Are you ready for the challenge? Become a District 117 Cum Laude graduate!
District 117 has created and adopted a new set of standards designed to raise the bar for Antioch Community High School and Lakes Community High School students. In order to graduate with Cum Laude distinction, students must meet criteria in a wide array of areas, including academic classes, attendance, community service and more. According to ACHS Assistant Principal Aryan Haren, the standards were put in place to make our expectation for excellence explicit to all students.
To graduate with Cum Laude distinction, students must:
1. Show a dedication to Scholarship by earning 26 Credits.
2. Show strength of Character by earning 0 Suspensions.
3. Volunteer in their community for at least 40 Hours.
4. Demonstrate Responsibility by earning at least 95% Attendance.
5. Achieve a high standard of Excellence by completing at least 3 Capstone Classes.
6. Show their school Pride by participating in at least 4 Extracurricular Activities.
District 117’s Cum Laude program is similar to the ones in place at several districts in Illinois. We have built the Cum Laude program to be equal to and in most cases more rigorous than the best programs already established. LCHS Assistant Principal David Newberry says that "one of the keys to success is having a goal in mind and the Cum Laude program sets a long term goal for freshmen right out of the gate."
It should be noted that this new set of standards has necessitated some changes in nomenclature. Specifically, the graduation distinctions previously referred to as Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude, which were based entirely on GPA, will now be known as With Honors and High Honors, respectively.
Students hoping to earn Cum Laude standing must fill out and turn in the volunteerism form every year or after each volunteer experience to track their hours.
To graduate with Cum Laude distinction, students must:
1. Show a dedication to Scholarship by earning 26 Credits.
2. Show strength of Character by earning 0 Suspensions.
3. Volunteer in their community for at least 40 Hours.
4. Demonstrate Responsibility by earning at least 95% Attendance.
5. Achieve a high standard of Excellence by completing at least 3 Capstone Classes.
6. Show their school Pride by participating in at least 4 Extracurricular Activities.
District 117’s Cum Laude program is similar to the ones in place at several districts in Illinois. We have built the Cum Laude program to be equal to and in most cases more rigorous than the best programs already established. LCHS Assistant Principal David Newberry says that "one of the keys to success is having a goal in mind and the Cum Laude program sets a long term goal for freshmen right out of the gate."
It should be noted that this new set of standards has necessitated some changes in nomenclature. Specifically, the graduation distinctions previously referred to as Cum Laude and Summa Cum Laude, which were based entirely on GPA, will now be known as With Honors and High Honors, respectively.
Students hoping to earn Cum Laude standing must fill out and turn in the volunteerism form every year or after each volunteer experience to track their hours.