To see a full description of the Michigan Merit Curriculum Graduation Requirements, please click here.
GPA/SAT Tiers for Michigan Colleges
So what do all of these words mean, anyway?
504- A 504 plan is a plan that ensures that a child with a disability receives accommodations that will help ensure academic success. Typically, a student who does not need specialized instruction but does need help with equal access has a 504 instead of an IEP.
Credit/Credit Hour- a "credit" is the unit earned for passing a class (D- or better). Passage of each semester earns .5 credits, for a total of 1 credit per class/per year. The credit requirements for graduation are pictured above.
IEP- An Individualized Education Program is a legal document that outlines a child's learning needs, the services the school will provide to meet those needs, and how progress on goals will be measured. IEPs guarantee that students with a disability receive specialized instruction and related services.
ILP- An Individualized Learning Plan is a plan developed for a student who is determined to have different needs than the traditional student and therefore requires a different educational course of action. ILPs, which tend to be rare, are built with student, family, counselor, and educational expert input. To see an in-depth look at ILPs for College and Career Readiness, click here.
Lexile- A Lexile measure is the numeric representation of a child's reading ability or the readability level of a text. For information regarding Lexile to grade conversions, see the chart below.
What are some of my academic options?
AP Classes - The Advanced Placement Program, created by the College Board, offers college-level courses and tests to students in high school. Passing the AP test offered for an AP course often grants course credit at participating colleges.
Dual Enrollment-Dual enrollment is a program that allows high school students to take college class AND earn college credit prior to high school graduation.
KCTC- Kent Career Tech Center is a program available to high school juniors and seniors that provides hands-on, project-based career exploration classes, internships, apprenticeships, job training, and certifications.
Upward Bound- Upward Bound :provides fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their high school performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. UB serves high school students from low-income families and who are first generation college students." (GVSU).
WMCAT- The West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology offers students the opportunity to explore academic and career interests in the art and technology fields. Such opportunities include: photography, screen printing, animation, ceramics, fashion, and audio/visual technologies.
QUICK TIPS/TRICKS:
Talk to your counselor about supplemental academic programs, especially those listed above
Don't wait until your junior or senior year to take the non-core required classes (language, visual/performing arts, physical education, and health). Start them early.
Advanced Placement classes are weighted more heavily in your GPA. Choose accordingly.
There is a big difference between a 59% and an 60%, a 69% and a 70%, and so on in your GPA. Try to earn that extra half letter grade.