Credits and Grades (High School)

The Marana Unified School District is committed to providing each student the opportunity to achieve curriculum standards and successfully meet and exceed the Arizona Academic Standards. Criteria have been developed to provide each student with maximum opportunity to succeed in school.  

Students, parents, and the school’s professional staff share the responsibility for academic achievement and regular advancement through the educational process. Promotion from year to year will be based upon the mastery of curriculum standards in reading, written communication, mathematics, science, social studies, and other required areas adopted by the State Board of Education. 

The Course Pass/Fail Determination (Grades 9 - 12)
Achievement of minimum performance standards shall be determined by the teacher based on the following non-prioritized items:

• Arizona State Standards.
• District Assessment results.
• Assessment of daily work, homework, tests, and quizzes. 

 The data considered in the decision of whether a student passes or fails a course must reflect the teacher's most objective assessment of the student's academic achievement.  Motivation, conduct and maturity are to be considered only as correlates to the achievement level.  The final decision of whether a student passes or fails a course must be made based on the objective data. 

Per Arizona Revised Statute §15-521, the final recommendation to fail a student in a course shall be made by the teacher.  Consultation with the principal and other staff members and involvement of parents in all steps of the process are vital. 

Parents of secondary school students, or the student if emancipated, may appeal failing or passing semester course grades. Appeals of failing or passing semester course grades must be made within the semester immediately following the semester in which the failing or passing grade was earned, provided, however, that nothing in this Policy shall permit an appeal requesting that one passing grade be changed to another passing grade. All appeals of failing or passing grades will be submitted in writing to the Governing Board. 

High School Grade Level Placement
In order to be classified at the next higher grade within the high school, the student must earn the number of credits listed as specific credits in the required course of study.  The District requires students to complete twenty-two (22) units of credit for graduation. 

• Freshman.  A student who has completed the eighth (8th) grade and has fewer than five (5) units of credit will be given freshman class standing.
• Sophomore.  A student who has completed at least five (5), but fewer than eleven (11), units of credit by the opening day of school will be given sophomore standing. 
• Junior.  A student who has completed at least eleven (11), but fewer than sixteen (16), units of credit by the opening day of school will be given junior standing. 
• Senior.  A student who has completed at least sixteen (16) units of credit will be given senior standing.