The student, teacher, and parent work together as a team to develop a course contract in independent study for each class the student wishes to earn credit. The contract includes skills which the student will acquire through the study, materials to be used, projects and assignments which the students will complete. Students may contract for a Pass/Fail grade or a letter grade-"for an "A" student will..." Student and parent must keep a daily journal of educational activities related to completion of course contract objectives and show the teacher each week, along with any specific assignments requested by the teachers.
The contract may reflect a traditional/structured approach including textbook related assignments and tests or may allow the student to accomplish the course objectives through projects, library materials, and assorted media. The degree of structure will depend upon the specific course of study (math will be more traditional, history may be more eclectic), the learning style and academic needs of the student, and the degree of daily involvement with the parent.
The student, teacher and parent meet weekly for a minimum one hour. The structure of these weekly sessions will vary from teacher to teacher but usually will encompass varying elements of the following: weekly class with other high school students, educational field trips, student progress reviewed, needs and concerns addressed, assignments submitted and daily journal reviewed.
At the end of each semester, a parent-teacher-student conference is scheduled to assess final grades and credit earned for each course. A mid-semester conference is typically included as well. A report card is given to the student and parent and filed with the school registrar. The teacher must file this with the school registrar by January 31 (first semester), June 30 (second semester) and August 20 (summer session). Updated transcripts are evaluated within 30 days of any grading period.
The student transcript will reflect all courses attempted and completed. All semester courses must show evidence of a minimum of 75 hours of study related to fulfillment of course objectives. Students earning letter grades will typically need more than the minimum hours to earn an "A" or "B." Some subjects which are highly skill-focused, such as math, may be challenged by taking a final exam.
To earn a diploma, the student must have been enrolled in Academy Northwest at least one semester, complete all state graduation requirements with no more than 9 Pass/Fail credits, demonstrate math skills to a pre-algebra level, pass an English Competency Test, and complete a research project. Graduation ceremonies are held annually in early June.
