RLHS Commencement Honors Program
To Be Considered for the Commencement Honors (Including Valedictorian or
Salutatorian) Distinction:
A. A student must successfully complete six (6) of the official academically challenging courses
listed below, with one course selected from the RLHS campus in language arts, mathematics and
science. The three remaining additional credits are the student’s choice from the official course
listing.
B. A student must maintain at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA.
C. Should a tie exist between Valedictorian and Salutatorian, ACT score standings will
determine the top honors.
While recognizing that all RLHS courses are academically challenging, the following courses are
considered by staff, students and the Honor’s Committee to be especially challenging:
AP Language
Anatomy
AP Literature
Chemistry
College Spanish /Spanish III
Physics
Calculus/Advanced Calculus
Advanced Biology
Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus
EMT Certification Course
Departmental Distinction Award
Scientific Exploration Lab
Astronomy
*Online College Courses not offered at RLHS, Including Montana Digital
Academy Advanced Placement courses which must be taken on the RLHS
campus.
*College must be approved by Northwest Association of Colleges and Universities or one of its
equivalent accreditation associations.
Determination of an honors level course is indicated by the amount of “academic challenge” the
course requires. Approximately 1/3 additional work is required above a typical RLHS course
expectation. The instructor of each academically challenging course will be required to submit a
course syllabus, curriculum, assessment information and the alignment with state standards and
any project, research, or community service work that may be a part of the course.
It is the student’s responsibility at the beginning of his/her high school career to work with the
guidance counselor and his/her parents, to plan course work, to meet District and State
graduation requirements, as well as to work towards Commencement Honors designation if so
desired.
A Commencement Honors Graduate would be awarded a special designation (yoke) to wear
along with the commencement robe and receive recognition during the graduation ceremony, as
well as an invitation to a Commencement Honors Banquet hosted by the Red Lodge Board of
Trustees.