6. Academics
6. Academics
6.1 - Parent and Teacher Communication
Communicating with Parents is crucial in the educational and spiritual development of students. Parents may communicate with teachers via email or by setting up an appointment to meet in person. When issues arise, a parent should always contact the teacher first. Should the issue not be resolved, a conference may be scheduled between the parents, teacher, and Administration. Administration has the ultimate authority to resolve issues, and the decision will be final.
6.2 - Homework Assignments
Homework assignments are an integral part of the academic process and are given for practice, reinforcement of new skills, and study. Homework assignments also include the completion of projects such as book reports or research projects. It is the teacher’s discretion when to assign homework and to determine which assignments are to be graded.
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A.Assignment Communication.Homework assignments will be communicated in both verbal and written form within the classroom as well as through FACTS.
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B.Incomplete Homework in Kindergarten to Third Grade.Students in kindergarten through third grade may be assigned weekly homework. Incomplete written homework assignments will result in consequences based on the classroom management system. When three (3) incidences of incomplete homework occur within a nine-week grading period, the teacher will contact the parent. Additional incidences of incomplete homework within the nine-week grading period will result in a parent-teacher conference. Students will be required to make up incomplete assignments at school.
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C.Incomplete Homework in Fourth Grade and Beyond.Students in fourth through twelfth grade will be assigned weekly homework. Incomplete written homework assignments will result in the following:
- Graded homework assignments will result in a zero (0) for that assignment.
- Non-graded homework assignments will result in the student being required to complete and submit the homework (and any additional assignments that are due) the next school day. A zero (0) grade will be issued for the incomplete homework should the student fail to submit the homework on the second day.
- Failure to submit long-term projects on time will result in a project grade reduction at the discretion of the teacher.
- Note: Students in fourth grade will not receive a zero (0) for an incomplete graded or non-graded homework assignment until the second semester; however the homework is required to be completed.
6.3 - Semester Exams & Projects
Exams will be given at the end of the first and second semester. Students in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) may, in the sole discretion of the school, be exempt from final exams in a subject if they have a 96 average at the time of the final exam for that subject. Students may not be exempt from projects.
6.5 - Grading Scale
MCA uses the following Grading Scale.
A+
97–100
A
93–96
A-
90–92
B+
87–89
B
83–86
B-
80–82
C+
77–79
C
73–76
C-
70–72
D+
67–69
D
63–66
D-
60–62
F
0–59
Additional marks used by MCA include
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A.P (Pending).The assignment is expected to be completed, and grade will be entered upon completion.
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B.M (Missing).The assignment was not completed in the allotted time, and a grade of zero (0) was given.
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C.E (Excused).The assignment was not completed; however, the student is not expected to make up the assignment, nor will a grade be given.
6.6 - Report Cards
Report cards will be available in FACTS through the FamilyPortal at the end of each quarter. The school calendar reflects the dates when report cards are available. Unless otherwise indicated by the course, grades are computed by the following formula:
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A.Nine Week Quarter
- 30% - Tests account for 30% of the Quarter Grade.
- 70% - Daily grades, quizzes, and homework account for 70% of the Quarter Grade.
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B.Semester
- 45% - Each Quarter
- 10% - End of Semester Exams
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C.Yearly
- 50% - Semester One
- 50% - Semester Two
6.7 - Academic Promotion
Students are expected to pass all subjects in order to be promoted. If a student in kindergarten through eighth grade fails only one (1) subject for the year, the student may still be promoted; however, summer school may be required for remediation in that academic area. Students in kindergarten through eighth grade receiving two (2) or more F’s may be required to repeat the grade. Administrative decisions are final.
Students in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) must receive a passing grade for each class to receive credit. High school students who fail any subject required for graduation must repeat that course in summer school in order to receive full credit.
An administrative conference will be held with parents and the student when remediation through summer school is required. Students who do not complete the requirements for remediation may not be promoted to the next grade or received graduation credit.
6.8 - Graduation Credit
6.8.1 - Grades 9–12 College Prep Diploma
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A.Students in grades 9 through 12, pursuing a traditional college preparation diploma will complete any courses necessary to acquire the following credits.
Classes | Credits |
Bible (minimum of 1 credit per year while attending MCA) | 4 |
English | 4 |
Math (must include Algebra II) | 4 |
Financial Literacy | 0.5 |
Social Studies (must include American history, World History, American Government, and Economics) | 3 |
Foreign Language | 2 |
Science (must include physical science, biology, and one (1) advanced science, e.g., chemistry, anatomy, physics) | 3 |
Physical Education | 0.5 |
Health | 0.5 |
Electives (must include Computer) | 4 |
Fine Arts (2 semesters anytime during 7th–12th grade) | (2 Semesters) |
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B.High school students must meet the following requirements for classification purposes:
- 6 credits – Sophomore
- 12 credits – Junior
- 18 credits – Senior
6.8.2 - Credit Calculations
Semester grades for each class are computed by averaging nine-week grades and semester grades.
Point values for calculating grade point average (GPA) are listed below.
Students’ progress toward graduation will be evaluated at the end of each school semester. Students who fail to successfully accumulate credits at the prescribed number per year of high school will be provided opportunities to remediate and participate in credit recovery programs such as at-home study and summer school.
A+
4.0
A
3.9
A-
3.7
B+
3.3
B
3.0
B-
2.7
C+
2.3
C
2.0
C-
1.7
D+
1.3
D
1.0
D-
0.7
Honors courses will be weighted with a GPA scale beginning at 5.0.
A+
5.0
A
4.9
A-
4.7
B+
4.3
B
4.0
B-
3.7
C+
3.3
C
3.0
C-
2.7
D+
2.3
D
2.0
D-
1.7
F
0.0
When study in a college level course provides only single letter final grades, the following weights will be used.
A
5.0
B
4.0
C
3.0
D
2.0
F
0.0
6.9 - Academic Honors
6.9.1 - Internal Academic Honors
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A.Merit Roll.GPA between 2.4 and 3.39
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B.Honor Roll.3.4 GPA or higher
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C.Graduating with Honors.3.5 GPA for all classes counted for high school credit
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D.Salutatorian.Second-highest GPA for all classes counted for high school credit
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E.Valedictorian.Highest GPA for all classes counted for high school credit
6.9.2 - National Honor Society
The mission of the National Honor Society is to promote the values of scholarship, service, leadership, and character. Membership qualifications are as follows:
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A.Membership is open to eleventh and twelfth grade students. Sophomores may begin the process during their second semester, so as to be fully accepted into membership the following school year.
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B.Members must submit the National Honor Society application.
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C.Members must submit a letter of reference from their pastor, youth pastor, or other spiritual leader.
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D.Members must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Members whose GPA drops below a 3.0 will have one semester to earn back a 3.0 GPA.
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E.Members must participate in at least one service-related, school-sponsored field trip each school year.
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F.Members must fulfill the minimum requirements for service hours, which is 2 hours per month or 16 hours per school year. Service hours may be completed in the local church or community. Community service hours must be approved by MCA administration.
6.10 - Electives
Elective courses are offered based upon classroom capacity in 8th through 12th grades. Students will have the opportunity to select a course based on seniority (i.e. seniors get first choice, etc.). Some elective courses may be graded on a pass/fail basis and will be reflected as such on the report card.
6.11 - Post-Secondary Education Options
MCA accepts Post-Secondary Education Options (PSEO), otherwise known as Dual Enrollment classes. Under this provision, a student may earn both high school and college credit for successfully completing the course. The following conditions apply.
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A.Requirements for PSEO Participation.
- Juniors and Seniors who have earned at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA by the end of the prior school year may participate in PSEO courses with administrative approval.
- Parents must meet with Administration prior to enrollment in a PSEO course.
- Any courses for the fall semester must be approved by August 1. Any courses for the spring semester must be approved by December 1.
- Students will need to provide their own laptop or tablet for taking the courses. MCA will provide WiFi access.
- Christian college coursework is preferred and encouraged. For students seeking courses through the state funded College Credit Plus program, there are Christian colleges in Ohio such as Cedarville University and Ohio Christian University that participate in this program. Other options, not part of the College Credit Plus program, that offer PSEO (Dual-Enrollment) courses include Veritas Baptist College, Pensacola Christian College, and Bob Jones University.
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B.PSEO Limitations.
- Only one (1) PSEO class may be taken per semester by juniors and two (2) classes per semester by seniors.
- Students may take a PSEO Bible class as an elective, but all students will remain enrolled in MCA’s Bible classes.
- Students will not be permitted to leave the MCA campus during the school day for PSEO courses. PSEO courses must be taken in an online format.
- PSEO classes may only replace a similar class at MCA if approved by Administration.
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C.PSEO Credit.
- There is no reduction in MCA tuition for students who participate in PSEO courses. Curriculum fees may be reduced if a student is replacing a normally scheduled MCA class with a PSEO course.
- PSEO classes are weighted at a 5.0 GPA grading scale.
- Administration reserves the right to deny credit, weighting, etc. in the best interest of the school.
- All transcripts must be received by the Administration office at the end of the semester for the PSEO course to be added to the high school transcript.
6.12 - Career Tech Program
MCA juniors and seniors have the opportunity to pursue the credentials offered by the Live Oaks Career Campus while completing their college preparatory diploma at MCA. Participation in this program requires students to follow the guidelines established by MCA.
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A.Acceptable Plan.MCA students desiring to attend Oaks should submit a formal request to attend Oaks while maintaining their enrollment status at MCA. A student’s transcripts will be reviewed by MCA Administration to determine if the student can remain on track for graduation. If the student cannot present a clear path toward completing all required MCA graduation criteria while attending Live Oaks, the request for an Oaks accommodation will be denied.
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B.Limitations.Students will be limited to the part-day program at the Live Oaks facility due to the travel time constraints posed by other Tech/Career facilities (Other Oaks and county facilities). The Career Tech Program also excludes some MCA students due to their residence in particular school districts unless Live Oaks grants an out-of-district student approval.
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C.Students may be required to complete one academic course per year outside of regular school hours to fulfill their graduation requirements. This course may be at the secondary or post-secondary level. The additional selected course would depend upon both the individual students’ needs and the master course schedule for the school year.
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D.Students will attend all MCA classes as scheduled for their grade level while they are on campus.
6.14 - Field Trips
Field trips are designed to reinforce classroom instruction. Parents will be notified before each field trip and must sign a permission slip allowing their child to participate. Parents are responsible to pay fees related to field trips. If parents choose for their child not to attend field trips, the student is still required to attend school. Failure to attend school may result in an unexcused absence. Parents may be encouraged to participate in field trips so as to provide adequate supervision. Parents who supervise field trips must have a current background check. The school is able to provide a background check for a minimal fee. Parents should dress in modest, appropriate attire.