Grades and Credits

High School Credits

In general, in Iowa, a one-year course equals 1.0 credit and a semester-course equals 0.5 credit. However, Ames High School counts a semester-course as 1.0 credit.

If using a traditional high school level textbook, the study of that textbook over the course of a year would equal 1.0 credit. 

For academic courses, 1.0 credit equals approximately 150 hours. This breaks down to 50 minutes per day, five days a week, for 36 weeks.  A science course that includes a lab would be an extra 30 hours, or 180 total hours.

For non-academic elective courses, 120 hours constitutes 1.0 credit or 60 hours for 0.5 credit.

If a student is taking college-level courses in high school, a one-semester college course (typically earning from three to five college credits) can be equated to a high school year-long course and earn 1.0 credit.

High School Grades

Consult HSLDA's brochure for suggestions regarding grading.