Mission Viejo : C-Minus Minimum for Graduation Considered

Trustees in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District are considering requiring a minimum C-minus cumulative grade-point average to get a high school diploma and toughening course requirements in mathematics, science, foreign language and fine arts beyond state guidelines.

The potential impact of such minimum-grade requirements, believed to be the first ever proposed in California, is expected to be a controversial subject in the 20,000-student school district.

Had it been in effect last year, 190 (or 13.5%) of 1,409 graduating seniors at the district’s three high schools and one continuation school would not have received diplomas, said Ski Harrison, assistant to Supt. Peter A. Hartman.

State and county education officials say Saddleback Valley Unified is believed to be the first district to propose such minimum grade standards for graduation. Many districts, including Saddleback, require students participating in athletics and extracurricular activities to maintain a C average.

“I think this is a logical outgrowth of that effort in athletics, and also (state Schools Supt.) Bill Honig’s push for higher expectations and raised graduation standards throughout the state,” said Bill Habermehl, director of curriculum and instruction for the Orange County Department of Education.

Habermehl said the plan raises questions for teachers and issues for students, both of whom have always regarded a D grade, or D average as passing.

“It would be saying that the (high school) diploma has some real value, and we’re not going to accept a mediocre or less-than-average performance. It could have some real positive implications,” Habermehl said.

Like most Orange County school districts, Saddleback Valley high school graduation requirements are already tougher than most in the state, said Barbara Wilson, a program evaluation and research consultant to the state Deparment of Education in Sacramento.

In the Saddleback district, minimum course requirements for the Class of 1987 are one semester of computer studies; four years of English; one year of a foreign language or fine arts; two years of mathematics; two years of science and three years of social science.

Saddleback Unified board members are also considering requiring three years of mathematics, as well as more courses in science, fine arts, social sciences and foreign language.

Both the proposed C-minus cumulative average and tougher course requirements will be discussed tonight at the 7 o’clock board meeting.