Dear Parents,
We are planning our Honors level classes for 7th and 8th grade students in the 2009-2010 school year.
Honors classes are available for English and Math and placement is determined by an application process.
Similar to the accelerated or G.A.T.E. classes of the past, the Honors classes will present a more challenging,
in-depth and demanding course curriculum with related activities for students who truly enjoy the subject area
for which they are applying. The Honors courses will also require that students meet higher academic and
curricular standards than those met by students in the regular class; so it will not be uncommon for students
who had an ‘A’ grade under regular class standards to earn a ‘B’ or ‘C’ in the Honors class.
To be accepted into an Honors class, a student must complete an application form, get a parent
signature on that form, and turn it in to the counseling center by the date specified on the application. Along
with the application, students will be required to give a teacher recommendation form to their current Math or
English teacher, or both if they are applying for both classes. A student applying for English and Math will
give one recommendation form to each of those teachers. In addition, applicants for the English Honors class
will take a placement test on April 21st. The results of the First Semester district math exam will be used for
the placement scores for Math Honors classes. The points a student earns on the Honors System Application
scale described below will determine student placement in Honors classes.
To be accepted into an Honors Class at Cope Middle School, a student will be evaluated in the
following content areas for which he/she is making application:
1. Grades in current year’s class: (A = 5 pts; B = 4 pts.)
2. Standardized Testing (CST from the previous school year):
(Related test scores in Advanced range = 5 points; Proficient range = 4 points)
3. Placement Tests:
English – Writing Sample scored on a 4 Point Rubric
Math – First Semester District Exam (Advanced = 4 points, Proficient = 3 points)
4. Attendance (current school year): Average = no more than 1 day per month:
(Yes = 2 points; No = 0 points)
5. Teacher Recommendation: (Highly Recommend = 3 pts: Recommend with reservation = 1 pt.)
6. Citizenship: No ‘N’ or ‘U’ Citizenship (Yes = 2 points; No = 0 points)
Maximum Possible = 31 points
Once accepted, a student must maintain a ‘B’ average (85% or greater) in the Honors class for each
quarter, and have satisfactory citizenship to remain in that class. Also, it is important to note that Honors
classes are not considered by the area high schools for placement in any of their classes. Again, since the
Honors courses will require that students meet higher standards than those met by students in a regular class,
and could result in a grade lower than an ‘A’ in the Honors class, it is important that students and parents
carefully consider all of these ramifications before making application for the Honors class or classes of their
choice. Parents and students will be notified about Honors class placement sometime in June.
Please remember this is merely a notification of the policy and procedures used for Honors class
placement here at Cope. Therefore, if you have any questions or concerns, please direct them to Kate Pearne,
principal, or your student’s counselor.
Respectfully,
Kate Pearne
Principal
Cope Middle School
Revised 2/16/16