Graduation Requirements

Electives in the 3-year college prep program must be approved by the State University System for admission into colleges and universities

Electives in the 3-year career prep program must include at least three vocational job preparatory or technical education credits in one sequential career and technical education program

GPA for class rank and honors and GPA for graduation based on all courses weighted and unweighted GPA, with grade forgiveness applied. (Senate Bill 842.2000)

Exemption from Personal Fitness
+ 2 full seasons of sports (Junior Varsity or Varsity) and C or better on the DOE test

Waiver of 1/2 PE Participation in 1/2 credit of Marching Band or equivalent.

Grade 10 Earn 5 credits and be in 2nd year of high school.
Grade 11 Earn 11 credits and be in 3rd year of high school.
Grade 12 Earn 17 credits and be in the 4th year of high school.
Diploma 24 credits

Community Service Program

(1.) Florida Academic Scholar Requirement: Students wishing to meet the Florida Academic Scholars Award requirements must serve 75 hours of community service in addition to meeting the other criteria. They must provide an action plan which includes a statement of the social problem addressed and the project to be completed. An evaluation product must be completed at the end of the program. This additional requirement applies only to the Florida Academic Scholars Award and does not apply to the other programs under the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. For information and necessary forms, see your guidance counselor. Please be advised these programs are at the discretion of changes made by the Florida Legislature.

(2.) Awards: Seniors will receive the highest award they earned. The service hours will be indicated on their permanent records:
*10-49 hours certificate
*50-99 hours certificate with embossed seal
*100-224 hours service pin and certificate with embossed seal
*250 hours silver cord to wear at commencement

(3.) High School Credit Program: High School students may receive one-half credit in an elective community service course for each 75 hours served up to one total credit. There will be no time limit on students applying for the beginning of the Senior year for entry into or completion of the program. For Seniors wishing to use the credit program during the Senior year:
1. Application must be made before March 1.
2. The last day that hours may be recorded is the last day Seniors attend class.
3. No carryover of hours is allowed beyond the end of the student's normal Senior year.

Full information and applications may be obtained from the Community Service Coordinator or the High School Guidance Office.

Advanced Placement Program (AP)

Lake Region High School participates in the College Entrance Examination Board's Advanced Placement Program. AP courses are taught on the university level at the school. Students who complete high school advanced placement courses and achieve scores of 3 or better on the AP examinations in those courses may receive college credit where the student enrolls following high school. Students should check directly with the colleges or use the catalogs or software available in the Lake Region High School College/Career Room to determine how each college awards credit for AP test scores.

Because of the small enrollment in AP courses, students are afforded the opportunity of intensive class participation and student/teacher interaction. The student assumes a great responsibility when enrolling for an AP course. Enrollment and acceptance into an AP course is a commitment that can not be changed. Students are expected to complete the AP course and to take the AP examination at the end of the year.

AP courses are taught on the college level. Students must apply to take these courses. Students who take the courses must take the AP tests(s) for the course(s). they take. There is no cost to the student for AP tests. The course descriptions are found in this Curriculum Guide.

AP admission guidelines:

+Meet appropriate prerequsite subject skills
+Have above average reading comprehension
+Must be an avid reader
+Must have good writing skills
+PSAT verbal and math score of 45-50 or higher
+Grade Point of average of 3.0 or higher
+Must be self-motivated
+Should have the support and encouragement from home.
Link To AP Page

Early Admission To Polk Community College

PCC and the Polk County Public Schools have an articulation agreement by which Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors with excellent academic achievement may attend classes at PCC and may be able to receive credit toward high school graduation and college credit at PCC. Students who have at least a 2.5 overall GPA can apply for part-time enrollment. Seniors with at least a 2.5 overall GPA can apply for full-time enrollment.
1. Students must register for a regular full time schedule at Lake Region with Lake Region courses.
2. Students must take and pass the College Placement Test and be accepted into PCC.
3. Upon approval to PCC, students will meet with their Guidance Counselor to determine which Lake
Courses to drop and replace with PCC courses.

Drop/Add of Courses
Lake Region High School follows the 4 x 4 schedule. Classes are 90 minutes in length. Students earn 1/2 credit in nine weeks and one credit in eighteen weeks. It is necessary that classes move very rapidly. Due to the concentrated curriculum, students will not be allowed to drop a course and enroll for another course after the first five days of the quarter/term. Once a student has registered for the course, it is the opinion of the administration the student has made a commitment to the school, the teacher and to themselves.

Registration is very important. Courses, sections and entire programs are determined by the selections students made. Decisions are made by the District Office in mid-February of each year. Students are afforded to opportunity to make changes in their schedules before the end of the school year and during the first weeks the counselors return from summer break. Once these windows of opportunities pass, schedules are not changed.

It is incumbent upon the students and parents to make informed decisions during the registration process.

Advanced/Honors Level Courses

Advanced/Honors courses at Lake Region High School require students to work at an accelerated level of academic focus. Admission to these courses will be determined by FCAT scores in Reading and Math from all grade levels, teacher recommendations and previous courses. Students entering Lake Region from private and home schools will be required to be tested on competencies prior to admission to Advanced/Honors courses if there are no FCAT scores available.

Computer Alternative Program (CAPS)

CAPS is a dropout prevention program that utilizes computer assisted and computer managed instruction. The program has a component that allows students to earn an extra elective credit for employment. The goal of the program is to provide an alternate opportunity for students to achieve and maintain a 2.0 GPA and/or catch up on credits required for graduation. CAPS students are taught the same performance standards as regular classes enabling them to mainstream to any program. This program focuses on extensive use of listening and positive communication skills as well as academic content.

Students are required to:
1. Pass the FCAT.
2. Complete the number of credits for high school graduation.
3. Maintain a 2.0 GPA.
4. Work required hours per week on an approved job location.

This program is for student that are serious about graduating from high school. Students must be interviewed and approved in order to be in the CAPS program.

Elective Fees

Some electives require special fees for class participation.
These include but are not limited to
Art
Family and Consumer Science
PE
Business classes
Music classes.