To explore our curriculum standards in greater detail, visit our RCS (K-12) Core Academic Curriculum Mapping

Rochester Community Schools is pleased to offer an AP Capstone™ Diploma. 

In order to obtain an AP Capstone™ Diploma, students must successfully pass both AP Seminar and AP Research with a score of 3 or higher. In addition to AP Seminar and AP Research, students must also successfully pass four other AP Exams with a score of 3 or higher. AP Capstone™ Diplomas are recognized on Common App and many colleges and universities recognize the diploma. For a list of colleges and universities that recognize and support the program, please view the College Board’s webpage.

Each year, Rochester Community Schools is proud to honor the outstanding academic achievements of its graduates. Seniors who earn high academic honors are recognized with the following designations: Scholar of Achievement, Scholar of Distinction, and Scholar of Highest Distinction. 

Due to the unique learning challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, RCS is making a slight modification to the criteria for the Class of 2024.  In prior years, students were required to meet a minimum threshold in each of three categories: grade point average (GPA), number of AP courses completed, and the SAT or ACT score. 

For seniors in the Class of 2024, the SAT/ACT score component will be eliminated, and the academic honor will be based on the remaining criteria: GPA and number of AP courses completed. Click here for details about each requirement: Class of 2024 Academic Recognition

The rationale

Throughout the 2022-23 school year, recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for all students to equitably access SAT or ACT testing, as illustrated by the following:

• The state tests that are typically required for graduation were canceled in April 2020.  
• The state asked school districts to offer but not require the SAT in October 2020.  While most students took the test at that time, some wanted the option to take it again to improve their score.  
• Many of the national Saturday test dates in the surrounding areas were either full or canceled, making it difficult for students to get a testing seat.

The RCS District Grading Committee does not believe that new criteria should be introduced without time for seniors to adapt. Instead, the committee feels it would be most appropriate to eliminate one criteria and keep the remaining two, which the seniors of 2021 have already planned for. 

We recognize that many students did take at least one SAT or ACT test and in some cases went to great lengths to achieve this. We want to acknowledge these efforts. Although some universities and colleges were more flexible in their admissions requirements this year, we know many students still use a standardized test score for admissions or scholarship purposes. We are so proud of all of our students and believe everyone did the best they could with the situation they were given.

The history

The RCS District Grading Committee worked diligently between 2008 and 2010 to develop a senior academic recognition program that would truly honor academic achievement and inspire students to create goals that would stretch their growth. Prior to this committee’s work, seniors were honored for grade point averages only, which may have prompted some students to consider a less challenging course load in order to achieve a higher GPA. The committee created a system that would encourage students to take challenging courses and strive to do well on state and standardized tests. 

The Board of Education approved the new recognition program in 2010. Standards were shared with eighth-graders that year, allowing incoming high-school students to be informed and have their full high-school career to set academic goals. The Class of 2014 was the first group of graduates to be honored with the distinctive medallions and designations: Scholars of Achievement, Scholars of Distinction, and Scholars of Highest Distinction. 

With such high standards, the expectation was that a limited number of students would meet the threshold in all three areas, however, students quickly rose to the challenge. Currently, each RCS high school honors well over 100 scholars each year for academic achievement according to these benchmarks. 

We believe that this one-year hiatus from the SAT/ACT test score is unlikely to significantly impact the number of scholars. The committee agrees that students who have lived through a pandemic, who have learned so much about themselves and about life, and who still meet the high standards of taking AP courses and keeping a high GPA truly deserve to be honored.  

We are proud to recognize the efforts of our outstanding students. Best wishes to the Class of 2023. 

Rochester Community Schools, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Education, awards the Seal of Biliteracy to graduating seniors who demonstrate proficiency in English and another world language.

Students must meet all graduation requirements and demonstrate an Intermediate High level of proficiency or higher in reading, writing, speaking, and listening on a State-endorsed world language assessment or through a non-traditional pathway.

Seal of Biliteracy FAQs

Seal of Biliteracy Flyer

Link to Avant Assessment (vendor who supplies exams)

If you have additional questions, please contact Elizabeth Arcangeli at earcangeli@rochester.k12.mi.us.

Students of Rochester Community Schools now have the unique opportunity to earn a special global awareness endorsement to recognize their cultural initiatives, community service and global citizenship. Students who complete three out of four requirements will receive certification upon high-school graduation. Students in grades 7-12 are eligible and they may complete the program at their own pace. Students are encouraged to customize projects to suit their interests and passions. 

Global Awareness Supports College Readiness

Post-secondary institutions are looking to attract students who value diverse perspectives and cultures while working collaboratively to make a positive impact on the world. A Rochester Community Schools global awareness endorsement provides an advantage for college applicants who can certify their personal efforts and commitment to cultural initiatives.

Program Requirements

Students in grades 7-12 may participate in the program. Students may choose three of the four requirements, which must be completed prior to high-school graduation.

1. Coursework (Mandatory): Students must take a minimum of six courses in areas of global focus, which may include world languages, current issues, AP geography, world cuisines, myths, AP art history and AP Capstone. All courses will be taken during high school, with the possible exception of world languages, which may begin in middle school. Students with an IEP should work with their learning consultant to customize a plan.
2. International exchange: Students may participate in an RCS international travel experience or host a long-term or short-term foreign exchange student or Amity Scholar.
3. Community service: Students may complete 60 hours of community service. This can include tutoring, volunteering for RCS international exchange initiatives, or other projects that are granted prior approval from the global awareness G6 team.
4. Global presentation: Students may share a global experience with a real-world audience. This may be achieved through a published story, a digital video, a live presentation or another format approved by the global awareness G6 team.

How to apply 

Applications will be considered twice each year—in October and February. Interested students should send an email to the global awareness G6 team at ga6@rochester.k12.mi.us. It is NOT necessary to wait until senior year to apply for the global awareness endorsement. Students are encouraged to work closely with the team in advance.

What is Dual Enrollment?

Dual enrollment is an opportunity to allow students in grades 9-12 to take classes in high school and one or more college level classes at a college campus or online university. These are courses not offered at your high school or that cannot fit into your schedule.

¨  Qualifications: To be eligible to take a dual enrollment course, you must have a qualifying score on the ACT, SAT or Michigan Merit Exam (see chart below).

¨  Credit: Courses can count for high school credit, college credit, or both– it’s up to you.

¨  Course Costs: Depending on the college’s tuition rates some or all of the costs are covered by the district.

¨  Course Location: College campus or online.

¨  Transportation: Provided by student

Eligible courses

Eligible courses include:

¨ A course offered by an eligible postsecondary institution that is not offered by Rochester Community Schools including Advance Placement and online courses.

¨ A course offered by the school district but there is a scheduling conflict beyond the eligible student's control.

¨ A course offered by a college CTE program that is offered for college credit or is part of a noncredit occupational training program leading to an industry-recognized credential that is not offered or goes beyond what is offered through the school district, intermediate school district, area vocational-technical education program (OSTC, Business, Drafting, Child Development, etc.).

¨ If we offer an equivalent course (AP) these courses have precedence over an entry level postsecondary course with similar content. If a student is interested in a certain course at the college level, they need to determine with their counselor what, if any, courses at the high school level are equal to the college course being requested.

Non-eligible courses

Courses that are a hobby, craft, recreational or a course that is in the areas of physical education, theology, divinity, or religious education, are not eligible for tuition support.

Student eligibility to participate in dual enrollment is determined by qualifying scores (see chart below) in that subject area as well as the student meeting the prerequisite for the college course. For example, a student would need to finish Calculus in order to dual enroll in math. A student who has taken the MME, ACT or SAT and meets the qualifying score in appropriate subject area on one of those exams is eligible for dual enrollment. 

*MME scores are based on the Spring 2022 administration of the M-STEP exams

The MME, ACT, SAT scores are designed to be indicative of whether or not a student is ready to take post-secondary courses and succeed without remediation.

If a student has not taken the MME, ACT or SAT, these are the steps to determine eligibility. The PSAT scores are looked at (according to the chart below) to indicate whether or not a student is on track to be ready to take post-secondary courses and succeed without remediation. If a student meets qualifying scores on one of these tests, the student would need to take the MME, ACT or SAT to prove eligibility according to the chart above.

2024-25 Dual Enrollment Application
 

The State of Michigan, under Section 21f of the State School Aid Act, has provided the option for parents to request that their student(s) in grades 6 – 12 be enrolled in no more than two online courses per semester in place of regularly scheduled courses.  Rochester Community Schools prides itself on forward movement and innovative uses of technology to support learning. Our solid history of meaningful learning taking place across the district with highly qualified RCS teachers is noteworthy and impressive in terms of our accomplishments and student growth.  Therefore, we encourage parents to carefully consider if a 100% online course is ideal for their child, given the fact that they will be forfeiting face-to-face teacher classroom instruction and support. 

2024-2025 21F Online Course Parent Letter

2024-2025 21F Online Course ApplicationClick here to access the Michigan Online Course Catalog.  Note:  Not all courses listed in the catalog are available to RCS students.  Please see your counselor for questions.