Academic Honors

McMinnville High School students who excel academically are eligible to earn Academic Honors. To do so, each of the following criteria must be met:

The student must be enrolled as a freshman (2nd semester), sophomore, junior or senior;
The student must achieved a 3.50 or higher grade point average;
The student must be enrolled in at least six (6) McMinnville High School graded classes each semester. By approval of the principal, other courses may be considered.

The Academic Honor Levels at McMinnville High School are as follows:

Level 1/Academic Honor Roll Brunch

Each semester, the school hosts an Academic Honor Roll Brunch for all students whose previous semester grade point average is 3.50 or higher, when enrolled in at least six (6) graded classes.

Level 2/Academic Letter

Following the third semester of a 3.50 or higher grade point average, a student is awarded an academic letter (red “M” trimmed in white).

Level 3/Academic Pin

Following the fifth semester of a 3.50 or higher grade point average, a student is awarded an academic pin to be placed on the academic letter.

Level 4/Academic Certificate

Following the seventh semester of a 3.50 or higher grade point average, a student is awarded an academic certificate.

Level 5/Academic Honor Cord

 Following the seventh semester of a 3.50 or higher grade point average, a student is awarded a gold academic honor cord received prior to graduation to be worn at commencement.

Level 6/Salutatorian

Following the seventh semester, any students whose cumulative weighted grade point average is 4.00 or higher, and has qualified for the Honors Diploma, or any student who has earned all A’s and only one B on their academic transcript and has qualified for the Honors Diploma, shall be recognized as a salutatorian and awarded the salutatorian medal at the annual Senior Honors Assembly to be worn at commencement.

Level 7 (Highest Level)/Valedictorian

Following the seventh semester, any students whose cumulative un-weighted grade point average is 4.00 or higher and has qualified for the Honors Diploma, shall be recognized as a valedictorian and awarded the valedictorian medal at the annual Senior Honors Assembly to be worn at commencement.

Additional academic recognition at McMinnville High School includes:

Honors Diploma

Honors Diploma The Honors Diploma is available to those students who are seeking to challenge themselves academically and prepare themselves through rigorous coursework for life beyond high school. Each student is required to earn a minimum twenty-seven )(27) units in order to be awarded the District’s Honors Diploma. Students must also meet the PEP and Essential Skills requirements in order to graduate.

Honors Diploma Additional Requirements: 

• Maintain a cumulative unweighted grade point average of at least 3.5 by the student’s 7th semester.
• Completion of 7 of the 27 units of credit in Advanced Placement or Honors Level courses. Courses graded with a P will not count toward these 7 credits. Please see Page 9 for a list of approved courses for the Honors Diploma.
• Meet or exceed state standard in English Language, Math and Science on the Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS).

Career Pathway Cord

Students will receive a blue cord to wear around their neck with their graduation gown when they have met all of the Career Pathway requirements for their specific Career Pathway/s (see Course Bulletin).

Career Pathway Endorsement

Students will receive a Career Pathway endorsement on their graduation diploma when they have met all of the Career Pathway requirements for their specific Career Pathway/s (see Course Bulletin).

College Credit Cord

Students will receive a green cord to wear around their neck with their graduation gown when they have earned a minimum of 24 college credits.

Professional Technical Excellence Award

The Professional-Technical Excellence Award is given to a senior who has shown the maximum possible effort to realize his or her potential in a chosen Professional-Technical field. Performance and improvement in all courses, as well as participation in athletics, the arts, club and outside activities are considered for this award. A committee chaired by the principal makes this annual selection, and the winner’s name is added to a perpetual trophy kept in the trophy case of McMinnville High School. Additionally, this trophy is presented to the student at the annual Senior Honors Assembly.

Academic Excellence Award

The Academic Excellence Award is awarded to a senior who has shown the maximum possible effort to realize his or her optimum academic achievement. Performance and improvement in English, math, science, social science, as well as athletics, performing arts, club and outside activities are considered for this award. A committee chaired by the principal makes this annual selected, and the winner’s name is added to a perpetual trophy kept in the trophy case of McMinnville High School. Additionally, this trophy is presented to the student at the annual Senior Honors Assembly.

Advanced Placement (AP) course / Weighted GPA

A student enrolled in an Advanced Placement (AP) course and who registers for and completes the AP examination for that course is eligible for the AP designation on their academic transcript and is eligible for weighting of their grade point average for that course (example: A = 5 points, B = 4 points, C = 3 points, D and F are not eligible for weighting). A weighted grade point average can influence a student’s ability to achieve the salutatorian level of Academic Honors. AP Exams have a per exam fee associated with them. For current fee information please visit www.collegeboard.org