Academic Policies
Graduation Requirements
- 4 credits in English (British and American Literature required)
- 4 credits in Mathematics
- 4 credits in Religion
- 3 credits in Chinese, French, Latin, or Spanish
- 3 credits in Science (Biology and Chemistry required)
- 3 credits in Social Studies (Civics, World History, U.S. History required)
- 1 credit in Physical Education
- .5 credit in Health
- .5 credit in Fine Arts
Students fulfill graduation requirements by taking additional elective courses in Foreign Language, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Business, Art, Music, Theater or Computer Essentials.
There is also a mandatory Student Service Requirement for graduation. This is detailed on the Campus Ministry page.
Course Load
All Freshmen take a 7 credit load. Sophomores and Juniors take a minimum of 6.75 credits. Seniors take a minimum of 6.25 credits.
Policies Related to Failure of a Course
Any student who fails two (2) or more credits in a given year cannot return to Xavier. A student who loses fewer than two (2) credits must make up all those credits at Xavier's summer school or through an office-approved tutoring program or another summer school program in order to return to Xavier in the fall. In addition, a student who fails any semester or full-year course in a given year is automatically placed on academic probation for the following school year.
Academic Probation
In addition to failing one course for the year as mentioned above, students are placed on academic probation by the appropriate academic dean for the following reasons:
- a) failing two or more subjects for any marking period, or
- b) failing one subject and receiving two or more D's in other subjects for any marking period, or
- c) exhibiting a serious deterioration in academic performance as evidenced by falling grades, failure to complete homework assignments, negligence in seeking extra help, or a general indifferent attitude toward academics.
If a student is placed on Academic Probation, he will be monitored and evaluated when both progress reports and marking period report cards are distributed. If a student fails to make significant progress in both academic performance and attitude, he may be asked to leave Xavier High School in January or June.
Change of Academic Level
If a teacher, parent or student feels that a student would be better served academically by moving to a different level (honors, accelerated or college prep), the academic deans, working with the student’s guidance counselor, will review the request and make a determination. All level changes require a faculty recommendation. In all cases, final approval for the movement is based on seat availability in the course(s) in question and lack of schedule conflict.
Criteria to Move Up a Level: In order for a student to move up to the next level (college prep to accelerated or accelerated to honors), he must have attained an A average for the year in a given course and have an enthusiastic recommendation from his teacher. The teacher recommendation focuses on the student’s level of curiosity and creativity, his motivation and ability to think abstractly, as well as his performance on homework, projects, tests and quizzes. Final decisions on whether students move up a level rests with the appropriate academic dean and only take place at the end of the 6th week of the first marking period (freshman and transfers only) or at the end of the school year.
Criteria to Move Down a Level: Recommendations for a student to move to a lower level are only approved if the academic dean feels the student has consistently worked to his capacity, completed all assignments, and still experiences significant difficulty with the subject as evidenced by grades of D’s and F’s. Downward movements can also be approved if a student’s lack of success is due primarily to his own academic indifference (failure to properly prepare for tests, failure to submit assignments, projects, notebooks, failure to seek extra help from teachers, etc.) Final decisions on whether students move down a level rests with the appropriate academic dean and take place at the end of the 6th week of the first marking period (freshman and transfers only) or at the end of the school year.
Grading System
Grade Point Value
A+ 4.33
A 4.0
A- 3.67
B+ 3.33
B 3.0
B- 2.67
C+ 2.33
C 2.0
C- 1.67
D 1.0
F 0
Parents must appeal a progress report or report card grade within ten (10) calendar days from the date grades are posted on line. Failure to appeal within ten calendar days constitutes acceptance of the grade.
Criteria for Academic Honors
For a student to attain High Honors for a given marking period, he must
a. have at least a 3.5 grade point average for that quarter and
b. have no grade lower than a B in his major subjects.**
For a student to attain Honors for a given marking period, he must
a. have at least a 3.0 grade point average for that quarter and
b. have no grade lower than a C in his major subjects.**
For a student to qualify for the end-of-the-year Headmaster's List, he must
a. complete the academic year with a final grade point average of 3.5 or higher and
b. have no final average grade less than a B in his major subjects.**
For a student to qualify for the end-of-year Principal’s List, he must
a. complete the academic year with an final grade point average between 3.00 and 3.49 and
b. have no final grade less than a C in his major subjects.**
For a student to qualify for the Brother Celestine Medal (which a student may receive only once during his four years at Xavier), he must
a. complete the academic year with an overall final average of A and
b. have no final average grade less than an A- in his major subjects.**
**The following courses are NOT included in the tabulation for Honor Roll, Headmaster’s List, Principal's List, or Brother Celestine Medal: Physical Education, and all .3 Electives.
Rank-in-Class
Cumulative rank is calculated from the total of grades received in major subjects which are weighted according to the level of difficulty of the course. Weights are assigned by the administration in consultation with the individual departments. The courses excluded from calculation for academic honors are also excluded in the calculation of rank-in-class.
The student with the highest weighted grade point average is ranked number one. If two or more students have the same grade point average, they are assigned the same rank; but the rank of their immediate successor(s) is as many below that of the tied students as the number of ties.
Criteria for Failing
Full Year Courses: Each marking period is worth a 20% weight of the full-year grade; the mid-year exam and final exam are worth 10% each. A student must pass any 60% combination of marking period and exam percentages to pass a full-year course.
Semester Courses: Each marking period is worth 40% of the semester grade; the final exam is worth 20%. A student must pass any 60% combination of marking period and exam percentages to pass a semester course.
Seniors: Seniors do not have a traditional final exam week in the spring. Some form of a final assessment (exam, paper, project, etc) will be completed and submitted in the fourth marking period for each course. The grade for this assessment will be reported as the final exam for full-year (10% of course average) and spring semester (20% of course average) courses.
Progress Reports
Throughout each marking period two (2) reports of progress will be made available online for the parents. The calendar lists the weeks during the year when these reports are available online. The following grades are given on the reports: High Pass (90-100), Pass (75-89), Borderline (65-74), and Fail (below 65).