Colossians 3:17 encourages us to do all things as if doing them for our Lord; schoolwork is no exception. Diligence, achievement, honor, and high ethical standards are the hallmark of a Christian education. In our learning, Christians should bring glory to God and shine forth as beacons of truth before a fallen world. Schoolwork should be seen as part of our wholeness in Christ and not compartmentalized into a lesser category of human activity nor viewed as a secular activity that requires less of our attention and industry.
Educational Program
FRCS is committed to a relationally-driven liberal arts education for our students, and we believe that a mind well equipped to serve the kingdom will be academically well-rounded. To that end, we require students to be meaningfully engaged in a broad spectrum of disciplines. At the core of our curriculum are learning objectives written for each grade level and each subject area. Quality textbooks have been selected, from both Christian and secular publishers, that serve as some of the tools that teachers use to achieve our educational goals. Teachers work carefully to teach from a Christian worldview in every subject and class that is taught at FRCS and, therefore, don’t necessarily rely on a textbook to provide that integration. Other tools available to teachers include supplemental materials, field trips, guest speakers, special activities, field education, Practicum, retreats, and more.
Our educational program includes instruction in the areas of language arts, technology, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, fine arts, Bible, wellness education, and foreign language. Our curriculum requires an annual Practicum experience, wellness education, and class retreats. Elective classes and extracurricular activities are also offered. FRCS employs qualified professional teachers who have a passion and a calling for Christian education.
Students who are enrolled full time at FRCS, along with their families, agree to support and be involved in the entire educational program provided by the school. Specific lessons, activities, retreats, Practicums, and classes are required.
Wellness Education
FRCS is committed to wellness education from a Biblical perspective and takes an intentional approach. God’s Word is the foundation for how we are to live in the world but not be of the world. Students are instructed in God’s Word regarding heart purity and God’s design and intent for healthy male/female relationships. In addition, students examine our current cultural attitudes, philosophies, and ideologies towards human sexuality and are informed of the potential consequences of premarital sex. Each 8th and 10th grade class attends a focused one-day retreat. Parents play a key role at the 8th grade level, as they spend time with their students in question/answer sessions and prayer. What has been learned is then reinforced and developed more in depth at the 10th grade level. Attendance at these retreats is mandatory.
Spring Practicum
Spring Practicum is a unique, annual part of the instructional program that is required of all full-time 7-12th grade students every year they attend FRCS. Practicum provides students with the opportunity to venture out of the traditional classroom and enhance learning through participation in field education. Choices are different for junior high and senior high students, and there is an additional cost. Practicum experiences are led by FRCS staff members or adults approved by FRCS Administration. While on Practicum, students are expected to abide by all policies set forth in the Family Handbook.
Prior to graduating, every senior high student must participate in at least one service-oriented Practicum.
A detailed Practicum policy is published and given to every student prior to making their Practicum selections. A Practicum committee will meet to determine which Practicum options will be offered and how they will be assigned. Committee decisions are final. Students who do not participate in their assigned Practicum will not receive credit and are still required to pay for their Practicum. Grades are based on attitude, behavior, and participation. A 10% reduction in grade for each day missed is assessed to the student’s grade.
J-Term
J-Term, or January Term, provides an opportunity for FRCS junior/senior high students to augment the traditional academic experience and complete elective requirements within a concentrated period of time. It runs between the first and second semesters, typically the first week of January after Christmas Break. Students may earn transcript credit in the areas of General, Fine Arts, and Physical Education credits for their J-Term, or they may seize the opportunity to dive further into their regular academic courses (such as AP classes) or prepare for Practicum experiences. Either way, the courses are graded on a pass/fail basis, and punctual attendance, participation, and completion of work are expected.
A detailed J-Term catalog which lists available courses for that year’s term, the schedule, and instructions on how to sign up for those courses is published and given to every student during the fall semester. Students will choose three classes for the term; those who are taking AP courses are expected to take the appropriate AP intensives during J-Term. Students discuss their options with parents then sign up for courses through the Family Portal. As with some of our regular elective courses, there are additional fees for some of the courses. Any fees or requirements for participation in a given course are listed in the J-Term catalog.
Academic Divisions
Front Range Christian High School is divided into two academic divisions: Junior High School (7-8) and Senior High School (9-12).
Homework
Students should learn good study habits from an early age, they need to spend time with their families, and their growth also requires time spent with God. Academic activity should be balanced with other aspects of life to nurture well-rounded image-bearers. Therefore, we will attempt to manage homework so as not to dominate the student’s life.
Homework turned in late will be penalized in the following manner:
- Junior High: 30% will be taken off the assignment’s grade for work turned in 1-2 days late. A “0” grade will be given to homework turned in 4 or more days after its due date.
- Senior High: 30% will be taken off the assignment’s grade for work turned in 1 day late. A “0” grade will be given to homework turned in 2 or more days late.
If a student has a sporting event during school hours, he or she must turn in any homework before leaving for the event. If a student will be gone an entire day, homework must be turned in the day before the student leaves. Homework may be turned in to the teacher or the office.
Teachers will attempt to coordinate homework within departments to avoid overburdening the students. However, if parents or guardians deem their child is spending too much time on homework, communication with the faculty is necessary to discuss reasons or assess abilities of the student accordingly.
NOTE: Students enrolled in Honors, AP, or CCP courses should expect to spend more time on homework based on the demands of an advanced course.
Subject Tests
Test information can be found by checking your student’s classes in the Family Portal. Teachers make every attempt not to overburden the student with too many major tests in one day; regular math tests are not considered major tests since they occur almost every week as a part of the learning process. Students enrolled in advanced level courses should expect to have a more rigorous test schedule in order to cover all course materials.
Standardized Testing
In keeping with our commitment to improve, our faculty continually reflects on the quality of our school systems and focuses their efforts to make them better. FRCS endeavors to provide students quality assessments as a component of a student’s total learning experience. Assessment data informs instructional practices and provides comparability and accountability data. This philosophy enables our teachers and administrators to shape instruction to increase student achievement and support individual learning success. Assessments are used to drive instructional shifts, student placement decisions, program evaluation, individual growth, and achievement. FRCS is committed to the success of every student. To that end, multiple measures are used to ensure individual growth and achievement. Here is a list of the Standardized Tests taken during junior/senior high at FRCS:
- Grades 7-10 take the Iowa Assessments in April
- Grades 7-11 take the CollegeBoard PSAT test in October
- Grade 11 take the ACT College placement test in early spring
- Grades 11-12 are highly encouraged to take the ACT and/or the SAT College placements tests off-site at the location of their choice
Students who are not full-time students at FRCS are welcome to participate in the exams offered at FRCS. Part-time students who wish to take one of these exams should register with the Director of Student Guidance by September 1 for the PSAT, December 1 for the ACT (grade 11 only), and January 1 for the Iowa Assessments. There is a fee required to take the tests.
Make-Up Work
Homework assignments may be obtained by checking your student’s classes in the Family Portal. The office staff should not be asked to email or collect homework assignments. For each day of absence there will be two school days allowed to make up work with a limit of seven consecutive calendar days, including weekends. All missed homework must be made up by this time. This is to prevent the student from getting farther and farther behind or dragging into the next quarter. Projects and assignments given in any class before the absence are still due on the due date.
Make Up Work for Daily Classes
| Day Absent | Homework Due |
| Monday | Wednesday |
| Tuesday | Thursday |
| Wednesday | Friday |
| Thursday | Monday |
| Friday | Tuesday |
For extended absences all makeup work is due 7 days from the last day of absence including weekends.
When students miss assignments because of an excused absence, the student and parent should work carefully with the teacher to get the work completed within the appointed time. Make-up work will be provided for any class in which a student has an excused absence unless otherwise determined by the Principal. Teachers are not required to prepare homework assignments in advance. Vacations taken at the end of a grading period are discouraged. After returning from illness/absence it is the student’s responsibility to pick up any make-up assignments permitted on the day he/she returns to class. Students and parents are also encouraged to check the Family Portal or call their classmates to obtain assignments, if necessary.
If the student’s absences are excused and the work is made up on or before the deadline, the student will receive full credit for the make-up work. If a student fails to meet these guidelines, the missing work will be assigned a “0” grade and averaged into the student’s remaining work. Incomplete “I” grades are not given on report cards or transcripts.
Make-Up Tests and Quizzes
Students who miss a test or quiz due to an absence are expected to make up the test/quiz upon returning to school. Students are required to make up the test the same day that they return to school, during an ISL, DSL, Academic Advisory, or lunch. If multiple tests and quizzes were given during the student’s absence, students are expected to make up all of them within two school days of their return.
For extended absences in which students were not present for review day or did not have the necessary materials and assignments to study, students are to follow the Make-Up Work schedule (see above) to get caught up on missed assignments and study materials. The date for make up tests and quizzes should be coordinated with the teacher to immediately follow the completion of all makeup assignments. As with assignments, students who complete tests and quizzes before the deadline will receive full credit for the test/quiz. If the deadline is not met, the test/quiz will be assigned a “0” grade and averaged into the student’s remaining work.
Grading Policies
Each student is evaluated on academics and overall class performance, including attendance, behavior, and punctuality. A syllabus will be provided for each course outlining specific grading criteria and course material.
- A grading period is considered a semester or athletic eligibility period. There are 2 semesters in each school year.
- The transcript and report card are considered permanent, academic records. When a course is failed no credit is earned. The failing grade will become a permanent part of the academic record and cannot be changed, even if the course is repeated to earn credit.
FRCS uses the Standard Decimal Grading System (listed below) to express academic achievement. AP, CCP, and honors courses are given additional weight. Pass/fail classes are not averaged into GPA.
Academic Evaluations
| Standard Grading Scale | AP, CCP, & Honors Grading Scale | ||||
| 90-100 | A | 4 pts | 90-100 | A | 5 pts |
| 80-89 | B | 3 pts | 80-89 | B | 4 pts |
| 70-79 | C | 2 pts | 70-79 | C | 3 pts |
| 60-69 | D | 1 pt | 60-69 | D | 1 pt |
| 0-59 | F | 0 pts | 0-59 | F | 0 pts |
Junior High: Grade point averages do not affect a junior high student’s college entrance evaluation. However, in order to afford parents an opportunity to assess student progress, a weighted grade point average will be calculated using the Standard Grading Scale listed in the table above. If a student fails a junior high class, he/she must remediate the class.
Senior High: Grade point averages are very important from grades 9-12. The GPA reflects a student’s work habits, tendencies, and achievement in academics and will play a significant role in college entrance and scholarships. FRCS uses a 4.0 grading scale and Honors, AP, and CCP classes are given additional weight as shown above. Class rankings are based upon a student’s weighted cumulative GPA. FRCS will not grant credit for a class that has been taken at another institution unless it is a class we do not offer and prior approval has been granted by the Principal. The family bears any cost associated with taking classes outside of FRCS. Please refer to the Transfer Credit Policy in the Academic Course Catalog for more information.
AP (Advanced Placement), CCP (Concurrent Credit Program), Honors
Enrollment in these classes is by teacher recommendation and students must meet specific requirements as outlined in the Academic Course Catalog. AP students are required to take the AP exam. If for some reason, an AP student does not take the college placement test at the end of the class, his/her grade will be based on the standard grading scale without additional weight and he/she will not qualify for college credit.
Semester Exams
Junior and senior high semester exams are given at the end of each semester and, at the senior high level, are worth 15% of the student’s final grade. If a student cannot take the exam on the date scheduled, a rescheduling fee of $50 fee will be charged per exam. This fee covers the amount of work required for the teacher to create and administer an entirely separate exam. All students are required to take semester final exams.
Academic Probation
Probationary periods last nine academic weeks and may carry over to a new grading or eligibility period or school year. The student is not allowed to participate in extracurricular activities during a probationary period. No refunds are given for trips or extracurricular activities that are missed due to poor academic performance. Students participating in sports do not earn P.E. credit for that sport while on probation. Academic probation may be invoked when a student has at least one “F” or two “Ds” at the quarter, or end of any given grading or eligibility period, or for habitual incomplete, or missing assignments. If, at the end of the probationary period, the student has no more than one “D” and no “Fs” and has no more than one incomplete or missing assignment and no late assignments, he/she will be removed from probation, and all privileges will be reinstated. However, if a student does not make improvements in the above-mentioned areas, he/she may be recommended for suspension or expulsion from the school. Academic probation will be invoked in the following manner:
- A letter of notification will be sent to the parents. A parent conference might be required.
- If learning needs are an issue, parents will be asked to set up an assessment through their public school district.
Please also refer to Behavior Policy for additional details.
Abatement of Tuition and Fees
There shall be no abatement or refund of tuition and fees for any period of time a student is subject to probation or expulsion. Each family is responsible for tuition and fees for the entire semester should they choose to withdraw or if expulsion occurs before the conclusion of that semester.
Grades/transcripts will not be released until full payment and other obligations have been met; sports uniforms and all textbooks must also be returned. See Financial Information for further details.
Please also refer to Behavior Policy for additional details.
Re-enrollment
Following removal or withdrawal from the school for academic reasons, a student may apply to be re-enrolled on academic probation if the following conditions are fulfilled:
- The student has attended another school, in good conduct, for one full year
- The student has completed a full and applicable academic load for the year
- The student has received no grade lower than a “C” in any subject
A re-enrollment interview is required of the student and parents—very specific changes in attitudes and actions are expected.
Report Cards
Report cards are released through the FACTS Family Portal at the end of each nine-week grading period. No grades, transcripts, or records will be sent to another institution until the student’s account and fees have been paid and uniforms and textbooks have been turned in. High school grade point averages are calculated at the conclusion of semesters 1 and 2. Semester grades are not based on the average between quarters 1 and 2 or quarters 3 and 4 but are, rather, a continuous calculation of all assignments and assessments during the semester.
Students should be encouraged to work for achievement, not just for grades. Please do not compare your child’s grades with those of other children, especially siblings. Each report is written on the basis of that child’s progress and should be interpreted in accordance with his or her ability. Please schedule an appointment through appropriate channels when a conference is desired.
Promotion and Retention
Students are promoted or retained on the basis of their total preparedness to accomplish satisfactory work at the next grade level. Ability, achievement, and social factors are taken into consideration. The combined efforts of the classroom teacher, Learning Specialist, Administration, and review committee deal with each case confidentially. In cases where retention seems appropriate, the parents are notified by the Principal and an appointment time established to discuss the possibilities.
Junior high students who receive one or more “Fs” in required courses at semester may not be promoted to the next grade until remedial requirements have been completed at the discretion of the Principal.
Senior high students who fail a required class must repeat it in order to graduate. This could prevent them from graduating on time. In addition, if a student’s GPA falls below 2.0, the student may be recommended for academic probation or expulsion.
Class Assignments
Each year senior high students have an opportunity to request some of their classes for the upcoming year. The Director of Guidance and Counseling or the Principal review all class preferences and make all final assignments after meeting with individual students prior to year end. New students receive class choice options upon paid registration, if available. We are unable to accommodate requests for specific teachers.
Add/Drop
Students may add or drop courses through the third Friday of the semester if they have valid, written reasons for the proposed changes and teacher, advisor, and parent approvals and signatures. Course fees may not be refundable or transferable. Classes dropped after the add/drop time are designated on Senior High transcripts as “WP” (withdraw pass) or “WF” (withdraw fail) depending on the course grade at the time of withdrawal. If new classes are added to student schedules after classes have already begun, students are responsible for making up all missed course work within the deadlines and parameters set by teachers. Fees are not refunded for dual credit classes (CCP) which are dropped by the student.
Transcripts and Records
The school maintains a permanent record file on each student. It includes academic, health, attendance, and disciplinary records.
Materials in each student’s file are confidential and shall be accessible only by permission of the school Administration. Information on the student’s permanent record will be provided to the following:
- To parents or legal guardians and students upon the written request of the parents
- To prospective employers upon receipt of parent/student authorization
- To colleges, universities, and military branches upon the student’s request
- To another school as a result of withdrawal or transfer upon receipt of parental notification and request of receiving school
Please allow one week processing time for transcript/record requests. FRCS may retain report cards and transcripts if the tuition and fee balance for that student is not current and if textbooks and uniforms have not been returned.
