High School
The Pinnacle High School Program
Principal: Mr. Chris Dittman
8412 Huron St., Denver, CO 80260
303-412-2940
We are a college preparatory school and have some of the most talented, skilled, and gifted teachers that you will encounter. The schedule available to Pinnacle students includes the core classes, music (instrumental and vocal), foreign languages, art, computers, Physical Education, Journalism, and more. Because of our rigorous and strenuous academic program, it is important that you have a clear understanding of what it will take for a high school student to graduate.
Fall 2010, students will have a whole new experience at The Pinnacle High School in their new building. The new high school building will be located across from the current K-12 school building at 8412 Huron St. The new Pinnacle High School will be a 60,500 square foot structure which includes renovated space in the existing building, formerly a skating rink, and a two story addition. The new school will accommodate 600 students and feature a full cafeteria, gymnasium, music rooms, science labs, a media center and 23 classrooms. The school will have state-of-the-art technology for the delivery of instruction and student use. The Grand Opening will be held on the first day of school, August 30th at 9:30 p.m.
High School Teachers
Graduation Requirements:
Graduation Requirements, with credits for grades 9 – 12
English – 4
Mathematic – 4*
Social Studies – 3**
Science – 3
Foreign Language – 2 ***
Physical Education – 2
Electives – 3
Total credits needed for graduation is 21.
For college preparation:
*For current Pinnacle students (Classes of 2005-06-07) the math requirement of three math courses to include one course in Algebra 1 is in effect. For the incoming class (Class of 2008) four years of math is required. For the incoming class (Class of 2008) four years of math is required: one of the classes must be Algebra 1 in accord with CCHE requirements. For the Class of 2009 and above the math requirement will be four math courses Algebra 1 and higher.
**Social Studies: Three years of Social Studies is required: one of the classes must be American History.
***Must be two years of the same language. A third year is recommended.
Our high school course requirements align perfectly with college entrance requirements and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) requirements.
Students must enroll in at least six classes per semester in grades 9-12.
Academic Lettering Requirements
Lettering is available for 9-12 grades. A Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.7 for 4 consecutive grading quarters (obtained only through The Pinnacle Charter School) is required to obtain an academic letter. Letters are awarded in the fall semester for the previous four quarters accomplished in the preceding year.
Valedictorian Requirements
Valedictorians must maintain a 4.0 GPA for each year of High School beginning with 9th grade and continuing through the 3rd quarter of 12th grade. If there is no qualifying student in the year of graduation within the senior class, the student with the highest GPA through the 3rd quarter of their senior year will then be chosen.
Salutatorian Requirements
The student with the second highest GPA through the 3rd quarter of their senior year will be chosen as the Salutatorian.
Keep in mind that credits from previous high schools are transferable and this explains the discrepancies among students who enter as a freshman versus a student who enters as a senior.
Grading Scale
A (90-100) Exceptional Achievement
B (80-89) Above Average Achievement
C (70-79) Average Achievement
D (60-69) Below Average Achievement
F (below 60) Unsatisfactory achievement
GPA Scale for Advanced Placement Courses
All A’s = 5.0
All B’s = 4.0
All C’s = 3.0
All D’s = 1.0
All F’s = 0.0
Progress Report Dates for 2009-10: Sept. 18, Oct. 9, Oct. 20, Nov. 13, Dec. 4, Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 19, April 2, April 16, May 7, May 21
Report Card Dates: Oct. 23, Jan., 8, Mar. 16, June 4
Please call or email your teacher(s) immediately if you do not receive these reports.
Summer Reading Program
This is the first year that we are instituting a summer reading program formally to our high school students.
For this reason, we are asking that incoming 9th -11th students read a book of their choice over the summer and when they return we will have an assignment for each student to complete based on the novel they selected.
12th grade students are also asked to read a novel of their choice, but the AP 12th grade English students are being asked to read The Things They Carried by O’Brien.
