High School Guidance
 
Counselors:
  Kathy Evans Transition Coordinator
  George Lepsch 9th Grade
  Rita Powroznik-Traeger 11th Grade
  Laurel Soffa 10th Grade
  David Stash 12th Grade

 
Requirements for Graduation
Students should see their guidance counselors for individual graduation requirements.
Advanced Courses
MAHS students are offered opportunities to enroll in advanced courses. For those courses a special weighted grading is used. These courses include AP American Literature, AP Literature and Composition, AP United States History, European History, Biology II and Lab, Chemistry II and Lab, French IV, German IV, Spanish IV, and AP Calculus. The Calculus course is taught in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh and may be taken for college credit. Grading for these courses follow the advanced course grade system.
In addition, special arrangements have been made with the McKeesport Campus of Penn State University for students to enroll in college level courses. A liaison has been established between the Guidance Office of the school and the Admissions Office at Penn State whereby qualified students are permitted to take courses at Penn State McKeesport Campus. Students are permitted to take entry level college courses after a review and acceptance of their high school transcripts by Penn State Admissions Office. Courses taken in the past by McKeesport students include Introduction to Algorithmic Processes, Elementary Calculus, and Calculus II. Students receive college credit upon successful completion of the course. The cost of the course is shared equally by the students and the McKeesport Area School District. The grades obtained in these courses are not counted in determining the student's grade point average or class rank. Scholarship support information for Penn State McKeesport is available upon request.
Pass-Fail Grades
A student in grades 10, 11, and 12 may elect to take one credit per year for a pass-fail grade in any elective course that is not in a major area of interest. For example, an academic student can take pass-fail only in elective courses. A business student could take pass-fail in art, music, or foreign language, but not in any of the business subjects. The student must inform the teacher NOT LATER THAN THE 10TH CLASS DAY if he wishes to exercise the pass-fail option. A signed agreement will be placed in the student's permanent record. Once the option has been selected, the decision may not be changed, and the system will remain in effect until the course ends. Although successful completion of the course will result in credit toward graduation, the passing grade in the pass-fail system will not be included in the determination of class rank. However, a failing grade in a pass-fail course will be included when determining a student's grade point average and also his/her class rank. The teacher will determine the numerical value of the failing grade. Students who decide to withdraw from a pass-fail course will receive a failing grade to be determined by the subject teacher.
Independent Study
A student may take one credit of independent study per year with the approval of his/her grade level principal and the participating teacher. All independent study courses are graded pass/fail. The agreement must be entered into no later than the 10th day of the selected course. Although successful completion of the course will result in credit toward graduation, the passing grade in the pass-fail system will not be included in the determination of class rank. However, a failing grade in an independent study course will be included when determining a student's grade point average and also his/her class rank. The teacher will determine the numerical value of the failing grade. Students who decide to withdraw from a pass-fail course will receive a failing grade to be determined by the subject teacher.
Online Courses
   
 •   Must be pre-approved by the principal.
•   Can only count as an elective.
•   Student must be able to pass a district mastery test and provide documentation of successful completion of course.
•   Maximum of two credits.
•   Fees and tuition are the responsibility of the student.
•   Grade is not reported in the grade point average nor class rank.
Class Rank
The first ranking for senior students takes into account all subjects taken in grades 9, 10, and 11. Final rankings are determined at the conclusion of the 12th grade. Students are ranked according to the student's overall numerical average carried out to three decimal places. Physical Education and Health are not considered in the determination of a student's numerical average, and therefore, grades in those subjects do not affect class rank. Courses taken pass-fail by the student are considered as follows:
   
 •   Pass grades in a pass-fail course are not used in
determining the numerical average.
•   Grades in an Independent Study Course are recorded as pass-fail and therefore, as mentioned above, are not used in determining the numerical average.
•   Should a student fail in a pass-fail or independent study course,the teacher will convert that failure to a numerical grade,and it will be considered in the numerical average and the class rank.
Valedictorian-Salutatorian
The highest ranking student in the Senior Class will be honored as valedictorian. All grades from all subjects which are scheduled for five or more periods a week in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades will be used, with the exception of those mentioned in the above section. The valedictorian will be the student who has the highest numerical average carried out to three decimal places. The student with the next highest numerical average will be honored as the salutatorian. A student must be enrolled at MAHS for at least four semesters to be considered for these positions.
Graduation Honors
Honors at graduation will be determined by the grades earned in 9th, 10th, 11th, and the first semester of 12th grade. Graduation honors are as follows:
  93 average and above   Highest Honors (Gold Cords)
  88 - 92.999   High Honors (Silver Cords)
  81 - 87.999   Honors (White Cords)