The Online High School Day at PALCS

High school students are required to either attend their virtual lessons live or view the recorded version. Each course has one virtual lesson per week. Each virtual lesson will have a corresponding graded assignment associated with the virtual lesson. This assignment must be completed whether the student attends live or views the lesson at a later time. Virtual lessons account for 10% of the student’s marking period grade. This percentage includes the completion of the virtual lesson assignment.

Teachers also host Office Hours during standard business hours, where they will be present in a virtual classroom at a scheduled time and be available to assist students with any assignment questions on an as-needed basis. PALCS offers online Homework Help after standard business hours. Students may log in as needed and speak with a PALCS teacher.

Academic Track

Academic courses are designed to meet all standards set by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. These courses are designed for those students who plan on entering the work force or postsecondary education at the conclusion of high school. Academic courses contain similar content found in our College-Prep classes but with modified pacing.

College-Prep Track

College-Prep courses are designed for a student who is college-bound. Students should be self-motivated and dedicated to be successful at this level.

Honors & Advanced Placement Tracks

Honors courses are academically rigorous courses designated for the college-bound student. In order to be successful, PALCS students need to be self-disciplined and self-motivated with excellent analytical and study skills.

Following the Honors track, Advanced Placement (AP) courses require the same skill level as listed for honors courses. However, AP courses follow a prescribed syllabus determined by the College Board. Students are expected to take the AP exam offered in the spring semester in each subject.

Enrollment in an AP course requires completion of the PALCS AP Application Form as well as admission into the PALCS School. Additional AP courses may be available through the PALCS University Scholars program.

In addition to Honors and AP classes, students have access to dual-enrollment “College in the Classroom” courses. These rigorous courses allow students to get a jump on their college career and can provide transferrable college credit for those who pass!

Grade Placement

Students need at least five credits (including 1 credit in each core area) by the end of their 9th grade year to move to 10th grade and 10 credits (including 2 credits in each core area) by the end of their 10th grade year to move to 11th grade. Therefore, we encourage all students to do their best in all of their academic classes.

Grade Point Average (GPA)

High school-level courses receive quality points based on credit worth and final letter grade. Quality points are used to calculate the grade point average. Honors and Advanced Placement courses are weighted. Courses graded as Pass/Fail are not included in the GPA. The grading scale is available in the introductory information at the beginning of the catalog.

Class Rank

High school class rank is determined by using the grade point average of all students in a graduating class. Class rank is calculated after the first semester and again at the end of each school year.

Online high school students at PALCS can participate in virtual clubs. In our offices, students are able to participate in activities that alternate themes around holidays and fun topics. Around the state, families are welcome to attend any of the numerous field trips hosted by our teachers and parent network coordinators. Further information on PALCS activities can be found in our Academics and Engagement sections on the menu above and enrolled students should check the PALCS Network for up-to-date field trip end event listings and contact information for these activities.

Educational Travel

PALCS is committed to providing students with the skills and knowledge to engage in a globally interconnected world. We provide students with a variety of opportunities for educational travel, giving students the chance to gain firsthand experience and knowledge of other cultures. Certain travel opportunities will have an option of earning a half-credit through course work that can count toward the electives requirement for graduation.

In the past, PALCS teachers and students have enjoyed international experiences in Panama, Galapagos Islands, Europe, and Asia. PALCS students have also traveled to Boston, Washington D.C., and the Florida Keys. Please contact the Guidance Department for information about currently available credited and non-credited educational travel opportunities.

NCAA Sports

NCAA is an organization that establishes rules for eligibility, recruitment, and scholarships for Division I and II sports at the college level. Students who wish to participate in Division III sports should contact the coaches and colleges regarding their policies on athletic participation. Although eligibility requirements have recently changed, they continue to include the successful completion of a curriculum of courses taken at the college-prep or higher level. There are no minimum requirements for GPA, SAT, or ACT scores. It is important that students choose from the list of approved courses provided by the NCAA. This list can be accessed at www.eligibilitycenter.org. Click the NCAA College-Bound Student-Athlete link to enter and then navigate to the Resources tab and select US Student where you will find the link for the list of NCAA courses.

It is the student’s responsibility to provide NCAA Eligibility Center with the following:

• A completed and signed student release form and application fee
• An official high school transcript (from all high schools attended) including junior year grades (available in September)
• Any SAT/ACT scores sent directly to NCAA Eligibility Center (by writing the code #999 on the SAT/ACT registration form)
• A final transcript upon graduation

High school students must also notify their guidance counselor if they intend to play an NCAA sport during course selection so that the counselor can assist with placing students into NCAA-approved courses. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with the NCAA’s eligibility requirements and to make sure that PALCS is aware of their intentions to play NCAA sports for course placement purposes.

If you have questions and want to contact NCAA directly, visit www.eligibilitycenter.org.

Keystone Review

Students who have not scored proficient or higher on a Keystone Exam may retake the exam up until the end of their 11th-grade year. Students who opt to retake the Keystone Exam will be enrolled in a Keystone Review course during the Spring Semester. Keystone Review courses are supplemental courses structured to help students reach on-level standards. High school students may not opt out of a Keystone Review course.

Special Education

Special Education services are available for PALCS students. Accommodations are highly individualized on a student-by-student basis.

For detailed information on the High School curriculum at PALCS, we invite you to download and explore our interactive Curriculum Map. This document outlines the many classes and subjects that students explore as part of a PALCS high school education.