Guidance Department
Welcome to the Northgate Guidance Department page! Here you will find information for both parents and students. It is our hope that the information gathered here will help you have a successful year at Northgate, and a prosperous future.
Laura Hartzell |
Counselor, Grades 10 -12 |
Ext. 1014 |
Brian Talbert |
Counselor, Grades 7 - 9 |
Ext. 1013 |
Judy Chamberlain |
Guidance Secretary |
Ext. 1012 |
Guidance Requirements and Helpful Links
| Progress Reports | Grading Policy | Graduation Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| General College Information | ||
Adding/Dropping a Course
Schedule changes for the academic year will be processed during the first ten (10) days of school if deemed educationally sound. Changes should be initiated with the student's assigned guidance couselor. No other amendments to a schedule may be made, without consequences, unless appropiately substantiated by written documentation and ultimately approved by the Building Principal.
Class Rank
Students are graded on a numeric grading scale. These percentages are as follows:
90 - 100% = A
80 - 89% = B
70 - 79% = C
60 - 69% = D
0 - 59% = F
Class rank is cumulative and is computed using all grades earned while attending Northgate High School. The official ranking is completed at the end of each academic year. The grade earned in a course taken for make-up is recorded in addition to the grade originally earned in that course; however, credit is granted only once. Summer school grades become part of the record for the following school term and will not affect class rank until the end of the next school year.
Students electing advanced and identified accelerated courses have an opportunity to improve their class rank on the weighted scale. The extra weight is given to courses by increasing the quality point value of the grades earned in the course. There will be five (5) additional percentage points added to the grade. The courses receiving this additional credit are English Honors, Social Studies Honors, Music Appreciation/History, Physics, Calculus and Accounting III.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level courses taught in high school. All AP courses will have ten (10) additional percentage points added to the grade. These courses include AP U.S. History, AP European History, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP English Language and Composition, and AP Statistics.
National Honor Society
National Honor Society recognizes students for academic achievement, character, leadership and service. It is open to junior and senior students with an NPA of 87.5% or higher upon completion of a personal information form. Candidates are voted on by a faculty committee. National Honor Society is nationally recognized as the most prestigious honor a student can achieve during their high school career.
Counseling
Each student is assigned a counselor. Students are requested to go to the Guidance Office during non-class time unless a counselor has requested otherwise. The time for impromptu visits is during study hall periods. A pass should be obtained from the guidance secretary prior to your visit and shown to your study hall teacher prior to going to the Guidance Office. Students are also encouraged to visit the guidance counselors after dismissal.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parents/guardians are encouraged to keep in contact with their child’s teachers. If there is a need to meet with your child’s teacher, please adhere to the following:
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Contact your child’s counselor at (412) 732-3300 ext. 1012
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Please inform your child’s counselor that you would like to schedule a meeting with your child’s teacher(s).
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The counselor will establish a convenient meeting time for all parties.
If the parent/guardian is not satisfied with the parent/teacher conference, then a meeting can be scheduled with the Principal. The Building Principal’s secretary, may be contacted at (412) 732-3300 ext. 1001 to schedule a meeting time for all individuals.
Progress Reports
A progress report will be sent home after 4 ½ weeks of every 9-week grading period and a parental conference may be requested at that time. Parents/guardians, if they desire, may request a weekly progress report thereafter based on the quality of the student’s work.
Grades
The best way to avoid failure is to always work to your ability at all times and contact your teacher immediately for special help when you feel you are having difficulty. Teachers reserve the right to give a failing grade for any paper submitted after a given deadline without an acceptable reason.
Incomplete grades may change the final average to “failing.” Regardless of a student’s average, any course may be failed by not meeting special course requirements. Our entire grading system is based on the premise that one is held accountable for completing all requirements.
Note: Courses dropped after ten (10) school days at the beginning of a semester may result in a withdrawal and an “F” grade.
Grading Policy
Grading Policy |
|
| Numeric Grade |
Evaluation |
90 – 100 |
Superior Achievement |
80 – 89 |
Above Average |
| 70 – 79 |
Average |
60 – 69 |
Below Average |
0 – 50 |
Failing |
I |
Incomplete |
| W/P (Withdrawal/Pass) |
Passing |
W/F (Withdrawal/Fail) |
Failing |
Grades will be issued based on performance each nine (9) weeks. The final report card will be mailed.
Core Subjects Only
English, Science, Social Studies and Mathematics – Final examinations will be scheduled and required. The grade weight for each nine-week grading period for core subjects will be 22% of one’s grade. The final exam’s value is 12%
| Each nine-week grading period | 22% x 4 = 88% |
| Final examination grade | 12% x 1 = 12% |
| 100% |
Graduation Eligibility and Commencement
Northgate Seniors who have met the following requirements will be eligible for graduation and commencement. The requirements include the following: successfully meeting all Commonwealth of Pennsylvania educational requirements consisting of a Culminating Project, attaining a proficient level or above as a junior or senior on the Pennsylvania System of Assessment (PSSA) or the Northgate local assessment, meeting all Northgate Board of Education requirements which include successfully completing, with a passing mark, the required courses and earning a minimum of 25.0 credits for the 2009 & 2010 graduating classes and 26.0 credits for the 2011 & 2012 graduating classes.
Honor Roll
An Honor Roll will be published every grading period including the names of all students who have an 85% or higher grade average. All courses will be included in calculating grade averages in proportion to the particular amount of credit given each course. The Honor Roll will be as follows:
Distinguished Honors |
95% - 100% + |
High Honors |
90% - 94.99% |
Honors |
85% - 89.99% |
Note: Students achieving three consecutive certificates in Distinguished Honors will receive a certificate of distinction at the awards program in May.
Graduation Requirements
The minimum high school graduation requirements as set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Northgate School Board are as follows:
CLASS |
2015 |
2014 |
2013 |
2012 |
English |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
Social Studies |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
Mathematics |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
3.0 |
Science |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
4.0 |
Computer Applications I |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
Computer Applications II |
.5 |
.5 |
.5 |
.5 |
| Personal Finance | .5 |
.5 |
- |
- |
| Oral Communications | .5 |
.5 |
.5 |
.5 |
Physical Education (.25 - 9th Grade; .5 - 10th, 11th, 12th Grade) |
|
|
|
|
Health |
.5 |
.25 |
.25 |
.25 |
Total |
21.0 |
20.5 |
20.0 |
20.0 |
*Electives |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
6.0 |
TOTAL |
27.0 |
26.5 |
26.0 |
26.0 |
It is the responsibility of each student to maintain a personal record of courses taken and passed to be aware of requirements for graduation. A student cannot rely solely on others to keep him/her informed of promotional status.
General College Information
Visit the following links to help with your future academic plans.
| www.commonapp.org | www.mappingyourfuture.org | www.mymajors.com |
Paying For College |
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| www.fafsa.ed.gov | www.finaid.org | www.pheaa.org |
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Technical School Information |
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| www.careercolleges.com | www.best-technical-schools.com | |
Occupational Outlook Handbook |
AP Exam Information |
www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/about.html |
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ASVAB Testing |
Pittsburgh MEPS testing: 412-395-4480 |
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Military Recruiting Information
Visit the following links to help with your future military plans.
| www.usmc.mil | www.myfuture.com |
SAT/PSAT Information
General Information |
www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html |
| Question of the Day | www.collegeboard.com/apps/qotd/question |
| Practice Questions | www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/prep_one/practice.html |
| Practice Test | www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/prep_one/test.html |
ACT Information |