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Academic Affairs

The Academic Schedule

Daily classes are based on a seven-day, rotating cycle (A through G day). The academic schedule begins at 8:10 a.m., except on D day and G day, when the schedule begins at 8:40 a.m. The academic day ends at 3 p.m., except on F day, when it ends at 3:15 p.m. and on G day, when it ends at 1:30 p.m. G day afternoon is reserved for club meetings and all school activities. In addition, the Tuesday schedule has been adjusted so that classes end at 2:30; however, there is a meeting period which runs until 3:15 that students and faculty may use. All students will receive a personal academic schedule at the beginning of each term. All parents will be able to download the Student Planner, which identifies the cycle days for the whole year and notes our holidays and other special days.

Lake Forest Academy has a closed campus during the school day. All students, boarding and day, are required to stay on campus until the end of the academic day. In general, there are only two exceptions to this rule. One is on G day when students are permitted to leave campus after 1:30 p.m. as long as they return in time for sports.

The second exception is when seniors are allowed an off-campus lunch privilege (details are provided to seniors and their families). In all cases, students must follow proper sign-out procedures.

grid representation of letter day schedules

Academic Requirements

Students normally take five or six courses each year. At least four of these courses must be from the liberal arts disciplines of English, mathematics, science, history, and foreign language.

minimum credit requirement table

The Academy’s minimum graduation requirements are as follows (18.5 credits total):

  • English: four years (each year at LFA)
  • Mathematics: three years (including at least algebra I,
  • geometry, and algebra II)
  • History, Science, Languages: three years in at least two of these disciplines and two in the third, including at least two full year lab sciences. All students must take either World History II or Advanced Placement World History and either U.S. History or Advanced Placement U.S. History.
  • Fine Arts: three semesters for incoming freshmen and two semesters for any incoming sophomore, junior, or senior.

Students need at least two additional full-year credits to meet the minimum graduation requirements (one of these must be from the areas of math, science, English, history, or languages) and must also fulfill the requirements of the Athletic Department and Seminar Program. All students are assigned to a seminar group, with whom they are required to meet every cycle.

Students who join the Academy from other countries and who are already fluent in a non-English native language are encouraged, but not required, to study a language in addition to English while they are at LFA. If they choose not to do so, they must successfully complete at least three years in both science and history in addition to meeting the total credit requirements.

Expectations

All students at the Academy are expected to pass all semester and full-year courses. Students who fail a semester of a course will be placed on Academic Probation. A student who fails a semester of a course during the senior year faces the possibility of a delayed or denied diploma. The faculty review the granting of diplomas for all seniors and likewise determine the promotion status of all students on Academic Probation.

From an academic perspective, students who fail a semester of a course do not receive credit for that semester. In order to be eligible to meet graduation requirements students who fail a semester of a year-long, required course must successfully complete a LFA-approved course or program to receive credit for the semester they failed. Students will earn credit towards graduation by successfully completing the approved course or program. The F grade, however, will not be changed on the transcript and the grade earned in the approved course or program will not be included on the LFA transcript.

Academic Course Load

LFA students are expected to maintain a schedule of five or six courses. Any reduction or expansion of a student’s course load beyond those parameters requires the approval of the Dean of Students and Dean of Academics in consultation with the student, parent, advisor, and department chair.

ELL Program

Students who join the Academy from other countries and who are not already fluent in English may be required to participate in the ELL program. These courses offer intensive instruction in English. The multi-level content areas include Grammar, Reading/ Writing, and Speaking/Listening. Upon successful completion of the courses, students may begin a full-time program of LFA academic courses.

Grading System

Four times per year, letter grades and comprehensive teacher comments are reported to students and their parents. Semester grades are reported on student transcripts for year-long (one credit) and semester-long (half credit) courses. Final determination of any grades rests with the teacher. The following descriptions are guidelines for the final letter grades assigned:

  • A+ A  A-     Excellent achievement: outstanding overall performance
  • B+ B  B-     Good achievement: commendable quality of performance
  • C+ C  C-     Satisfactory performance: competent completion of assigned work
  • D+ D  D-     Minimal competency: unsatisfactory achievement
  • F     Failure to fulfill minimal expectations
  • INC     Has not earned credit for the course
  • W     Class removed after designated drop/add period

Grade Point Average

The grade point average is computed only from the semester grades a student earns at Lake Forest Academy. For the purpose of computation, each grade is assigned as follows:

  • 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+ 1.33, D 1.0, D– 0.67
  • F 0.0

For the computation of the yearly grade point average or cumulative GPA, semester courses count one-half the equivalent of a yearlong course.

Learning Support and Monitoring Students of Academic Concern

Lake Forest Academy aims to provide an academic environment that supports a fundamental expectation that each and every student will work to the absolute best of his/her academic ability. To assist with helping students achieve their academic goals the school has supports in place for all students and specifically students that require additional support. 

Extended Time Testing

Any eligible student(s) can request up to 50 percent extra time accommodation for tests and timed quizzes or examinations. Consideration can only be given to those students whose families submit a formal request. This request must be made to the Deans Office at least three weeks before the examination, and must be deemed satisfactory and appropriate by the school. Approval of the request will be communicated to the family before the examination.

Any request for extra time accommodation on external standardized examinations, such as AP, SAT, or ACT, must be submitted directly to the College Board and/or American College Testing. The process of applying for such an accommodation requires the collaborative effort of the parent/guardian of the student as well as the College Counseling Office and the Deans Office. Concerned parties are advised to contact the Deans Office for further details and guidance.

Tutoring

The school program provides regularly scheduled opportunities for extra help from teachers; students and teachers also frequently make their own appointments to meet for review. When students are having difficulty with a course, the school regards outside tutoring as a last resort, to be considered after every effort has been made to resolve the situation with regular extra help sessions from the teacher. At times, however, the department or advisor may recommend more formal remedial instruction. Lake Forest Academy faculty are not available during the academic year for tutoring. Requests for tutoring should be directed to the Learning Resource Specialist or Dean of Students.

An integral component of this is a proactive and supportive process of academic monitoring that has the following goals:  

  • to enhance and encourage communication at all levels, including faculty, administration, students, and parents
  • to establish clarity of procedure
  • to set out structured guidelines to ensure consistency in approach

In short, the academic monitoring process follows a three-tiered structure and is supported by four academic review meetings per year (interim, semester, interim, semester). It is important to note that a student could be considered of academic concern at any time during the year. The following is the three-tiered approach used in monitoring a student’s progress:

  • Academic Watch
  • Academic Review
  • Academic Probation
     

Academic Watch

Any student who finishes the interim, semester, or the year with a GPA of between 1.68 and 2.00, or who has two Ds and/or one F at the end of any grading period, is considered a student on academic watch. The Academy approaches these students and their families in the following way:

  • A letter is written by the Dean of Students to the student and the parents (copied to the advisor and dorm parent, if appropriate). The letter notifies the student of the concern and outlines subsequent policy and procedure.
  • The student’s attendance record is monitored for absences, lateness, etc. The student’s pattern of handing in homework and other assignments, as well as his/her work habits, is also monitored.
  • At the end of the first grading period, the student’s advisor and the Dean of Students decide on the next course of action. Options could include placing the student back in “good standing,” extending the period of academic concern, or placing the student on academic review.
     

Academic Review

Any student who finishes the interim, semester, or the year at or below a 1.67 GPA is considered for academic review. Also, any student who is on the academic watch list and who has not demonstrated the required academic improvement (i.e., has not moved above the minimum standard) will be placed on academic review. The Academy approaches these students and their families in the following way:

  • The Dean of Students hosts a meeting, which includes the student’s teachers, coaches, the Learning Resource Coordinator, and the School Counselor, to discuss the student’s academic performance and progress as well as his/her future prospects for academic success at LFA.
  • This meeting is followed by a letter from the Dean of Students to the student and to the parents (also copied to the student’s advisor and dorm parent, if appropriate), setting out the conditions of the review.
  • At the end of the next grading period, a full faculty discussion takes place regarding each student on academic review. Individual grades and comments for these students will be completed and available for this meeting, as well as attendance records. The Dean of Students leads the discussion by presenting each student’s history to the faculty. The faculty then vote whether to continue with the academic review period or to place the student on academic probation.

Academic Probation

Any student who finishes the interim, semester, or the year at or below a 1.67 GPA can be considered for academic probation. Also, any student who is on academic review and has not demonstrated the required academic improvement can be placed on academic probation. The probationary period lasts for a minimum of an interim. Failure to meet the conditions of the probation usually leads to the removal of the students at the end of the semester or the end of the year.

Daytime Study Halls

All freshmen are assigned to study hall during the academic day, but individual students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher may be excused from some or all of those study halls. Returning sophomores, juniors, and seniors may be assigned to study halls as deemed necessary by the advisor and Dean of Students based on their academic record from the previous marking period.

Evening Study Hours

Evening study hours provide students with time to complete their academic obligations and develop good organizational and time-management skills. From 8 to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday evenings, the dorms are quiet, and students are expected to be productive. Students may sign out with the dorm faculty if they need to use the Student Center or see a teacher for extra help; otherwise, they are expected to work in their rooms with their doors open. Students may not listen to music without headphones or sleep during study hours. Changes may be made at the discretion of the Learning Resource Specialist, School Counselors, Advisor, and/or Dean of Students.

9th grade students will participate in a structured 2 hour study hall twice a week in the Student. This is designed to aid in the development of independent learning and provide them with support from faculty as they learn more about how to effectively work outside of school hours. 

Honors Study Hall

Sophomore, junior, and senior students who have achieved at least a 3.75 grade point average during the previous marking period earn Honors Study Hours privileges. Students with Honors may be in the Student Union or lower Corbin during study hours as long as they have signed out properly with the dorm faculty and do not interrupt the academic activity of other students or faculty. Students who live in single rooms and have Honors may keep their room doors closed during study hours; students in doubles may only do so if both students in the room have Honors.

Evening Structured Study Hall (SSH)

Boarding students who earn three grades at C or below, two grades at D+ or below, or a single F during any marking period are placed in Evening Structured Study Hall (SSH) for the following marking period. Students who have been placed on Academic Watch, Academic Review, or Academic Probation are placed in SSH for the entire semester. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Learning Resource Specialist, School Counselors, Advisor, and/or Dean of Students.

Daytime Structured Study Hall

Any student who earns three grades at C or below, two grades at D+ or below, or a single F during any marking period will be placed in a Daytime Structured Study Hall as their schedule allows for the following marking period. Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the Academic Counselor, School Counselors, Advisor, and/or Dean of Students.

Academic Honors

Students who achieve a grade point average of 3.75 or higher for the semester earn a place on the Head of School List and Honors Study Hours privileges in the evenings. Students who achieve a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.74 earn a place on the Honor Roll for that semester.

Academic Performance List (APL)

Students may also be recognized by their teachers at the end of each semester for the quality of their performance in areas which cannot be measured by grades: enthusiasm for the subject, commitment to excellence, positive attitude, seriousness of purpose, and reliability. An “APL” is added to the earned letter grade in a course if a student has demonstrated these qualities during the semester. Students who receive an “APL” in three or more subjects earn recognition by being placed on the Academic Performance List.

Reporting Procedures

There are three marking periods each year (first interim report, first semester grades, second interim report, and second semester grades). Also, there are five informal progress reports, which are sent out three cycles before the interim grades and semester grades. The interim and semester grade reports are posted online, while the progress reports are communicated by each student’s advisor. At the end of each grading period, all students and their parents receive grades and progress reports with specific comments from each teacher. Advisors also maintain consistent contact as necessary or agreed upon with parents regarding advisee progress.

Homework and Course Content

The amount of time it takes to complete homework varies from student to student. However, as a general guide, students can expect about 30 minutes per night prior to a class meeting for regular courses and about 45 minutes per night for Advanced Level/AP classes.

No homework is assigned during Thanksgiving, Winter Vacation, and Spring Vacation.

Issues that might, from particular social, historical, or cultural viewpoints, be considered controversial, including references to ethnicities, nationalities, religions, races, dialects, sexualities, gender, or class, may be addressed in sources that have been deemed appropriate for LFA courses. Fair representation of issues and peoples may occasionally include controversial material. Since LFA students have chosen a school that emphasizes citizenship, scholarship, responsibility, and character, participation in LFA courses requires empathy and the level of cognitive maturity consistent with students who have engaged in thoughtful analyses of a variety of sources (Adapted from the AP College Board).

Course Changes

Lake Forest Academy aims to provide a challenging and supportive academic setting for students. Occasionally students may be in the wrong level of a course. If such a concern arises and a change of level is deemed appropriate and able to be accommodated by the student’s schedule, the Dean of Academics and department chair may authorize the change. If an adjustment to a course level is made in consultation with the teacher, parent, advisor, and department chair, the course completed by the student at the end of the semester is the one that will appear on the final student transcript.

Any student-initiated add, drop, or change in course level must be acknowledged and approved by the parents as well as Lake Forest Academy. To do this, a course modification process must be completed and this involves the student, teacher, advisor, parent, and department chair. The office reserves the right to change a student’s schedule for appropriate placement or section balancing. Students earning a grade of C- or below in an Advanced or AP course may be moved to a regular section by the department. Lake Forest Academy cannot guarantee that an elective course will run or that a student will get into his/her first or second choice in electives.

Please refer to the Academic Course Book for a full description of the process to change courses.  

Student Reclassification

For reclassification to another grade level, the student in question must have an outstanding academic record, have demonstrated him/herself to be a positive member of the community, and be in the position to secure successful admission into college. The request will be considered by the Academic Council as well as the student’s advisor and individual teachers. The Dean of Students will make a recommendation to the Head of School, who will make the final decision on the student’s placement.

Independent Study

Lake Forest Academy believes in the concept of Independent Study for interested, qualified, and mature students. To assist our students in acquiring the techniques necessary to work independently outside the framework of standard, courses, and to encourage and cultivate intellectual curiosity, LFA offers students the opportunity to construct and pursue an approved independent course of study. Independent Study is open to students of all grades, but because of the qualifications necessary for admission, our expectation is that juniors and seniors are the most natural candidates. 

Please refer to the Academic Course Book for the full description of the process for incorporating an independent study into a schedule.  

Tests

Students are not required to take more than two full-period tests per day. If more than two have been scheduled, students may be excused from taking one by making a request to the teacher. These requests should be submitted by the start of study hours the night before the test. If a postponement is granted, students should expect to make up tests the next day. Please note that any request after the deadline will be granted or denied at the teacher’s discretion.

AP Exams

All students in Advanced Placement courses are expected to take the AP exams for those courses. Students who are not considering taking the AP exam must consult the teacher and Department Chair for further guidance.

 

Information Services

The Information Services Department at Lake Forest Academy is a research instruction and media literacy department as well as a traditional library facility. The primary goal of the Information Services Department is to assist students in developing 21st century research and media literacy skills, which will prepare them for college-level research, as well as successful navigation through an information-driven world. To that end, students receive formal media literacy instruction through the Seminar Program, as well as project-specific research and bibliographic instruction integrated within the classroom across curricular areas. Students are taught to evaluate, analyze, synthesize, create, and present information across a variety of media platforms. In keeping with the one-to-one iPad program, the Information Services Department embraces the concept of the “mobile library”, placing special emphasis on mobile access to library resources.

The Information Services Department manages and makes available to the LFA community a wide array of electronic and physical media collections.  Students have mobile access to a number of online research tools including:  scholarly research databases; current and historical newspaper article databases; subject-specific guides to web resources; ebooks; bibliographic management and citation programs; and the LFA digital history archives. Students may also access and borrow physical media including: print books, graphic works, DVDs (documentary and feature films), video games, and magazines.

  • Library Hours Policy: The Library Reading Room is open on school days between the hours of 7:30 AM and 3:30 PM. During that time, it is staffed by a Librarian who is available to provide research and library assistance.
  • Circulation Policies: Overdrive ebooks may be checked out for 2 weeks; print books for 1 month; DVDs for 1 week; and video games for 2 weeks. Items are renewable for the equivalent lending period, although overdue items will preclude the student from checking anything else out.
  • Long Overdue or Lost Items: The Library does not apply daily fees for overdue items, but any item not returned within 30 days after its due date will be considered lost and the student will be billed for replacement costs via the Business Office.
  • Expected Behavior: Students are expected to maintain a respectful decorum in the Library Reading Room, keeping in mind that it is primarily a quiet study space. Headphones or ear buds should be used when listening to electronic media. Covered drinks and small snacks are allowed, but students must clean up after themselves. Furniture should be left in place, and the room should be treated with care to maintain the historical integrity of the surroundings.