Academic Policies
Graduation Requirements
Students must successfully complete 26 Upper School (post grade 8) credit hours in order to qualify for a McLean School diploma.
- English: Three Years.
- Senior Humanities: One Year
- Foreign Language: Two years of one language. A third year is strongly recommended.
- History: Three years, one of which must be United States History. Four years are strongly recommended.
- Literature: Three years.
- Mathematics: Four years including Algebra 2/Trigonometry.
- Physical Education: Two years.
- Science: Three years. Four years are strongly recommended.
- Arts: One credit of art, music, drama, and/or computers More are strongly recommended
Credit Definition
A unit of credit is awarded for a course that meets one class period per day for the entire academic year. A partial credit is awarded in the same ratio. Students must successfully complete a course in order to receive credit; no credit is given for a course in which a student receives an F. Any Upper School courses taken prior to grade 9 will be listed on the individual student’s transcript; grades will not be listed nor will students receive Upper School credit for these courses.
Course Load
Students in Upper School are required to carry a course load of six year-long academic classes (English, literature, foreign language, history, mathematics, and science). They must take physical education (or an independent physical education contract) for 2 years, and select courses in art, music, computer, and other electives to complete graduation requirements. Additional study halls are offered in the rare circumstance in which a student, with departmental and Division Head permission, becomes exempt from a certain course requirement, such as a foreign language.
Physical Education/Sports
Students will be required to receive credit for two years (six athletic team seasons) of physical education. Credit can be received in one of three ways; interscholastic team participation, physical education class, or independent physical education contract. Most students elect to complete their requirements during grades nine and ten. Some complete their requirements with participation on a team or class in their junior or senior year.
To receive credit through participation on a school team (1/3 credit per season) a student must be willing to commit fully to the team adhering to all athletic department and team rules designated by the coach. During the first seven practices, each student will be given an opportunity to experience the demands of practice as well as understand the team demands and rules, after which each team member is expected to finish the season on the team. If a student decides to quit after that time, there will be no credit given for that season. That student will not be permitted to participate in a physical education class or contract for that season in order to make up the lost credit.
Physical education classes will meet at the end of the school day. In each season, a weight training/conditioning class will be offered in the school’s weight room. To receive credit for P.E. classes, a student must participate in a minimum of 75% of the classes.
The final option, that of contracting to receive credit for an out-of-school activity, requires adherence to the following regulations:
- The student must be under the direction of an instructor/coach.
- The student must be involved in a supervised activity a minimum of three hours per week.
- The Independent Physical Education contract application must be obtained from the Athletic Director, completed and signed by the student and parent/guardian.
- The supervisor/instructor must complete and sign the related coach’s questionnaire prior to the start of the season.
- The student must have shown a previous interest in the activity.
- Changes in the activity or supervisor are not permitted without prior permission from the Athletic Director.
- The activity must not be available through the school.
Plan Book
Each Upper School student is given a McLean Upper School Planner/Handbook at the beginning of the school year. Students are expected to keep assignments up-to-date and in order in this or another plan book. Classroom teachers and advisors may check these books periodically in order to assist any student who is experiencing difficulty keeping up with his/her assignments.
Homework
Homework is assigned for students to practice skills, to reinforce concepts introduced in class, to provide meaningful, related, independent study, and to develop responsibility for one’s own work. Each student is expected to do at least 1/2 hour per subject of homework daily to ensure academic success. The homework load in Honors and AP courses may be more.
Students are encouraged to study at the kitchen or dining room table where distractions like telephone, e-mail, instant messages, and television are minimized. Students should not have more than two tests, papers or projects or any combination thereof due per day. They should alert a teacher when a potential conflict arises.
Tutorials
Tutorial sessions are provided by all members of the Upper School faculty. Tutorials are formally scheduled during the 12:12-12:42 p.m. period on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Students whose grade in any given course falls below a “C” are expected to sign up for weekly tutorials in the appropriate course(s). Students may request a tutorial with a teacher at any time. Likewise, teachers may schedule students for tutorial sessions as needed. Students in academic difficulty, C- or below in a course, will be assigned to mandatory tutorials.
Faculty Advisor
Each student has a faculty advisor. The advisor’s role includes providing academic advice and support, keeping track of attendance, sharing curricular and extra-curricular information on a regular basis, and lending a helpful and sympathetic ear on occasion. Advisors communicate with advisees’ parents and collaborate with counselors, faculty, and staff to help students find success and satisfaction during their Upper School careers.
Conferences
Conference times may be scheduled through the Upper School office or academic advisor at any time during the year. Such conferences are for students, parents, teachers and advisors to meet and discuss student progress and concerns. Conferences may be arranged whenever anyone sees the need. However, a fall conference is strongly encouraged after the first interim and/or after the first quarter ends, especially for students in academic difficulty.
Progress Reports
Progress Reports or report cards communicate a student’s progress to parents and to the student. These reports with comments (except 3rd quarter) are sent home four times a year, at the end of each quarter. Students take semester examinations twice a year. These assessments count approximately 20% of the semester grade and are reflected on the Progress Reports. Honor Roll recognizing all A’s and/or B’s is noted on individual reports.
Grades
Numerical grades convert using the following scale:
| A : 93-100 | B+: 87-89 | C+: 77-79 | D+: 67-69 | F: 59 or below |
| A-: 90-92 | B : 83-86 | C : 73-76 | D : 63-66 | |
| B- : 80-82 | C- : 70-72 | D- : 60-62 |
Students earning a C- or better in a continuing course, i.e., English, literature, mathematics, foreign language, will be permitted to advance to the next level. Students earning a D in such a course will be recommended to do remedial work in order to move on. Students failing any course will have to repeat the course in order to receive credit for having taken it. Students earning an F, or three or more D’s, will be placed on Academic Probation and their future status at McLean may be at risk.
Students wishing to obtain additional credits outside of the regular academic schedule must obtain permission from the Head of Upper School and the appropriate department chair prior to doing so and must present written documentation on letterhead of successful completion of said credit(s).
Adopted by the Upper School Faculty 5/06:
A: Distinguished
Student consistently demonstrates factual and conceptual understanding of course material and constantly shows the ability to extend and apply central ideas.
B: Good (Above Average)
Student demonstrates factual and conceptual understanding of course material; makes a consistent effort in class; can sometimes but not always extend and apply central ideas.
C: Satisfactory (Average)
Student demonstrates understanding of course material and meets basic course requirements.
Note: Grades of A, B, and C assume consistent completion of homework assignments and regular attendance and participation in class.
D: Probationary (Not Satisfactory)
Student shows serious difficulty in understanding and using course material. Student may not be taking advantage of opportunities to improve understanding. For sequential courses, a student with a D cannot proceed to next level without summer work.
F: Failing
Student has not learned concepts or skills and shows no, or limited, understanding of course material. Student may not be completing homework assignments or taking steps to improve understanding. A student with an F must repeat the course.
School Transcript
When the school receives a transcript request, a transcript is prepared, signed and dated by a school administrator. Official (signed, dated, and sealed) transcripts are issued only to other schools. A transcript requested by a student or the student’s parent will be marked as unofficial.
Standardized Testing
Students take standardized tests throughout Upper School. EXPLORE and PLAN tests from the ACT are taken by students in grades 9 and 10 respectively. College placement tests (PSATs, SATs, ACTs, etc.) are taken by students in grades 10-12 as appropriate. The results of these nationally standardized tests are recorded on the student’s permanent record but are not part of the official transcript. They provide a profile of a student’s cognitive growth, academic achievement, and college entrance potential. Copies of the testing results are sent to parents as they are available. Students and parents are encouraged to make an appointment to discuss the testing results as needed. Students wishing accommodations on Standardized Testing must have qualifying documentation recorded and recently updated on their Academic Achievement Plan.
Academic Achievement Plan (AAP)
Implemented in May, 2004, the Academic Achievement Plan is an instrument that is used when an Upper School student requests/needs accommodations in the classroom and/or on standardized tests. Information gleaned from a student’s current (within 3 years) psycho-educational evaluation, teacher observations, and parental input is used to develop the AAP, which lists the student’s strengths, weaknesses, recommended student goals, and recommended accommodations. These accommodations may include (but are not limited to) offering extended time, a reader, a scribe, a word-processor, a note-taker, and/or the like for in-class assessments, semester exams, or standardized testing. While the AAPs were originally developed to meet requirements for accommodations for college entrance examinations, they also serve as a resource to aid students in advocating for accommodations at McLean.
College Counseling
The college counselor provides assistance in securing information and making decisions about application to college. Both individual and group meetings are scheduled with the college counselor throughout the year. Information on academic and extra-curricular program planning, meeting college entrance requirements, and interpreting test results are among the academic topics to be explored with the college counselor.
Colleges differ in their requests for information regarding a student’s disciplinary record. The college counselor will answer all such questions that appear on school report forms in college applications. Additionally, student actions and disciplinary consequences that involve a violation of McLean’s Mission, Core Values, or Academic Integrity will be reported to colleges. Also, in such cases students will be asked to write an explanatory statement for colleges. The college counselor will help guide the student in writing this statement if the student so chooses.
Letter of recommendation are confidential. Without confidentiality, colleges regard the content with a degree of skepticism. The college counselor’s job is to write a supportive letter on behalf of each McLean senior applying to college. The letter is confidential, as are those written by teachers or others in the McLean community. However, no one will write a letter to a college without a student’s express request.
Library
McLean encourages students to make use of the Library as much as possible. Students are invited to check out books at appropriate times during the school week. All books are due on the date stamped on the card in the back of each book. The cost of any lost books will be charged to the student.
Summer Reading
The purpose of the summer reading program is to instill a lifelong interest in reading. All students participate in the summer reading program and will be provided with a list of required and recommended books.
Textbooks
All students are issued books at the start of the school year. Book charges vary by grade. Parents are billed for the books by the Business Office. Replacement of a lost book is charged to the student as an additional expense.