Academic Information

One of the most important reasons for attending Pine Forge Academy is to receive college preparatory training. It is very important for a student of Pine Forge Academy to be well organized in the scheduling of time. The Academy provides academic, peer, and guidance counseling to help the student reach this goal.

Pine Forge Academy offers two diplomas, a College Preparatory and a General.

Class Standing

Freshman - To be eligible to be a member of and remain in the freshman class, the student must meet the requirements listed below:

• have successfully completed the eighth grade course of study with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Sophomore - To be eligible to be a member of and remain in the sophomore class, the student must meet the requirements listed below:

• have completed at least 6 units including required courses at the beginning of the school year.
• maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for the general diploma and 2.5 for the college preparatory diploma.
• have all official transcripts of work completed in any other accredited secondary schools, organizations or programs recorded in the Office of Admissions and Records.

Junior - To be eligible to be a member of, remain, and participate in any and all junior class activities and privileges, a student must meet the requirements listed below:

• have completed at least 12 units including required courses at the beginning of the school year.
• maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for the general diploma and 2.5 for the college preparatory diploma.
• have all official transcripts of work completed in any other accredited secondary schools, organizations or programs recorded in the Office of Admissions and Records.

Senior - To be eligible to be a member of, and participate in any senior class activities and privileges, a student must meet the requirements listed below:

• have completed at least 18 units including of required courses at the beginning of the school year.
• maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 for the general diploma and 2.5 for the college preparatory diploma.
• have all official transcripts of work completed in any other accredited secondary schools, organizations or programs recorded in the Office of Admissions and Records.

Grade Point Average

A student's GPA is calculated using a 4.0 scale. The following system of recording grades and assigning a percentage value is used:

Academic Progress Reports

The school year is divided into two semesters with a standard course load consisting of 6 or 7 units per semester. A minimum of five courses, per semester, four of which must be core courses, is required in order to maintain enrollment at Pine Forge Academy. Academic Progress Reports are issued to all students every four and a half weeks and a student's academic status is documented with the issuance of a progress report. Final grades are permanently recorded on each student's transcript at the end of each semester.

Academic Recognition

Special recognition is given to students who achieve the following GPA per quarter:

Honor Roll	3.00 - 3.44
High Honors	3.45-3.74
Highest Honors/Principal’s List	3.75-4.00

National Honor Society (NHS)

In accordance with guidelines established by the National Honor Society, students who have at least sophomore status and have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 will meet the academic requirement for eligibility for the National Honor Society. Those students who meet these criteria will be given an NHS Application Form.

The Pine Forge Academy NHS Faculty Council will evaluate and select the applicant in the areas of leadership, service and character. An induction ceremony is held in the second semester of each school year for all students who have been selected for membership.

Readers

Students with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and who demonstrate exceptional values in the areas of character, integrity and confidentiality, may be recommended as readers.

Academic probation

• Failure to maintain the minimum required GPA for the general or college preparatory diploma;
• Earning 2 or more D’s; or
• Earning one or more F per quarter. 

These students will be placed on academic probation and will put their continued enrollment at Pine Forge Academy at risk.

Students who are placed on academic probation:

• Must attend mandatory study hall
• Will not be allowed to participate in any off-campus activities (sports, choir, creative arts, class or recreational functions, etc.)
• Students who remain on academic probation for two or more consecutive marking periods or end of each semester will be re-evaluated and may be asked to withdraw from the Academy

Summer/Remedial Classes

The taking of summer/remedial classes is regulated by the following procedures:

• Classes must be taken from a state accredited school, Home Study International (Griggs University) or any organization authorized by the Columbia Union Office of Education.
• Course work must be completed and the official transcript submitted directly from the organization to the Office of Academics before the student is promoted to the next classification.

Course Offerings

The following are offered over a period of four years:

Applied Arts

Computer Application
*Keyboarding
Word Processing
Web Design
Family & Consumer Science:
Industrial Arts

Bible

Religion I       
Religion II
Religion III
Religion IV

Business

Accounting

Fine Arts
Art
Choir
Creative Arts (Drama)
Private Music Lessons – Instrumental/Vocal
Band
AP Music Theory

Foreign Language

Spanish I
Spanish II
AP Spanish
French I
French II
AP French

Language Arts
English I
English II
Honors English II
English III
English IV
Honors English III
AP English IV
Honors English IV

Mathematics

Algebra I
Honors Algebra I
Integrated Mathematics
Geometry
Honors Geometry
Algebra II
Honors Algebra II
Pre-Calculus
AP Statistics
AP-Calculus

Physical Education

Physical Education
Health

Science

Biology
Honors Biology
Chemistry
Honor Chemistry
Integrated Science
Physics
Anatomy and Physiology

History

Government
US History
World History
Afro-American Studies
AP History
AP Economics

*Required for graduation
** Required for College Preparatory Diploma

Students may enroll in and receive credit for an AP course based on the following conditions:

• Receiving departmental recommendation ;or
• Successfully completing a placement exam; or
•  Achieving a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in the discipline, and minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0;  and
• Receiving curriculum committee approval.
• Students who earn a grade below a “C-” at the first interim marking period and/or the end of the first semester will be transferred to a regular equivalent course.

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

• Students may enroll in an AP course who have 2.5 GPA in the designated subject area or with departmental recommendation.
• Each student will be assessed a fee which will cover the cost of the text book and the AP Exam.
• Students will receive AP credit only upon successful completion of the AP Exam.
• If a student fails the AP Exam but successfully completes the course, the transcript will reflect the class taken as English IV; Biology; Calculus; Economics; etc.

Courses Taken Ahead of Schedule

Requests to take a class ahead of schedule will be considered based on the following conditions:

• Completion of freshman year
• Parental request in writing to the Office of Academics with course description
• Cumulative GPA of 3.5 in department
• Cumulative GPA of 3.0 overall
• Curriculum Committee Approval
• Must be taken at a community college, a 4-yr college, or through Home Study Institute (HSI-Griggs University).

• The course will be taken at Pine Forge Academy as scheduled if the official transcript from the institution is not in the Office of Admissions and Records prior to the opening of school in the fall.
• We recommend that no more than two (2) courses be taken per summer period.

Correspondence Courses

• Approval for taking a correspondence course must be secured in advance by presenting a formal letter stating the specific courses requested and the reason for the request to the Curriculum Committee.
• Examinations may only be administered through the Office of Academics.
• Correspondence courses must be taken from Home Study International (Griggs University) or any organization authorized by the Columbia Union Office of Education.
• A senior taking a correspondence course required for graduation must complete the course by the due date posted for final grades, on the school calendar.  The Office of Academics must receive the transcript before the student may participate in graduation exercises.

Class Schedule Changes

The Pine Forge Academy administration makes every effort to help each student select the proper program at the time of registration. All requests for class schedule changes may not be honored. The decision for change is based on individual academic need and final approval is granted through the Office of Admissions and Records.

Schedule Change Procedure

To change a schedule, the student must follow the procedure outlined below:

• Request a Drop/Add slip from the Office of Admissions and Records.
• Obtain written parental consent.
• Obtain subject teacher’s signature.
• Attend class until the class is formally dropped.

Students cannot add/drop a class after the date posted on the school calendar. In extenuating circumstances a student with a minimum GPA of 2.75 may be admitted after the add/drop date.

The Academy reserves the right to cancel any course if the number of students registered does not justify continuance.

Graduation Requirements

Granting a diploma

• has met all the academic requirements for the General or College Preparatory Diploma (see page 17);
• has been enrolled in the Academy for the entire final semester of his/her senior year;
• has completed 25 hours of community service for each year in attendance at Pine Forge Academy;
• has fulfilled all financial obligations; and
• has upheld the principles and standards of the Academy up until the completion of graduation services.

Accelerated Academic Program

The Pine Forge Academy curriculum has been developed and planned as a four-year program. Recognizing that there are unique circumstances, students wishing to enter an accelerated three-year program must meet the following criteria. Students must:

• have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.5;
• have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in the discipline which he/she would need to take additional classes. Students must take accelerated courses in a college setting only. Courses must be taken from Home Study International (Griggs University) or any organization authorized by the Columbia Union Office of Education;
• meet all requirements for the Pine Forge Academy college preparatory diploma; and
• take a complete year of schoolwork at Pine Forge Academy immediately preceding their senior year.

Parent must submit a formal letter stating his/her reasons for wanting his/her child to enroll in the accelerated program to the Curriculum Committee.

Upon approval of the Curriculum Committee, parent and student must complete an interview with the principal and the Office of Admisions and Records prior to registration in the accelerated program.

General Equivalency Diploma

The receipt of the GED does not qualify the student to participate in the graduation exercises or to receive the Pine Forge Academy diploma.

Transcript

Parents/Students requesting an official transcript must follow the following procedure:

• Submit a written request including the name and address of the institution or organization to which the transcript is to be directed.
• Pay the appropriate fee.
• In harmony with the recommendation of the North American Division Department of Education, no final grades or transcripts will be issued to students until their accounts have been settled in full.

Specialty Certificates

The Departments of Business, Mathematics, English, Music, History and Science each offer a certificate to those students who show outstanding aptitude and achievement in these disciplines. The student will receive a separate certificate with an addendum attached to his/her official transcript.

General Requirements

• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in the specific discipline
• A minimum overall GPA of 3.0
• Approval of the department chair
• Submit official request form by the 2nd semester add/drop date of senior year.

Specific Requirements for Specialty Certificates

Business/Technology

• Student must complete four (4) or more of the following courses: Accounting, Economics, Keyboarding, Computer Applications, E-web Business, and Computer Programming.
• Student must complete a project demonstrating the practical application of the principles learned in a business or technology course.

English

• Student must complete the following courses: English I, English II, English III.
• Student must successfully complete one (1) of the following courses: Honors English IV, AP English - Literature and Composition.
• Student must complete a project demonstrating mastery of literature analysis and composition.

Mathematics

• Student must successfully complete the following required courses: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II
• Student must successfully complete:
• Option 1: Students must take algebra I & algebra II, and geometry, with at least two of these courses being honors; and at least one of the following: Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus or AP Statistics.
• Option 2: Students must take algebra I & algebra II, and geometry, with at least one of these courses being honors; and at least two of the following: Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus or AP Statistics.

Music

• Student must participate in one or more of the following ensembles: choir, band, strings, private music lessons
• Student must consistently participate in church (worship, chapel, etc) activities relative to their specific musical skill
• Student must take and pass the AP Music Theory Course
• Student must perform a music recital in their senior year.
• The music department chair will evaluate transfer students.
• Student must pass instrumental/vocal proficiency exam.

Science

• Student must complete the following required courses: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and/or Anatomy and Physiology.
• Student must successfully complete a project - demonstrating practical application involving principles of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Anatomy & Physiology.
• Student must complete and pass a comprehensive examination (with study outline).
• Student must take and pass the Advanced Placement or SAT II exam in one or more of the above-mentioned courses or participate in the Minority in the Health Sciences Program (MITHS)

History

• Must successfully complete the following courses: AP US History, African American History, Government, and Economics.
• Must complete a project demonstrating the applied principles of the above mentioned courses.
• Must take and pass the AP History Course.
• Must present a research paper.