Promotion & Placement

In keeping with District 401's focus on the promotion of students rather than retention, parents will be informed about promotion criteria at the start of each school year.

Our goal is to establish and maintain clear communication with parents, students and staff. If interventions are necessary, parents will be an integral part of any action plan.

Examining Student Performance

As part of this policy, student performance will be examined in numerous ways depending upon the student's grade level, including report card grades and state testing.

Multiple sources of information will be included in each grade level's promotion criteria procedures. Consideration will be given to developmental needs in the early years and to special needs children such as English Learners and special education.

Other considerations may be reviewed before retention is recommended to the principal. Other data may be reviewed and considered for transfer students.

Consistency must be inherent in following designated promotion criteria procedures, but latitude should be given when making final promotion decisions. 

In order to maintain a standard of excellence, minimal expectations of our students must be required while we strive for maximum achievement.

The staff at Elm Middle School has established academic standards that our students must meet in order to pass from one grade to another, culminating in graduation at the end of 8th grade. 

Per Board of Education approval, our standards are as follows:

• Student has successfully completed core coursework (English language arts, math, science, social studies).
• Student has successfully completed his or her Pathway Roadmap.
• Student has successfully completed the mandated requirements from the State of Illinois.
• Student has successfully completed the "I Believe" speech.

In the Event of Failing Grades

In keeping with District 401's focus on the promotion of students rather than retention, our goal is to establish clear communication with parents and students about academic progress. If interventions are necessary, parents will be an integral part of any action plan.

Promotion of Elm students from one grade to another is dependent on earning passing grades each trimester.

If an Elm student earns one or more trimester F grades, the policy described below applies.

One Trimester F Grade

When a student receives an F trimester grade in math or language arts:

• The parents will be notified by letter at the end of the trimester.
• It is also highly recommended that the child attend middle school summer school to make up for that trimester F grade.

Two Trimester F Grades

When a student receives another F trimester grade in math or language arts:

• The student will be required to attend middle school summer school.
• If the student does not successfully complete summer school, he or she will be retained.
• The student will not participate in Elm's graduation ceremony.

Three Trimester F Grades

When trimester F grades are earned in areas in addition to math or language arts:

• The student will be required to attend middle school summer school with promotion offered if successfully completed.
• If the child does not attend or does not successfully complete the program, the child will be retained.
• The parents will be notified by letter at the end of the trimester.
• The student will not participate in Elm’s graduation ceremony.

Payment of Summer School Fees

In all cases of summer school due to F grades, the parents will pay the fee for school, and no fee waivers will be accepted.

Advancement in grade at Elmwood Park High School is based on academic credits earned. Promotion does not automatically occur simply because of attendance, age or any other reason unrelated to academic performance.

Similarly, students are placed into specific levels of academic coursework (such as AP, honors or general studies) because of a variety of performance factors. A student's level of placement is not automatic from year to year and is determined by multiple academic criteria.

Promotion Requirements

All students must meet the following requirements to be promoted to the next grade level:

• FRESHMAN
  • All students with fewer than 7.0 credits are classified as EPHS freshmen.
• SOPHOMORE
  • All students who have earned at least 7.0 credits but fewer than 13.0 credits are promoted to sophomore status. As part of these credits, students must have at least 1.0 credit in each of the following: English, math and science and at least 1.0 in social studies.
• JUNIOR
  • All students who complete their sophomore-year requirements and have earned 13.0 or more credits are promoted to junior status. As part of these 13.0 credits, students must have at least 2.0 credits in each of the following: English, math, science and social studies.
• SENIOR
  • Students who complete their junior-year credit requirements and the state-testing requirement are promoted to senior status.

Please note that reclassification of students takes place at the end of the first-semester marking period (January) and after the completion of the summer school session (August).

Placement Procedures

Current 8th-grade students are placed into academic coursework for their freshman year through a process that involves articulation between EPHS and Elm Middle School.

Course placements are made using the following criteria:

• Standardized test scores
• Grades from previous semester
• Attendance
• Work completion
• Performance on curriculum-based measures/assessments

Current EPHS students are assigned to course levels for their sophomore, junior or senior years on the basis of test scores, performance/achievement and teacher recommendations.

A student's level of placement will be reviewed each year based upon the following criteria:

• Grades from previous semester
• Attendance
• Work completion
• Performance on curriculum-based measures/assessments
• Recommendations from teachers

Required Course Load

Underclassmen are required to enroll in seven courses each semester they attend EPHS.

Senior students have the option, depending on their current graduation progress, to be enrolled in fewer than seven courses.

Sophomore, junior and senior students may enroll in more than seven courses — taking an optional zero-hour and/or eighth-hour course(s).

In the Event of Failing Grades

Any student who fails a core class is strongly encouraged to attend summer school to earn credit and remain on track for graduation.

EPHS Summer Academy is a teacher-supported online learning environment that allows students to work at their own pace to recover credit. More information can be found online or by contacting our counselors.

In the Event of Incomplete Grades

If a student is unable to complete coursework due to special circumstances, a teacher or administrator may choose to issue a grade of "I" — an incomplete for a class.

When an incomplete is needed, the teacher will prepare the appropriate Incomplete Grade Agreement, which will be signed by the student and teacher and communicated to the parent.

This contract will include a specific plan to finish the course work and a timeline upon which this will be completed. The parent will be notified of the arrangement and provided a copy.

A copy of the signed contract will be kept by the student, teacher and counselor. It is the responsibility of the student to complete the expected work according to the agreed upon timeline. If the contract is not completed, the grade of "I" may be converted to a grade of "F."

In the absence of special circumstances, no grade of incomplete will be allowed to remain past the end of the following grading period.

Transfer Credit

Prior approval must be obtained for all courses taken outside of District 401 to assure they meet our academic standards and curricular expectations.