High School Handbook

3.1 Academic Grades & Requirements

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students need to earn 24 credits during grades 9 through 12. This includes meeting all the required courses set by the state (Minnesota Statutes section 120B.024) and successfully completing either the state academic standards or local ones when state standards do not apply. Courses listed below are required for graduation.

Typical course progression by grade level. Actual schedules may vary depending on student pathway and electives.

Course Load and Schedule Guidelines

Students are expected to be enrolled in at least six classes each day. However, the Minnesota Department of Education allows school districts to make exceptions under certain conditions:

• The student must be at least 16 years old.
• The principal will create a personalized plan that includes work-study experience or another educationally valuable activity. The principal is also responsible for making sure the student follows this plan.
• Both the parent/guardian and the principal must approve the plan in writing.
• The student must be a senior and on track to graduate.

Students are not allowed to have more than one study hall per semester unless the principal gives special approval.

Schedule changes are only allowed during the first five school days of each semester. After that, changes require approval from the principal, counselor, teacher, and parent.

If a student drops a class before the end of the semester, they will receive an “F” for that course - unless there is an emergency, or special arrangements are made with the instructor. The course may be repeated with the principal’s permission.

Students receiving an incomplete “I” will have two (2) weeks at the end of each quarter/trimester/semester to make-up the work. After two weeks, the grade will be changed to zero if work has not been completed.

3.2 Academic Integrity

Doing your own work and being honest in school is a big deal. Academic integrity means taking pride in your work, giving credit when you use someone else’s ideas, and always doing your best without cutting corners. Cheating, copying, or using AI or other tools to do your work for you isn’t just unfair - it keeps you from actually learning. Your teachers are here to help, so if you are struggling, ask for help instead of taking shortcuts. Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching, will help you succeed now and in the future!

Examples of Academic Misconduct

Cheating comes in many forms, including plagiarism, using copyrighted material without permission, relying on artificial intelligence without approval, and other types of academic misconduct that aim to gain an unfair advantage. Plagiarism, in particular, goes against the academic code of conduct, which requires students to give proper credit for the ideas and words of others. Here are some examples of plagiarism and related misconduct:

• Submitting another student’s paper as your own.
• Copying parts of someone else’s work into your own paper or sharing your work for others to submit as theirs.
• Using research material in your work without including in-text citations to credit the author and source.
• Paraphrasing researched material without proper citations.
• Copying information directly from the internet or other electronic sources and submitting it as original work.
• Summarizing research material without referencing the original source.
• Copying or sharing test materials, such as taking pictures/screenshots and sharing them through text, apps, or other methods.
• Using artificial intelligence to complete assignments without a teacher’s approval.

Cheating is a serious problem. Students will be written up for this offense. Additional consequences for cheating are established by teachers. For students in concurrent enrollment classes, policies and consequences set by the partnering post-secondary institutions must be followed.

3.3 Academic Eligibility for Extracurricular Activities

General Eligibility

To participate in regular season games or MSHSL (Minnesota State High School League) tournament events, a student must be fully enrolled (as defined by the Minnesota Department of Education) and be an active, enrolled member of their high school in good standing.

A student will be considered ineligible if they are suspended, expelled, excluded, or if their behavior violates the MSHSL Student Code of Responsibilities. In such cases, the principal will determine the length of ineligibility.

If a student disagrees with the decision, they may appeal. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the principal and should explain any special circumstances they want considered. The Administration will review the appeal and aim to reach a timely decision. During the appeal process, the original decision will remain in effect.

Failures (F)

• If a student earns an F for a quarter or trimester grade, they will be ineligible to participate in any MSHSL activities, including sports, for one week.
• If a student fails a class at mid-quarter, they remain ineligible until all grades are brought up to passing.
• While ineligible, students may not miss school to attend school-sponsored activities.
• After one week, the student can provide proof of passing grades to the Athletic Director, Principal, or Dean of Students. If all grades are passing, eligibility will be restored.
• Students who fail a class in Quarter 4 will be ineligible for one event — either during their current season or the following Fall season. However, they will not be required to submit updated grade checks for eligibility in that case.

Incompletes (I)

• If a student receives an Incomplete (I), they are not eligible to participate in MSHSL activities until the grade is updated to a passing mark of D- or higher.
• This can happen at any point after report cards are issued.
• If the Incomplete later turns into an F, the student will follow the same one-week ineligibility rule that applies to failing grades.
• Students who receive an Incomplete in Quarter 4 will be ineligible for one event in the Fall — unless the grade is later changed to a passing one before the season begins.

Eligibility with Summer School Course Completion

Students who successfully complete a summer school course to make up for an Incomplete or failing grade from Quarter 4 may become eligible to participate in Fall activities right away.

Eligibility will be determined by the principal and athletic director, based on the student’s overall academic progress toward graduation — a requirement for participating in MSHSL-sponsored activities.

3.4 Class Rank / Honor Roll

Class Rank

Class rank is determined based on a student’s cumulative GPA from grades 7 through 12. This means that all final course grades earned during those years are included in calculating a student’s overall GPA, which is then used to establish their standing relative to their classmates. Class rank can play a role in scholarship opportunities, college admissions, and academic recognition.

Honor Roll

The Honor Roll recognizes students for their academic achievement each grading period.

"A" Honor Roll: To qualify for the "A" Honor Roll, a student must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 or higher. In addition to meeting the GPA requirement, students must not have any grades of D, F, or Incomplete in any course during the grading period.

"B" Honor Roll: Students who achieve a GPA between 3.00 and 3.49 are eligible for the "B" Honor Roll. Students must not have any D, F, or Incomplete grades to qualify.

Being named to the Honor Roll is a reflection of consistent effort, academic dedication, and strong performance across all subject areas.

3.5 College in the Schools (CIS) & Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Eligibility

Mesabi East offers several on-campus courses that let students earn college credit, challenge themselves academically, and get a jump start on their college education. To be eligible for these courses, 11th graders need a minimum GPA of 3.0, and 12th graders need a GPA of 2.5, with some courses also requiring a placement test. These classes allow students to earn both high school and college credit, all while staying on campus with their teachers and classmates. If a student decides not to earn college credit for a course, they must request this during the first quarter of the class - requests made after that will not be accepted.

Add / Drop Timeline

Students have five school days after the semester begins to add or drop CIS courses. After that, it will be counted as a “Fail” for the high school and a withdrawal at the college level.

Advanced Placement and Weighted Grades

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are also available on campus, where students can earn college credit based on their scores in the final assessment administered by the College Board.

Grades for CIS, PSEO, AP, and honors classes are weighted. They are on the honors grade scale (see grading system for more details).

3.6 e-Learning Days

The Mesabi East may use up to five eLearning days when school is canceled due to inclement weather. If more than five weather-related cancellations occur, the school board will decide if the additional days need to be made up.

Notifications

When school is canceled, families signed up for notifications through PowerSchool will receive an instant alert via automated phone call, text message, or email. The district will also share updates on local TV and radio stations, the school district website, and our social media platforms.

Student and Teacher Expectations

On eLearning days, families, students, and staff will have time to adjust their schedules. Teachers will be available online and by phone during regular school hours to support students and parents. Students should check Schoology for the learning plan for each class. Attendance for each class will still be taken.

Technical Assistance

For technical assistance, families can call our technical assistance hotline at 218-229-3321 ext. 311. This service is available only on eLearning days to address any technology-related issues.

For more details, please refer to the eLearning document.

3.7 Grading System

Grade Point Average (GPA)

Mesabi East uses a standard grading scale to calculate Grade Point Average (GPA), with two systems in place: a default scale and an Honors scale.

In both scales, letter grades are assigned point values, and a student’s GPA is the average of those points across all completed courses.

The Honors scale is used for designated AP, PSEO, Honors, and CIS courses and awards additional GPA points to reflect the increased difficulty.

3.8 Graduating with Honors / Valedictorian / Salutatorian

Graduating with Honors

At the end of the third quarter of senior year, honors designations are determined based on each student’s cumulative GPA. Seniors with a GPA of 3.5 or higher will graduate with High Honors, while those with a GPA between 3.25 and 3.49 will graduate with Honors.

Valedictorian / Salutatorian

Valedictorian and Salutatorian honors are also determined at this time, based on class rank calculated from cumulative GPA, including third-quarter grades.

The student ranked first in the class will be named Valedictorian, and the student ranked second will be named Salutatorian. In the case of a tie, Co-Valedictorians and/or Co-Salutatorians may be recognized. A tie is defined as a GPA difference within 0.005 (five ten-thousandths).

To be eligible for either honor, a student must have been enrolled in the school for at least four semesters, including the current semester. Both the Valedictorian and Salutatorian are given the opportunity to speak at the graduation ceremony.

3.9 Homebound Instruction

Homebound instruction can be accommodated for students who are confined to the home and cannot attend school due to medical or safety reasons, as recommended by a doctor, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or a 504 plan, and approved by the Administration.

3.10 Independent Study

Independent Study courses are only an option when there are schedule conflicts and must be approved by Administration.

3.11 Make-up work / Missing work

After an absence, all make-up work must be completed within a reasonable timeframe, as determined by the teacher in discussion with the student. Any work missed due to an absence will be marked as Incomplete in the gradebook until it is turned in, at which point the grade will be updated to reflect the student’s performance.

For students who are suspended, all assigned work must be completed during the suspension and submitted on the day they return to school.

It is the student’s responsibility to make sure all missed assignments are completed and turned in on time. Staying in communication with teachers and following through on deadlines is key to staying on track.

3.12 Report Cards / Progress Reports

Report Cards are emailed to families at the end of each Quarter/Trimester and provide a summary of student performance in each class. In addition to this, Weekly Progress Reports are sent every Wednesday via email to keep families informed of students’ current grades, missing assignments, and overall academic progress. These regular updates help support student success and encourage ongoing communication between home and school.

3.13 Scholarships

Scholarships are a valuable resource to help students fund their post-secondary education. Mesabi East encourages all students to explore the wide variety of scholarship opportunities available, ranging from academic and athletic awards to community service and special interest scholarships. The Mesabi East Scholarship Program offers 50+ scholarships to students, and there are many outside opportunities from your college, parent employer and others.

Finding Scholarships

Students can access information about local, state, and national scholarships through the counselor’s office, school website, and scholarship bulletin boards, and email. We also recommend using trusted online scholarship search tools. Deadlines vary, so students should start researching and applying early to maximize their chances of success. If you need assistance with applications or essays, the counselor can help guide you through the process.

Preparing Scholarship Materials

Preparing the following information ahead of time will make the scholarship application process smoother and more efficient:

• Personal Information:
• Full name, address, phone number, and email.
• Social Security Number.
• Academic Information:
• Transcript or GPA (official or unofficial).
• Standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, etc.).
• Class rank and/or percentile.
• Financial Information:
• Family income details or tax returns (for need-based scholarships).
• FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) information.
• Activities and Involvement:
• A list of extracurricular activities, leadership roles, and honors/awards.
• Volunteer and community service hours, including dates and descriptions.
• Work Experience:
• List of jobs held, including employer names, positions, and dates.
• References:
• Contact information for people willing to provide recommendation letters.
• Written letters of recommendation.
• Essays:
• A personal statement or essays tailored to specific scholarship prompts.
• A general essay about your goals, achievements, and why you deserve the scholarship. This is a great template to be used for multiple applications and then tailored to their specific requested information.
• Portfolio or Work Samples:
• Examples of academic work, art, writing, or other accomplishments relevant to the scholarship.
• Scholarship-Specific Requirements:
• Review the requirements for each scholarship to ensure all requested documents or information are ready.

Being organized and starting early will give you the time needed to craft strong applications and meet all deadlines.

3.14 Testing

At Mesabi East, we use different assessments to keep track of how students are doing academically. These tools help us improve teaching and spot students who might need a little extra help.

College and Career Testing

For our 11th graders, there is an opportunity to take the American College Testing (ACT) college entrance exam, and we also offer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery - Career Exploration (ASVAB) test to help with career exploration. Seniors, you can take the ACT twice during the school year, but make sure to register by the deadline shared by the school counselor.

Statewide and Benchmark Testing

We also participate in statewide testing, the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) in reading, math, and science. These tests make sure our curriculum lines up with academic standards and that all students get a fair and high-quality education. If you would like to learn more about statewide testing, check out the Minnesota Department of Education website.

Additionally, we use FastBridge assessments three times a year (generally in September, January, May) to track progress in reading and math. You will usually get your scores, and we will set personal goals based on how you did before. These assessments help us see where you are growing and where you might need support.

OVERALL TESTING SCHEDULE

3.15 Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

Eligibility

PSEO is a program that gives 11th and 12th grade students the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit by taking non-religious, college-level courses at participating colleges and universities. To be eligible, 11th graders must have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and 12th graders must have at least a 2.5 GPA. Students who are behind on credits required for graduation are not eligible to participate. Each college or university may have additional admissions criteria for their PSEO programs.

Enrollment and Credit Limits

Students may enroll in PSEO courses either part-time or full-time, up to 15 college credits per semester. However, students must earn a grade of C or higher in their PSEO classes to remain eligible for continued participation. Those who drop or withdraw from a college course after the first 10 business days of the college semester will receive an “F” on their high school transcript. Any course drops must be approved by the school counselor and will not be approved after the 10-day window.

Informational Meeting

All interested students must attend an informational meeting with their school counselor before enrolling. This meeting will cover the application process, credit planning, expectations, and responsibilities. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend as well.

On-Campus Support

Students taking PSEO courses are welcome to use designated spaces on the Mesabi East campus to study and complete their work. PSEO students need to sign in/out in the office.

If you are considering PSEO, contact the school counselor early to ensure proper planning and to discuss how PSEO can fit into your path to graduation.