Section 2: Academics

Academic Honesty Policy 

Integrity is highly valued at Madison High. Our Academic Honesty Policy addresses issues of cheating, plagiarism, theft, alteration of materials and test avoidance. All parents/guardians digitally sign that they and their student understand the policy and to demonstrate commitment to honesty and integrity during our online pre-registration process. The policy is in Section I of our student/parent handbook.

Diploma Requirement

To earn a San Diego Unified School District diploma, a student must meet the "a-g" subject requirements and earn 44 credits. In addition, students must earn a cumulative scholastic grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 in grades nine through twelve. Students who complete subject requirements, but do not meet the overall 2.0 diploma requirement, will be issued a Letter of Completion. See Madison High's Course Description and Educational Planning Booklet for more detailed information about diploma requirements (available on under counseling tab). 

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Your grade point average (GPA) is based on "a-g" courses taken in the 10th and 11th grades. California residents with GPA's of 3.0 or above satisfy the minimum scholarship requirement if they achieve a correlating score on college admission exams as indicated in the UC Eligibility Index on the UC website. 

Grading Policies

Scholarship Grades 

A Superior 

B Above Average 

C Satisfactory 

D Below Average 

F Failing, no credit 

I Work Incomplete (becomes an F after six weeks) 

Regular attendance and participation in classroom activities is expected and recognized as a student's responsibility. It is considered an essential part of the instructional program. Absences can affect a student's grades in scholarship and/or citizenship; students with excessive absences may find it difficult to pass a class. The responsibility for making up work rests with the student, but the teacher will make a special effort to provide an opportunity for the work to be made up in a reasonable amount of time and will give the student assistance. Work missed while a student is truant may not be made up. Citizenship grades are issued in all classes, including Advisory period. Meeting homework deadlines is very important.

Graduation Ceremony Participation

To participate in the graduation ceremony and other senior activities, a student must meet all diploma requirements, and earn a citizenship GPA of 2.0 during their senior year. Citizenship and attendance records of senior students are monitored throughout the school year. Eligibility for activities is determined by the grade report issued prior to the date of the activity. Students who have two or more citizenship U’s, are involved in a zero tolerance or a major discipline issue, or who have uncleared/ unverified absences are not eligible to participate. 

Graduation Subject Sequence Requirements

Note: These are the MINIMUM requirements for a diploma. They are guided by the state of California and the "a-g" admission requirements for the University of California and California State University systems. Students who are pursuing admission to a four-year college or university will exceed these MINIMUM requirements. Students may take honors, advanced placement, or college levels of these same courses to better prepare for post-secondary education. Two credits are earned in each year-long course. A "B" or better must be earned in each course to remain eligible for UC/CSU. Students who earn a "D" or "F" must repeat the course.

Click HERE to view graduation subject requirements and course sequence.

Report Cards

Two semester report cards are issued; the first is mailed home within two weeks after the close of the first semester, and the second report card is mailed home approximately two weeks after the close of school. In addition, every student receives a progress report at six and twelve weeks of each semester. Progress reports do not reflect permanent grades of the students, but are used to help determine the final semester grade and affects extracurricular and co-curricular eligibility.

Schedules

Schedules are released in PowerSchool the morning of the first day of school at the beginning of the school year. Counselors meet with individual students throughout the year to review students' transcripts, graduation plans and to discuss courses needed at every grade level to meet and exceed the district's "a-g" graduation requirements.

Student Transfer Policy (Schedule Changes)

Student initiated class changes are minimal and are seldom made after the second week of the semester. Students initiate a change by seeing their counselor before or after school. The change is not complete until the counselor has met with the student, and if necessary, the parent and the teacher. Therefore, students should select their classes thoughtfully and with parent approval.

Tutorial Support

Students who need individual support can make arrangements with their teacher for before or after-school tutoring. Students who need to use a computer/ printer for assignments or who simply need a quiet place to study, read, and complete homework can go to the library before and after school. Homework is an important part of Madison's educational program. Students should have a minimum of 30-minutes of homework for each class.