emotional counseling, and post-high school planning. The counseling process begins while students are in eighth grade and continues through their senior year, with each year involving a specific counseling emphasis.  Each student is assigned to a counselor who is available for consultation throughout the school year.  Counselors collaborate with parents, teachers, administrators and support personnel on student achievement and emotional well-being. When necessary or helpful, the counselors arrange parent conferences, staffings, referrals, or other services to assist students in need.

Scheduled and unscheduled individual student conferences with the counselors provide opportunities for students to recognize and work through personal and/or educational questions and concerns.  Student group conferences are scheduled throughout the school year to provide assistance with future educational and vocational planning and to provide assistance with decision-making skills.  Group conferences may also be arranged to assist students in dealing with personal issues and behavior affecting school performance.

The Counseling Department administers a broad and comprehensive standardized testing program designed to assist students to better understand their own strengths and weaknesses and to assist the school in working with students.  Test score information for individual students, along with comparison scores for entire classes, is available to parents through the counselors.  The Counseling Department also houses a resource center containing general and specific information about post-high school education opportunities and careers. The resources are easily accessible to the students and may be checked out for home reference both during the school year and summer break.

ADDITIONAL PUPIL SERVICES
The services of a School Psychologist are available to all students. The most common reasons for referral are emotional issues, special learning difficulties and/or related problems. In addition, ATOD Prevention services are available for students who need assistance dealing with issues related to alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Contact the counseling office to arrange for access to these services.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT
The high school offers several opportunities for academic support. These services include the Individualized Student Help Period (ISHP) that runs daily from 11:25-11:51 AM.  During this time, teachers are available to provide extra help to students. Students may also arrange to get extra help from their teachers during mutually agreeable times such as before or after school.

Students may also receive extra help geared specifically for written composition through the Writing Lab, located in Room 334, where an English teacher is available every period of the day to assist students with their papers. In order to access this service, students need to schedule an appointment in advance.

The Library Media Center is also available each period of the day, as well as during ISHP/Lunch and before and after school. With the assistance of our Library Media Center Specialist, students may use this facility to study, access information both in print and electronic format, and use available computer resources.

The Learning Center provides alternative credit earning options, tutoring, study skill instruction and organizational assistance to students at risk of failure.  Access to this service is contingent on both counselor and Learning Center teacher approval.

The Homework Club is open to all students in need of assistance with any school related work Monday through Thursday from 3:05-4:00 PM in the Learning Center (Room 336).

COURSE SCHEDULE CHANGE PROCEDURE
Once established, students' schedules may be changed with staff approval only.  Student, parent, counselor, teacher and administrator input may be taken into consideration in responding to schedule change requests.

COURSE ARTICULATION
Whitefish Bay High School has articulation agreements in mathematics with the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). Students who successfully complete first year Algebra and two higher level math courses (e.g. Geometry and second year Algebra) may receive additional credit upon matriculation to MATC.

WORK EXPERIENCE
Juniors and seniors may participate in a work experience program for high school elective credit. The School to Work Coordinator will assist in the guidelines and establishment of the work experience. Students interested in participating in this program should consult with their counselor.

INDEPENDENT STUDY
Students wishing to pursue study beyond established curricular offerings may apply for permission to engage in Independent Study for elective credit. The process involves completion of the Independent Study Plan form, and requires parent, supervising teacher, counselor, department chair, and principal approval.  Planning for an Independent Study should take place prior to the start of the semester in which the Independent Study will occur.  It is expected that the Independent Study will be completed by the end of the semester. Independent Study courses are graded on a pass/fail basis and have no bearing on a student's grade point average.

YOUTH OPTIONS
The Youth Options program provides an opportunity for students in grades 11 and 12 to enroll in and complete courses through post-secondary institutions (colleges, universities, and technical schools) for high school credit.  Interested students must apply for this program, and participation is subject to School Board approval.  Application for Youth Options enrollment must be made by March 31 for the fall semester and October 31 for the spring semester.  Application forms and further information are available through the counseling office.

OTHER EDUCATION OPTIONS
Students wishing to pursue alternative educational programming outside of Whitefish Bay High School (beyond the aforementioned Youth Options) should consult with their counselor, and then petition for approval from the high school principal.

SUMMER SCHOOL
Summer education programs for high school students are offered locally, at neighboring schools, and through Milwaukee Public Schools.  Courses are available for credit or for enrichment.  Whitefish Bay High School does offer a computerized credit recovery program for a limited number of students.  Driver's Education is also taught at the high school during the summer.  Nationwide, various college-based summer education programs are available to high school students.  Information and registration materials pertaining to summer school options are available through the counseling office.

GRADING
Grades are issued every quarter, but only semester grades appear on a student's transcript.  If a student has not finished his/her required work by the time that grades are due but, in the opinion of the teacher, deserves more time in which to complete the work, a grade of incomplete will be issued.

At the start of each semester, teachers will clearly communicate course grading policies to students. Students and parents should check with teachers if they are unsure of the basis for grading, such as the grade value of quizzes, tests, projects, papers, discussion, or homework.  In order to receive credit for a course, a student must not only earn a passing grade, but must also complete all required work.

Students withdrawing from Whitefish Bay High School before the end of a semester will receive no credit for course work carried during the incomplete semester.  When a student withdraws during the first or third quarter, no marks for the semester courses will be recorded on the student transcript.  When a student withdraws during the second or fourth quarter, a notation of withdraw/passing or withdraw/failing for each course will be made on the student transcript.  Current grades earned, however, will be communicated to the school in which the student is next to be enrolled.

GRADE POINT INFORMATION
Grade points are assigned to grades earned as follows:

Passing grades earned in Advanced Placement (AP) courses receive an additional grade point. For instance, a student receiving a B in an AP course receives four rather than three grade points. This weighted grading is limited to Whitefish Bay High School AP courses, AP courses completed at a prior high school that are offered at Whitefish Bay High School, and AP courses taken at another high school as a result of students not being able to take the corresponding courses at Whitefish Bay High School.

FINAL EXAMINATIONS
Students are required to complete final exams for each of their classes during the last week of each semester.  Teachers will inform students of the time and place exams are to be held.  Examination periods run a minimum of 90 minutes, but teachers may allow students to work beyond this time.  Students confronted with circumstances that conflict with the established exam schedule should consult with the principal to determine alternative arrangements that may be made.

PROGRESS REPORTS
Whitefish Bay High School is committed to keeping students and parents well abreast of students' academic progress. Accordingly, grade book related information, updated at least every three weeks, is available to all students and parents on line via Family Access.