Student and Parent Handbook

Arete Charter High School Student and Parent Handbook

Welcome to Arete Charter High School! This document outlines the requirements for graduation and provides an overview of our academic program designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge essential for future success in college and your career.

Graduation Requirements Overview

To earn your Arete Charter High School diploma, you must successfully complete a total of 255 credits. Credits are awarded upon successful completion of each course. All students are required to meet the A-G requirements as outlined by the state of California.

The A-G requirements are a specific set of high school courses that students must pass with a grade of C or better to be eligible for admission to the University of California (UC) and California State University (CSU) 1 systems. These requirements 2 ensure a strong foundation for college-level academic work.

Requirement	Credits Required	Semesters	Notes
A – History/Social Science	30	6
B – English	40	8
C – Mathematics	30 (required)	6	40 recommended (8 semesters)
D – Laboratory Science	20 (required)	4	30 recommended (6 semesters)
E – Language Other Than English	20 (required)	4	30 recommended (6 semesters)
F – Visual and Performing Arts	10	2
G – College-Preparatory Elective	10	2

Additional Graduation Requirements:

Health: 5 credit (1 semester)

Physical Education: 20 credits (4 semesters)

College Course: 3 credits (All students are required to complete this course)

Electives: 67 credits (approximately 14 semesters)

College/Career Indicator (CCI) Measures

The CCI shows how well local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools are preparing high school students for success after graduation, whether in postsecondary education or in a career. For this reason, the CCI consists of both college- and career-readiness measures.

Prepared Criteria

Prepared Criteria	Measures	Additional Notes
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments	Level 3 or higher in both ELA and mathematics
Advanced Placement (AP) Exams	Score of 3 or higher on two AP exams
College Credit Courses	Complete 2 semesters, 3 quarters, or 3 trimesters of college coursework	C− or better in academic/CTE subjects
UC/CSU Requirements	Meet all A-G requirements for UC or CSU admission	Additional criteria apply

Approaching Prepared Criteria

Approaching Prepared Criteria	Measures	Additional Notes
Smarter Balanced Assessments	Level 2 on both ELA and mathematics
College Credit Courses	Complete 1 semester, 2 quarters	C− or better in academic/CTE subjects
UC/CSU Requirements	Meet all A-G requirements for UC or CSU admission

Failing a Required Course

If you do not pass a required course, you will need to retake it through your assigned curriculum provider or request permission to enroll in a summer credit recovery program offered by one of Arete's approved providers to meet graduation requirements.

Grading Policy

At Arete Charter High School, all courses follow a standard letter grading system. Students receive grades of A, B, C, D, F, or I (Incomplete), which are reflected on both progress reports and end-of-term grade reports.

Grade	Description	Credit Earned
A	Excellent	Full credit
B	Good	Full credit
C	Satisfactory	Full credit
D	Needs Improvement	Half credit
F	Failing	No credit
IP	In Progress (9-week mark)	Considered equivalent to C for reporting
I	Incomplete	No credit until completed

To earn credit for a course, a student must achieve a minimum of 70%.

Completing 50% of the course earns half credit.
Completing 100% of the course earns full credit.
A grade of F means the student did not pass and will not receive credit for that course.

At the 9-week progress mark during each term, the temporary grade “IP” (In Progress) may be used. This indicates the student is on track to pass and is considered equivalent to a C grade for reporting purposes.

Grades of Incomplete or other grade changes must be finalized within 4½ weeks of the start of the next term, unless special arrangements are approved in advance by the administration and teacher. All incomplete grades must be completed by the end of the following term.

In cases involving medical concerns, exceptions may be granted with prior approval from the site director.

Athletics

Curriculum and Course Offerings

Arete Charter High School partners with several high-quality curriculum providers to offer a variety of learning experiences:

Asynchronous Learning

Platform	Course Offerings	Support Available
UC Scout	A-G approved online courses, AP courses, Electives	UC Scout Help Desk, Open Resource Hours
Edynamic Learning	A-G courses, AP courses, Electives	Internal messaging, Open Resource Hours

Synchronous Learning

Platform	Course Offerings	Support Available
Community College	A-G courses, College-level electives	College counselors, Online registration support

Independent Study

Platform

Course Offerings

Support Available

Bright Thinker

A-G courses, limited AP offerings

Students are required to attend weekly check-ins and have access to on-campus support.

Important: To enroll in Bright Thinker’s hands-on curriculum, students must be performing at grade level. All Bright Thinker assessments must be taken on campus in a proctored setting.

For more details, see “Student Support and Optional Resource Hours” below.

UC Scout is proud to offer $349 scholarships towards completing an On Demand course. All eligible students in California are encouraged to apply!

Scholarships are limited to one course semester per student per term. Selected students are required to pay a $50 technology fee per semester. Students who pass the first semester of a full year course with 70% or higher will automatically receive a $349 scholarship for the second semester. students must meet one or more of the following criteria:

Student, parents or anyone in the household is a recipient of or eligible for CalFresh/SNAP or Medi-Cal/Medicaid
Household income is at or below the levels listed on the Reduced-price Eligibility Scale Meals and Snacks table based on the household size

Student Support and Optional Resource Hours

Students are encouraged to take advantage of available support resources:

Service	When	Where/How to Schedule	Purpose
Open Resource Hours	Mondays & Wednesdays, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM	Room 13	Academic support, study space, coursework completion.
On-campus electives	Tuesdays	Room 13 Tuesdays (Elective courses at 10:00 AM & 11:00 AM)	Course offerings and personalized academic help.
Counseling Office Hours	Drop-in: During Open Resource Hours + appointments	Contact staff for one-on-one support.	Academic, college, and career counseling, as well as test proctoring services.

College and Career Readiness

Whether your path leads to a four-year university, community college, trade school, or the workforce, our counselor is here to support you every step of the way. At Arete Charter Academy, we are committed to preparing our students for successful futures. Our High School, College, and Career Counselor offers personalized support throughout your educational journey, including:

Service	Description
Academic Planning	Guidance on course selection to meet graduation and college entrance requirements.
College Applications	Step-by-step assistance with applications, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and deadlines.
Standardized Testing Support	Information and registration help for the SAT, ACT, and other assessments, including test preparation resources.
Financial Aid & Scholarships	Guidance on completing the FAFSA, understanding financial aid offers, and finding scholarship opportunities.
Career Exploration	Tools and support for identifying career interests, exploring vocational programs, internships, and post-secondary options.

Academic Enrichment/Dual Enrollment from Community Colleges

Arete Charter High School students have the opportunity to enroll in select community college courses through academic enrichment opportunities with potential dual enrollment incentives. This allows students to earn college credit while still in high school, giving them a competitive edge on college applications and future goals.

These credits are transferable to most colleges and universities upon admission. Our goal is for Arete students to graduate with 3 to 15 college units completed, providing a strong academic foundation and a valuable head start in higher education. Dual enrollment also offers families meaningful savings in both time and tuition costs.

Transcripts

Funding Policies

Policy	Details
Extracurricular Activities and Electives	While student preference for curriculum providers is considered, final course placement decisions are made by Arete to ensure alignment with academic goals and graduation requirements. Additional funding is not available for sports, workshops, or other enrichment classes outside of the approved curriculum providers.
Independent Study Projects	5 credits can be earned with 60 hours of internship or rigorous class study.
Eligibility Criteria	Student eligibility will include factors like academic standing, maturity, and the ability to work independently.
Assessment Methods	Could include written reports, presentations, portfolios, exhibitions, or a combination of methods.
Documentation	The project must be documented with a proposal, progress, and final outcome.
Supervision and Mentorship	A faculty member must be established who will supervise and mentor students throughout their projects.

Alcohol, Drugs, and Controlled Substances

Arete Charter High School maintains a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol, drugs, and controlled substances. Any student found to be using, under the influence, in possession of, selling, or providing alcohol, drugs, or drug paraphernalia will face serious consequences. This includes a suspension of 1 to 5 days, and depending on the severity of the offense, may also lead to a recommendation for expulsion.

In some cases, students may be referred to support programs instead of suspension, at the discretion of the school administration.

Important: Any student who is found to be selling, offering, exchanging, or distributing drugs or controlled substances will receive an automatic 5-day suspension and a recommendation for expulsion.

Driver's Education and Safety

Driving and Parking

Fully licensed and insured Arete students are permitted to drive and park on campus in the lower lot. Please remember that our campus is home to many small children—and chickens!— all student drivers are expected to drive slowly, attentively, and with the same care we ask of all members of our Arete community. Any student driving in a reckless or unsafe manner is subject to on-campus driving privileges revoked.