Graduation Requirements for Seniors

We have a plan to help our seniors earn their high school diploma. We are sorry they will miss out on so many senior traditions, and we are committed to making sure these students graduate this school year and are prepared to move on to the next promising chapter in their lives.

Seniors Who Were Passing as of April 8

• Instruction will continue to be delivered and meaningful feedback provided instead of assignment grades.
• Students will work with their teachers and counselors on a graduation plan.
• Students need to complete an online Next Steps Plan.
• Semester grades will be entered as P as students complete the class. 

Seniors Who Were Not Passing as of April 8

• Students who were not passing have three options to earn credit:
  1. Students will need to complete a summative assignment from course teacher or 
  2. Students need to pass an EOC for the course with a modified passing score or 
  3. Students enroll in eCADEMY course (based on limited availability; students should attempt the first two options first).
• Grades are posted as P (pass) or N (no credit).
• Students who don't complete one of these three steps will be enrolled in summer school or the 2020-2021 school year to make up missing credits. 
• Students need to complete an online Next Steps Plan.

Why Pass or No Pass?

The decision to move to a “pass” or “no pass” grade for high school students was made with considerable thought and deliberation by district leadership. Cumulative grades will not be impacted positively or negatively by the grading policy.

Students will continue to benefit this semester from weighted credits for AP and honors classes. Class rankings will continue to be calculated in compliance with district procedural directive: "For the purposes of calculating GPA and class rank for seniors, calculation will be made at the end of the seventh semester. The top ten (10) students will be determined at the end of the final semester.”

Many universities across the country have moved to this grading model in response to closures. 

High School Graduation Ceremonies Postponed

We put it off as long as we could, but when Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham extended the public health order for social distancing through at least April 30, APS had no choice but to cancel high school graduation ceremonies scheduled for mid-May. The district hopes to reschedule the ceremonies if the coronavirus spread subsides and the health order is lifted in the next couple of months.

APS is planning a virtual senior celebration during the previously scheduled graduation week. Details to come. 

FAFSA, College & Career Planning 

• High school college and career counselors will help students and families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
• Counselors will provide student and family support regarding college and career planning.
• Counselors will assist students and families with scholarship applications and deadlines, college applications and deadlines, college financial aid letters, letters of reference or any other needs they may have.