Academic Course Levels at Jackson Christian

At Jackson Christian, all courses are taught at a college preparatory level or higher, ensuring students are challenged, supported, and well-equipped for success in post-secondary education.

Honors Courses

Honors courses are designed for students seeking an elevated academic challenge. These courses significantly exceed standard college prep expectations and include:

• Advanced content in the subject area

• Greater depth and frequency of assignments

• A focus on higher-order thinking skills

Enrollment Requirements:

• Recommendation from the current content-area teacher

• A minimum of a B average in prerequisite coursework

• Strong attendance record

• Demonstrated academic responsibility and ability to meet deadlines

Dual Enrollment (DE) Courses

Dual Enrollment courses allow qualified students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously. These courses:

• Follow a curriculum prescribed by the partnering university

• Are taught at a college level

• Result in an official college transcript with all earned grades

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

AP courses are rigorous, college-level classes that follow the curriculum prescribed by the College Board. These courses prepare students for the AP National Examination, administered each May.

• College credit may be granted depending on the score and individual college/university policies

• Students must meet prerequisites and receive a teacher recommendation to enroll

• All AP students are encouraged to take the AP exam, which requires a registration fee (set annually by the College Board)

Jackson Christian uses official AP curriculum and textbooks approved by the College Board to ensure students are fully prepared.

The following legend will be used for all academic and conduct evaluations:

• I  = Incomplete (results in a zero in the grade book)
• M = Missing (results in a zero in the grade book)
• S = Satisfactory
• U = Unsatisfactory
• E = Excellent
• P = Pass
• F = Fail
• N= Needs Improvement
• NG= No Grade

While completing assignments is still an essential part of learning, it's crucial for students to consistently put in effort not only in class but also at home. Daily study and regular practice are necessary to master the material, and this understanding is demonstrated most clearly through their performance on assessments. 

To provide you with more insight into your child’s progress, report cards for core classes show how students are progressing based on the current units being covered. This will allow you and your child to see how they are mastering the specific content being taught in each course throughout the year.

In each unit, you will see three types of assignments:

• Practice (homework, class work, etc.) – These assignments are meant to give students the opportunity to practice the skills they’re learning.
• Formative assessments (quizzes) – These are smaller assessments designed to frequently gauge student understanding as they progress through each unit.
• Summative assessments (tests) – These evaluate overall understanding and mastery of the content at the end of a unit or section.

While completing all assignments is essential, they vary in weight, with practice assignments counting less, formative assessments weighing more, and summative assessments carrying the most weight as they evaluate students' overall mastery of the material.

At Jackson Christian, we believe in keeping families informed and engaged in their student’s academic journey.

• Progress Reports are available anytime via RenWeb, which can be accessed through our website at JCSEagles.org.

• A valid email address must be on file with the high school office for both students and parents to access RenWeb and receive academic updates.

• Weekly progress reports are automatically emailed every Tuesday afternoon to keep you updated throughout the term.

• Report Cards are computer-generated and made available only on RenWeb at the end of each grading period.

For assistance with RenWeb login or account setup, please contact the school office.

Secondary School Counseling Services (Grades 6-12)

The Secondary School Counselor at Jackson Christian is dedicated to supporting students in grades 6–12 with their personal, academic, and vocational development.

How the Counselor Supports Students:

• Individual Counseling: Students may request one-on-one appointments for help with academic planning, college/career exploration, or personal concerns.

• Educational Support: Guidance in course selection, study habits, and time management.

• Career & College Planning: Assistance with college applications, scholarship opportunities, and career exploration tools.

Support for Faculty & Families

• The counselor also collaborates with teachers to address individual student needs and helps facilitate programs that enhance the overall school experience.

Students are encouraged to reach out proactively to schedule a session or to stop by the counselor's office for guidance and support.

Learn more.

The purpose of assessment at Jackson Christian School is to:

1. Evaluate, enhance, and report student learning based on the academic standards.
2. Use data to improve instructional practices and program outcomes. 

**All students take the exam in the fall; however, only students needing ongoing intervention will take the assessment in the winter and spring.

Semester Exams: Grades 6-12

Students in grades 6–12 will take semester exams at the end of each term. Exams are administered according to a special schedule, with no more than two exams per day. The detailed exam schedule and procedures will be announced and posted in advance.

Exam Guidelines:

• Exam Weighting:

  • High School (Grades 9–12): Exams count as 1/5 (20%) of the final semester grade.

  • Middle School (Grades 6–8): Exams count as 1/7 (approximately 14.3%) of the final semester grade.

• Semester exams are administered for all core academic classes in grades 6–8.

• Students must take exams at the scheduled time.

  • Any absence for reasons other than illness requires prior approval from a principal.

  • All absences must be coordinated through the school office.

  • Permission from the Director of Academics is required for any exceptions.

Exam Exemption Policy (Grades 9-12)

Students in grades 9–12 may qualify for exam exemptions if the following criteria are met:

• A semester average of 93 or higher in the course

• Five or fewer absences in the semester

Note: Students are expected to adhere to all exam procedures, which will be published prior to exam week.

Academic integrity is essential to our mission of fostering personal responsibility and Christ-like character. Academic dishonesty (cheating) is a serious offense and will be addressed with firm and consistent consequences.

What Constitutes Cheating? 

Cheating includes, but is not limited to:

• Receiving unauthorized help on a quiz, test, or graded assignment

• Copying another student’s homework or allowing your work to be copied

• Submitting someone else’s report, project, or written work as your own

• Using unauthorized technology (calculators, phones, tablets, computers, etc.) during assessments

• Communicating in any form during a test or appearing to receive assistance from another source or student

Both the student who cheats and the student who enables cheating will face disciplinary action.

Teacher Protocol

Teachers are expected to have evidence supporting any incident of cheating. Suspicious behaviors (e.g., glancing at another’s paper, unauthorized device usage, or communication during a test) may be considered sufficient proof.

All teachers are expected to follow the disciplinary steps below to ensure school-wide consistency.

Disciplinary Consequences

1st Offense (in any class, per school year):

• Grade of “Zero” on the assignment

• “U” in conduct for the quarter

• Parent contact by the teacher

• Office referral to notify the Dean of Students

2nd Offense (in any class, same school year):

• All of the above, plus:

  • One (1) day of Saturday School

3rd Offense:

• All of the above, plus:

  • Two (2) days of Out-of-School Suspension (OSS)

4th Offense and Beyond:

• Suspension for the remainder of the school year

• Student may reapply for admission for the following school year, pending administrative review

This policy is designed to reinforce the values of honesty, integrity, and accountability that are central to Christian education and lifelong character development.

We are committed to providing students with structured opportunities for academic growth and success, while maintaining high academic standards. The following policies outline options for earning or recovering credit in required courses.

Averaging Policy

Students may earn full course credit under the following conditions:

• The first semester grade is failing, but the combined average of both semesters is 75 or higher.

• Credit is not awarded if the second semester grade is failing, regardless of the average.

• Summer school courses are not eligible for averaging consideration.

If successful under this policy:

• The transcript will reflect 1.0 credit earned for the course.

• The individual semester grades remain unchanged on the report card and transcript.

• In certain cases, if deemed in the student’s best interest, the student may be withdrawn from the course and required to repeat it the following year.

Credit Recovery Policy

Credit recovery is required when a student fails a graduation-required course. Guidelines include:

• A student may recover no more than 2 credits per school year through external programs.

• A student may not recover more than 2 credits in any single core subject area (Math, English, Science, Social Studies) during their time at Jackson Christian.

Credit Recovery Process

• Students must enroll in an accredited recovery program at their own expense.

• Courses must be completed and passed prior to re-enrollment at Jackson Christian.

• Students must ensure official transcripts are sent directly to the JCS Counseling Office before the start of the school year.

• Students will not be permitted to return to classes until recovery credit is verified and received.

Important:
Recovery course grades do not replace the original failing grade.
Both the failing and recovery grades appear on the transcript and are included in the cumulative GPA.

For questions or a list of approved credit recovery programs, students should consult the academic counselor.