The academic program at Hampton Christian Elementary School promotes a Biblical view of life. Biblical principles may be discovered in every discipline - math, science, history, and language. God's Word is never in conflict with fact. It will expose error as well as reveal truth.

The elementary curriculum provides a strong academic challenge with additional resource opportunities in music, art, physical education, library, and band. Computer instruction is also taught in the elementary program K-6th. The overall curriculum at HCES includes the following publishers: A Beka, ACSI, Shurley Grammar, and Discovery Works Science Labs.

Grading Scale

Grades will be calculated by percentages and designated as a letter grade for grades 1-6.

The school uses the following grading scale for 5 year old kindergarten program:

S+	Excellent	N+	Fair
S	Good	N	Has Difficulty
S-	Average	N-	Poor

The schools uses the following letter/grade scale for first through sixth grades:         

A+	99-100	C	79-82
A	95-98	C-	77-78
A-	93-94	D+	75-76
B+	91-92	D	72-74
B	87-90	D-	70-71
B-	85-86	F	0-69
C+	83-84

Honor Roll

Honor students will be recognized at the conclusion of each nine-week grading period. There are three honor rolls to recognize academic achievement.

• A Honor Roll requires all grades to be As.
• A-B Honor Roll requires all As and Bs.
• B Honor Roll requires a B average with no grade lower than a C. There must be an A for each C.

Each child's ability, application, and achievement are taken into account, but students are marked on actual achievement, not primarily on effort put forth.

Extra Credit

Standards for academic achievement must remain constant for all students to have equity in opportunities and for students to have an understanding of being faithful and diligent in their work. IF extra credit or bonus points are being offered, All students will have the same opportunity and due dates for extra credit during the normal course requirements. However, individual students will not be afforded the opportunity for extra credit for the purpose of raising his/her grade after grades have already been averaged (Ex. extra credit cannot raise a grade from failing to passing; extra credit cannot be offered in order to qualify for Honor Roll). Students are not to be given advanced points (i.e. allow them to borrow from a future grading period to raise their current grade).

Homework

It is the students' responsibility to complete homework. However, parents have a key role in overseeing that the work is completed. On a daily basis, parents need to read and sign the student's homework assignment agenda. Young students are learning responsibility, but they need help getting organized. Parents need to ensure that students have the necessary supplies and a structured time and place to do their homework. Parents should seek the best study arrangement for their child - remembering that each student has unique learning needs. Students who are not faithful in completing homework assignments will spend part or all of resource/lunch times in order to catch up.

Interest and appreciation should be shown for the child's schoolwork. Parents should go over graded papers and help students correct deficiencies without causing the child to feel inferior. Encourage each child to do his best rather than become overly concerned with grades.

Teachers normally will give lighter homework assignments on Wednesday nights (to facilitate participation in church activities) and on PTF nights (to facilitate parent attendance at the PTF meetings).

Academic Probation

Students who fall below a "C" average may be placed on academic probation. Individual students may be required to enter tutoring or the directed study program. These tutoring  programs require additional financial obligation.

A new student who fails one or more subjects during the first semester at Hampton Christian will be kept on probation for the next semester. During this period the student's progress will be monitored to determine whether he/she should return the following semester. Tutoring and other intervention strategies may be put in place to support academic progress.

Test and Quiz Procedures

Students in grades 4-6 are reminded repeatedly to check over their work BEFORE they hand in a test or quiz. Therefore, students may make NO changes to their test or quiz once it has been handed in. The quiz or test will be scored as it was handed in,. Also, cover sheets are required. Following these procedures will ensure that the test or quiz settings are fair and equitable for all students. It will also structure the test or quiz environment to discourage opportunities and temptations for cheating.

5K Entrance/Placement

HCES adheres to state guidelines to determine the age for students to begin school. Therefore, a student must be five years old before October 1 of the current school year for entering the 5-year old kindergarten program.

Promotion/Retention

Childhood is brief; it goes by quickly. We do not want to rush children into a rigorous academic arena before they are emotionally, physically, and developmentally ready. Students who do not show academic readiness, emotional maturity, or self control may be retained in a grade even though their birthday meets state and school requirements.

Promotion for Grade 6 (same requirements for grades 7 and 8)

The final grade in a course is determined by the average of the two semester grades. A student is considered passing a subject if he has attained an average of at least a 70%. Each student must maintain a passing grade in Bible every semester.

If a student fails two subjects or has an overall average of less than 70%, the administration will decide whether the student will be promoted or retained.

A student who fails three or more subjects will not be promoted to the next grade.

Sixth grade students who have a final end of year average of less than 70 in any of the following subjects:   Math, Language, Reading, or Bible, will be required to make it up during the summer before proceeding to the 7th grade in the fall.

Awards Assembly

It is scheduled for the last week of the school year. Only grades 1-6 will be recognized for academic honor rolls during  the end of year assembly. The awards assembly will recognize students in the following areas:

• Honor Roll
• Citizenship
• Attendance
• Progress
• Most Improved

Physical Fitness awards will be presented following Field Day activities.
 

Athletic Eligibility for Sixth Grade Students (See the Athletic Handbook)

Sixth grade students may try out for JJV sports: Soccer, basketball, swimming, track, cross country, tennis, softball, and cheerleading.

Students participating in athletics must demonstrate Christian respect for all coaches and officials. Their conduct must demonstrate a Christian testimony in practices, traveling to and from, and while engaged in all athletic competitions.

Students must have an overall "S" average, must not have received an unsatisfactory conduct grade in any class, and must have a minimum scholastic average of 78%, with no failure in any course, in order to be eligible to participate in athletics. If eligibility requirements are not met on a periodic grade report, the athlete becomes ineligible to practice or play in games.

If eligibility requirements are not met on a progress report, the athlete becomes ineligible to practice or play in games until the teacher(s) inform the coach that the student's grades again meet the eligibility requirements. If the eligibility requirements are not met on a 9-week report card, the athlete becomes ineligible until the following progress report, when he/she meets eligibility requirements again. If a student fails the exam, but passes the semester, he is eligible. Any student who fails a 1st semester course will be ineligible to participate in athletics during the 2nd semester. If a student fails the 2nd 9-weeks, but passes for the semester, he/she will become eligible to participate as soon as the teacher reports to the Athletic Director that the student has attained a passing grade. If a student fails an exam, but passes the semester, he will be eligible. Final end-of-the-year report card: A student who fails a semester grade must retake that class by the next sports season for the new school year.

Standardized Testing

All students in grades one through six are required to take the Stanford Achievement Test Program and the Otis -Lennon School Ability Test in the spring of each year. A copy of the testing results for the Stanford Achievement Test will be sent home to parents. During the week of the Stanford testing, students will need plenty of sleep and a good breakfast each morning. Homework assignments during that week will be greatly reduced and the students will be given several short breaks during the testing sessions. All students will need two No. 2 pencils with good erasers. Students at certain grade levels will need an English and metric ruler and/or a calculator. Parents will be notified several weeks in the "Parent Connection" several weeks in advance of the testing dates.

Test Schedule

Teachers will schedule and announce quizzes and tests as far in advance as possible. Although not always possible, teachers will also attempt to coordinate their individual test and quiz schedules so that excessive workloads will not fall on the same students on the same day.