POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: ACADEMICS

Academic Placement

Mixed age classrooms allow children to work at their own academic level regardless of their birthday. Students will be enrolled in the class corresponding to the child’s age as of the first day of school. 

Nahunta Hall conducts assessments for each newly accepted student to determine a child’s individual academic needs.

Whole or Part Grade Acceleration

Decisions regarding student grade acceleration, whether whole grade or part grade, are made by the Director on a case by case basis after the emotional and academic needs and abilities of the student have been assessed and reviewed.  

Retention

Nahunta Hall does not recommend that a student repeat a grade level (be “held back”). Decisions regarding student retention are made by the Director on a case by case basis after the emotional and academic needs and abilities of the student have been assessed and reviewed.  

Measurement of Progress

Assessment

All students will be assessed formally and informally throughout the year by Nahunta Hall faculty.  Teachers use a range of assessment strategies including:

  • Oral Exams
  • Presentations
  • Student Reflections
  • Self-Assessment
  • Journals
  • Personal Interviews
  • Writing Samples
  • Video and Audio Recordings
  • Benchmarks
  • Structured Observations
  • Anecdotal Records
  • Performance Tasks
  • Checklists
  • Rubrics
  • Portfolios (Electronic or Tactile)
  • Student/Teacher/Parent Conferences
  • Written Quizzes
  • Standardized Tests

Students attending Nahunta Hall may periodically participate in norm or criterion referenced testing and results will be provided to parents.

Progress Reports

Parents receive progress reports on their child detailing activities the child has completed, concepts they have learned or mastered and projects in which they are participating. Whenever possible, samples of the child’s work will also be included for reference however, unlike children at a traditional school, our students will produce few (if any) worksheets or assembly-line art projects to bring home.

Portfolios

Students create academic portfolios that carry from year to year. Portfolios provide one method of documenting student achievement and progress through the curriculum. Both students and teachers select material for inclusion.

Report Cards

Nahunta Hall uses criterion based report cards for high school students. The standards used on Nahunta Hall report cards are aligned with international standards. Utah State core objectives, standards and indicators are also referenced for credit transfer to and from other accredited schools.

Students who demonstrate competency in a given academic subject by the end of the school year receive a cumulative “PASS” grade for that class, the equivalent of an “A”.  High school students must receive a “PASS” grade to be awarded credit for a given course. Students not demonstrating a competency by the end of the year will receive a “NO CREDIT” grade for that class.

If needed, students may request a report card or official transcript with letter grade equivalents upon completion of any full quarterly grading period or school year [e.g., when transferring to another school, applying to college or documenting evidence for an insurance “good student discount”].

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parents, teachers and students meet together to review academic progress and collaborate on student goals at a periodic “Learning Focus Conference.” Students whose parents who miss more than one conference per year will have this noted in their enrollment application for subsequent years.

Homework

Nahunta Hall encourages all students to read at home each night, both aloud with the family and individually. In addition, students who are learning to play a musical instrument should practice at home daily. Other than these two items, homework is not assigned in the primary or lower school programs. Students in the upper school program will have self-chosen projects that may require work at home or with study groups.

Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Policy

Consistent with the State of Utah guidelines, Nahunta Hall implements SEOP procedures and practices for all students in grades seven and above. 

High School Diploma Requirements

Academic Standards

Students must earn a minimum of 24 credits in grades nine through twelve, inclusive, to be eligible for a high school diploma from Nahunta Hall. To qualify for graduation, a student must:

  • Earn a minimum of 10.0 credits in Humanities,
  • Earn a minimum of 8.0 credits in STEM, 
  • Earn a minimum of 6.0 credits in Practical Life coursework, and
  • Complete an approved senior project encompassing all three program component prongs.

Subject to the approval of the administration, credits may be transferred from a variety of accredited programs or schools and may also receive credit via competency testing for certain courses. A senior project is required of all Nahunta Hall students.

Graduation with Honors

Honors are awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding academic progress.  Students awarded honors may wear silver chords during commencement ceremonies. 

To qualify for graduation with honors, a student must:

  • Qualify for graduation, and
  • Document weekly service hours for all years of high school attendance.

Graduation with High Honors

High honors are awarded to students who demonstrate exemplary academic progress and complete four years of high school level study at Nahunta Hall. Students awarded high honors may wear gold cords during commencement ceremonies. 

To qualify for graduation with high honors, a student must:

  • Qualify for graduation with honors,
  • Demonstrate proficiency in a second language,
  • Participate in a school performing arts ensemble for all four years of high school, and
  • Earn a minimum of 4.0 Mathematics credits.