Policies Regarding: Class Rank, School Honors, and Advanced Classes
Class Rank
New Vista calculates each student's GPA using standard values (A=4, B=3, etc.) We have chosen, however, not to generate class rank lists of students.
New Vista does not rank students because we are committed to seeing students in a multi-dimensional way and as unique individuals. We know that if we begin to rank order students, they will begin to focus their attention on where they are on the list rather than authentic learning goals.
We require that all students take courses across a broad range of disciplines: Applied Technology, Arts, Inter-personal Skills, Intra-personal Skills, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and World Language.
Because these Common Learning Areas cover such a broad range of intelligences, few graduating students have earned a GPA of 4.0.
School Honors
In keeping with our Class Rank Policy, we do not select individual students for awards in various departments or for various activities. We offer all students the opportunity to self-nominate for appropriate community sponsored scholarships and awards.
We celebrate the successes of all our graduates at Senior Exhibition Day. At that time, each graduating student has 10 minutes to present an excerpt of his or her Culminating Project to the school community. Projects involve a minimum of 120 hours under the guidance of a Graduation Committee, which includes a community person who is expert in the domain of the project. The projects of last year's seniors are described on the back page of our School Profile.
Advanced Courses
Consistent with our class rank and school honors policies, we do not offer Honors, Advanced, Accelerated or AP courses. Our highly skilled teachers are accomplished at meeting the needs of diverse learners in heterogeneous and inclusive classrooms. While some courses, in math, science and world languages, are sequenced, none are tracked. Students who have exhausted our curriculum or seek additional challenge have the opportunity to enroll in courses at Front Range Community College or the University of Colorado at Boulder. These are identified as such on student transcripts.