Graduation Requirements

The Portland School Committee has established that each student must earn a total of twenty-one (41) Units of Proficiency (UPS) and meet a computer proficiency standard to participate in graduation exercises and receive a high school diploma. The UPS are typically earned over a four year period, barring extenuating circumstances such as serious illness or academic failure. The computer proficiency standard is typically met by the end of middle school. All course credits and requirements must be completed in order for a student to participate in graduation exercises.

Students are expected to select their courses in consultation with their parents/guardians, teachers, and school counselors. Credits are awarded upon successful completion of a course. Typically, fullterm courses at Deering High School are worth two credits each; half-term courses earn one credit each. Within this guide, each academic cluster has defined the courses recommended to meet the following graduation requirements:

4 courses of English	4 units of Proficiency (8 credits)
3 courses of Mathematics	3 units of Proficiency (6 credits)
3 courses of Science	3 units of Proficiency (6 credits)
3 courses of Social Studies	3 units of Proficiency (6 credits)
1 course of Fine Arts	1 unit of Proficiency (2 credits)
1 course of Physical Education	1 units of Proficiency (2 credits)
1 course of Health	0.5 units of Proficiency (1 credit)
Elective Courses	4 units of Proficiency (8 credits)
Senior Capstone Experience	0.5 units of Proficiency (1 credit)
Total for Graduation	21 units of Proficiency (41 credits)

Note: It is highly recommended that students planning to attend college should complete at least two courses of World Languages through Level II. Consult your school counselor.

To be eligible for any privileges that accompany a grade level, a student must have earned at least 10 credits every year (or be on track with their Units of Proficiency [UPS]). No student may participate in the graduation ceremony without having all the required credits for graduation.

Academic Policy and Course Selection Guide

Deering offers a variety of courses to match student interests, preparation, and goals. A detailed description of these courses as well as explanations of school academic policies is available in the Course Catalog, published each winter for the following academic year. Copies are available on the DHS website.

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences

Parent conferences are scheduled twice during the school year. Specific information is sent home through the mail or with students about the schedule; both afternoon and evening times are available. Students set up appointments for conferences at a time when the parent and teacher are available during conference time. Parents may always request additional conference time by calling the guidance office, assistant principal's office, or their student’s teachers. Interpretations and translations are available for parents as needed.

College Admission Testing

Some colleges and universities as well as some technical schools require an entrance examination. Students are encouraged to take the SAT or ACT in the spring of their junior or fall of their senior year. These tests require pre-registration and fees will need to be paid by the student. Fee Waivers for these tests are available for families receiving Free and Reduced Lunch vouchers. Your school counselor can help you determine the testing requirements of the school where you plan to apply.

School Counseling Department

The school counselors in the Guidance Department provide brief counseling services for academic success, career and college readiness, and social/emotional development. They work with students to map out four-year plans and assist students in making decisions around selecting courses to meet particular goals. Students are welcome to drop in to the Guidance Office with questions, or to make an appointment to meet with their school counselor.

Change of Schedule

Prior to the start of each term, students will have an opportunity to review their schedules. Once the semester begins, students will need to secure permission from the following people in order to remove or change a class:

• Current Teacher
• New Teacher
• Parent/Guardian
• School Counselor
• LAC Advisor and/or Special Education Case Manager (if applicable)

A student is considered full time if they take 3 or more classes. (Spring Ahead counts for 3 and PATHS counts for 2). If a student wishes to go to part-time status, they must seek the approval of the principals.

Withdrawal From Class

A student may only withdraw from a class if their remaining schedule leaves them with at least 6 UPS. In order to change or drop a course, a student must arrange a conference with their School Counselor. Guardian approval is necessary. If a student withdraws from a class during the first two weeks of the term, there will be no record of this withdrawal on the student’s transcript.

If a student withdraws after the second week of the term and before the final four weeks of the course (final two weeks for quarter courses), they will have a W placed on their transcript.

If a student withdraws during the final four weeks of the course (final two weeks for a quarter course) the procedure shall be as follows:

A student who withdraws from a class he/she is failing will have the grade at the time of the withdrawal placed on the transcript. This grade will be counted in the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA).

A student who withdraws from a class he/she is passing during the above time frame shall have a W placed on their transcript.

Independent Study Courses

Deering students can take up to four credits of independent study to be counted as elective credit toward graduation. An Independent Study Plan must be approved in advance by the principal. The principal will not approve for credit any activity sponsored by a business or organization which is strictly for profit. When a student wishes to earn independent study credits, the following procedure must be followed:

1. The student initiates the request through his/her School Counselor. The counselor ascertains that the student is within the total number of independent study credits allowed.
2. Together the teacher and the student will complete an Independent Study Plan, and submit that plan to the cluster coordinator for that subject. If the cluster coordinator approves the plan, s/he will submit it to the principal. The principal will return the plan to the school counselor who will forward a copy to the supervising teacher.
3. The school counselor will assist the student throughout this process, to ensure that all procedural requirements are completed and to verify that the student's transcript is accurate. Upon completion of the Independent Study, the supervising teacher will enter the student grade and sign and return the course approval form to the school counselor to verify completion of the independent study.

School Records

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) provides certain rights to parents and eligible students (18 years of age or older) with respect to the student’s education records.

• Inspection & review of educational records
• Request an amendment of the student’s education records to ensure they are not inaccurate, misleading, or in violation of the student’s right to privacy.
• Consent to disclosure of educational records, except in circumstances as permitted by law.
• School officials with legitimate educational interests may disclose to school officials with a “legitimate educational interest.”
• Military Recruiters/Institutions of higher education are entitled to receive the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of secondary students.
• Complaints regarding school department compliance with FERPA who believe that the School Department has not complied with the requirements of FERPA have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.

The Portland Public Schools shall comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and all other federal and state laws and regulations concerning confidentiality and maintenance of student records and information. The Portland Public Schools designates the following student information as directory information:

1. Name;
2. Participation and Grade level of students in officially recognized activities and sports;
3. Height and weight of student athletes;
4. Dates of attendance in the school unit; and
5. Honors and Awards received.

Portland Public Schools may disclose directory information if it has provided notice to parents (and eligible students over age 18) and has not received timely written notice refusing permission to designate such information as directory information.

Under federal law, military recruiters and institutions of higher education are entitled to receive the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of secondary students, and the Portland Public Schools must comply with any such request, provided that parents and students have been notified of their right to request that this information not be released without prior parental consent.

Students Transferring To Deering

Parents/guardians of students transferring to Deering from outside the school system are required to complete an online registration form and to provide all required documentation. Forms can be found here.

Students Transferring Out Of Deering

Parents/guardians who move to another school district should notify the student’s school counselor and Guidance Department and sign a withdrawal form. Families should then follow the registration process of the new District. After receiving a records request from the receiving District, we will send the student’s educational records to the new school. All library books, textbooks, and other school property assigned to the student must be returned before the student transfers or the parents/guardians will be billed for them. We request that parents/guardians notify the school office of a transfer at least one week in advance.

Students wishing to transfer between Portland high schools may request to do so during the summer months. Students will be asked to fill out the MPA Transfer Eligibility form. A student transfer between the high schools during the school year requires administrative approval from both high schools.

Students transferring to Homeschool are required to complete the Intent to Homeschool form from the Maine Department of Education.

Grading

The foundation of our grading approach is consistent across the district, while specific decisions about implementation may vary by school. The below agreements define the common foundation to which all grading practices and policies will align.

Portland Public Schools Proficiency-Based Grading Agreements

We believe...	Because...	So we all...
Grading should be based on a common expectation for grade level learning.	Because what a child learns in our schools shouldn't be based on what teacher they happen to get.  We know there are certain things young people need to learn in order to be ready for college or a career.	Teach from the same baseline learning standards across teachers and schools. Use consistent definitions of what meeting the standard means so that all students are held to the same expectation.
Grading should tell us what students actually know and are able to do.	So that schools can be responsive to what students need, whether it's more help or more challenge.	Distinguish academic grades from habits and behaviors. Determine a final grade based on where a student ultimately ends up with their knowledge or skill. Report out on each learning standard so we can pinpoint where to add in more supports/time and when to push to the next level. Ensure grade scale clearly delineates levels of proficiency.
Grading parameters should line up with what we know and believe about how people learn (PPS Learning Beliefs)	Because we believe in "walking the walk". Our beliefs reflect our expertise as educators, which are grounded in research and experience.	Design and evaluate our grading practices in relation to each learning belief (e.g. formal academic recognitions, multiple opportunities, etc.)

Deering Gradebook Agreements Summary

At Deering:

Grades are aligned to shared grade-level standards.

Assessments are designed to provide an accurate picture of a student's content knowledge and skills.  

Proficiency-based rubrics and/or clear scoring criteria provide clear and actionable feedback so the student knows and understands what they need to do next to get better.  

We promote persistence and practice, so students are given multiple opportunities to demonstrate mastery on each standard. 

All Grades are Aligned to Proficiency-Based Rubrics

We grade on a 0-100 point scale aligned to proficiency-based rubrics.  Teachers may choose to use a 1-4 PBL scale for an assignment but regardless of the scale used, the marks are always aligned to a proficiency-based rubric according to the following schedule. See this chart for IC conversion table for PBL marks. Any summative assessment will have all scoring options available so that students always have the opportunity to earn any score, including a score in the Distinguished range.

Departments can choose to only include standards of "practice" (e.g. reading comprehension"), or "content" (e.g. "graphing linear equations"), or both.  The decision should be the most accurate way to communicate the required standards, and should be consistent across the department.

starting 2nd semester of the 2024-2025 school year. 
 

0	Cheating or Missing
0-69	Beginning
70-79	Approaching
80-90	Meeting
91-100	Exceeding

Although a 70 is passing, it is not on-track for college readiness.

Report Cards

Students and guardians may follow student progress and attendance on line using their Infinite Campus login. If you do not have an infinite campus log in, please contact a building secretary for assistance in obtaining your unique login name and password.

Students and guardians are encouraged to check grades and attendance in Infinite Campus regularly. Guardians are encouraged to contact teachers, school counselors, and administrators with any questions or concerns they may have about their student’s performance.

Grade Point Approximation

It is the policy of Portland Public Schools to rank order all members of the senior class. Weighted class rank/standing is used to determine the class valedictorian and salutatorian and reported on transcripts. At the end of the junior year, students are asked to review their grades for accuracy. Grade point approximation is determined by calculating the average of all courses taken by the student in grades nine through twelve. A system of weighted grades is used in which grades in AP and honors courses receive more weight than other courses. The unweighted grade earned is the grade that is displayed on the transcript. For GPA calculation, honors is worth an additional 4 points, and AP courses are worth an additional 6 points.

Honor Roll

Honor rolls are determined at the end of each semester. The Honor Roll includes all students who earn grades of 85 or higher in all courses for a semester. To achieve High Honors, a student must earn 93 or above in all courses. A grade of Incomplete will render a student ineligible for the Honor Roll unless the student has presented a legitimate reason for not completing course work on time and the work is completed before the Honor Roll is documented.

Academic Letters

An Academic Letter is awarded in May to all Deering students in grades 9-12 who have maintained a grade point approximation of 93 or higher for the first three consecutive quarters of the school year.

Valedictorian and Salutatorian Selection

The valedictorian is the student who has earned the highest Grade Point Approximation (GPA), and therefore, class standing, over their high school career. The salutatorian is the student with the second highest GPA. GPAs are determined by calculating a weighted average of student grades for the first seven semesters of high school. Only students who have been enrolled and are attending Deering High School for two consecutive years (four semesters) prior to graduation are eligible for either of these designations. Student honors, scholarships, and awards are made under specific guidelines. For more information, please contact a principal or school counselor.

National Honor Society

The National Honor Society recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence in displaying the qualities of scholarship, character, leadership, and service. Juniors and seniors who meet the requirements are notified of their eligibility in early February and invited to apply for membership. The induction ceremony is held in April. For more information, please see a school counselor or Andrew Gordon, gordoa@portlandschools.org.

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is a fundamental value and expectation of the Portland Public Schools community. If you submit work or parts of work that is not your own, you have not shown that you have met the expectations for the course. Plagiarism is the theft of other people’s intellectual work, and we treat it seriously. To avoid this, work with your teachers to plan your work and ask for help when you need it. Plan ahead and speak to your teacher early in the process to create a timeline for completing the assignment with the support you need. Remember to cite all sources and ask for help if you are unsure of what needs to be cited.

If you submit work that is copied from another source, you will receive a zero for that assignment. After a restorative conversation with the teacher (which may be facilitated by an administrator or other faculty member), then you may receive credit for doing the work within a mutually agreed-upon timeline with appropriate supports. In this instance, the consequence for not doing the work is to do the work, with the desired outcome being mastery of the standards.

If there are repeated instances of cheating and plagiarism within a given course, then it will be at the teacher’s discretion whether or not to allow a retake. An administrator will interview the student to determine the root causes of the cheating, and may make a more comprehensive plan with the student about how to avoid academic dishonesty in the future.

The PPS School Board policy is here.

Religious Holiday

Please refer to the Portland Public Schools Holiday Observances Guidelines and Holiday Calendar available in each school office.

Academic Calendar

The calendar is updated on the Deering High School website. Deering High School follows the district calendar for all major holidays and school breaks. View the calendar online for any changes made during the school year.

Bell Schedule

School begins at 8:20AM and ends at 2:50PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. On Wednesdays school ends an hour earlier, at 1:50PM. Students have four blocks, lunch, break time, and advisory/learning center time.
 

Learning Center

During Learning Center, students receive extra time with their teachers to review material, revise work, or extend their learning. Students default to their advisor, but can be booked by other teachers as necessary.

Advisory

Students start their day in a 10-minute Advisory for a quick check-in and announcements with a trusted adult and a group of supportive peers. On Wednesdays, Advisory is an hour long and will include curriculum and guidance tailored to each grade level. Advisors will communicate with families monthly.

The main outcomes of the advisory experience/course are to:

• build relationship between staff and students, increase academic achievement, and

• support students with post-secondary planning.

• Some of the activities in advisory include: goal setting, developing academic and post-secondary plans, engaging in extended learning opportunities, and community building.

Advisory Yearly focus:

• Freshmen:  High school transition, study skills, time management

• Sophomore:  Identifying interests, career exploration and preparation

• Junior:  Exploration of post-secondary options including college and career

• Senior:  Post-secondary planning