Upper School Academics

The academic year is divided into two semesters. Instructors evaluate progress in each course four times a year, at the midpoint and the conclusion of each semester. At the end of the first semester, teachers write student narratives which outline student progress and provide information on specific areas for student improvement. These narratives are sent home to parents along with the semester report cards. In the Upper School, examinations are given in June for full-year courses and in January for semester courses. Individual teacher comments are sent to parents quarterly. Only year-end grades appear on student transcripts for full-year courses; semester grades appear on student transcripts for semester courses.

Grades in honors courses will be weighted by .5; grades in AP courses will be weighted by 1. Students wishing to enroll in honors or AP classes must have the approval of their current instructor in that discipline and/or fulfill departmental prerequisites. Please see Milken Advanced Placement Policy for information on this program, department by department.

Students seeking eligibility for admission to the University of California must complete courses in the University of California required subjects as follows:

English – Four years
Mathematics – Three years required and four years recommended
Science – Two years required and three years recommended
Social Sciences – Two years required
Foreign language– Two years required and three years recommended
Students will be required to take a sequential year of visual or performing arts in a specific area. This year of arts study can be broken up over the four years at Milken as long as they are sequential.Grade 9 courses are not calculated in the University of California GPA for eligibility. Also, the U.C. does not weigh course grades for honors courses in Grade 10; however, Grade 11 courses taken in Grade 10 are weighted in the U.C. GPA for eligibility.

Effort

As a rigorous college preparatory school, Milken Community High School expects students to make good use of study time during both the day and the evening. The school's goal is to develop independent learners who take responsibility for their academic work and their own success. Effort grades reflect the student's active interest and intellectual curiosity, class participation, willingness to help others, to seek help, and to learn from mistakes, as well as punctual completion of assignments.

O – Outstanding

S – Satisfactory

N – Needs Improvement

U - Unsatisfactory