Info by Grade
Seniors
Senior Conferences
According to the New Jersey School Law (18A:35) and the BOE policy 5460, students must obtain 120 credits in order to graduate. In addition, students must meet the requirements of the Buena Regional High School Attendance Policy and must pass the Department of Education approved standardized assessments. Any student not meeting the aforementioned requirements will not receive a BRHS diploma.
Review of Transcript
Counselors will review unofficial transcripts and provide seniors with a copy during senior conferences. Parents/Guardians should also review:
- Check for missing courses and/or inaccurate grades
- Pay close attention to GPA. Colleges will ask for GPAs during the application process.
- Colleges will see and evaluate courses in progress, mid-year grades and final grades; therefore, all acceptances are dependent on the final transcript
College Exploration
Look into college fairs and college visits on your own. New Jersey School Counselor Association has a list of college open houses on website:
SAT I and ACT
- See test dates under resources
- List the colleges where you will be applying when you register
- Score Choice is now offered by the College Board (administrator of the SAT)- scores can only be sent by test date, not by section. Score choice option must be exercised through the collegeboard site
Resources
Juniors
Junior Conference Agenda
Academics/Attendance/Athletic Eligibility
- Keep your grades up, colleges look at junior year the most!
- No more than 10 unexcused absences – every 5 lates is one absence
- You can lose credit in a class if you miss the class period more than 10 times
- In order to participate in extra-curricular activities, you must have earned 30 credits the year before or 15 credits for the first semester (Q 1 & 2)
Buena Regional High Schools’s GPA System
- Weighted GPA - only includes Honors or AP level courses. Weighted GPA determines Class Rank.
- Unweighted GPA - includes all College Prep and regular courses; highest possible unweighted GPA—4.0
Weighted GPA
| Level | A (90-00) | B (80-90) | C (70-79) | D (60-69) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Honors | 4.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 |
Weighted GPA
| Level | A (90-00) | B (80-90) | C (70-79) | D (60-69) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CP | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Regular | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Start Thinking About Your Future
- Research careers and/or majors you may be interested in.
- Research colleges and visit as many as you can this year.
- Don’t know what you may be interested in doing after high school? Take a career assessment.
Standardized Testing
If you have free or reduced-price lunch, ask your counselor for a fee waiver for your tests If you need extended time or other accommodations, your parent/guardian must request these to your counselor and complete a form at least 4 weeks prior to your next test. Many colleges are SAT/ACT optional so you may not have to send scores if you choose not to. You will have to find out if you need to submit test scores or not
College Application Process
All juniors and seniors will have one-on-one individual future planning meetings with their counselors.
2-year Colleges:
- ACCC & RCSJ both do priority admissions here at Buena in the Fall of senior year No SAT scores are required to apply and applications are free
4-year Colleges:
- You can create a Common Application account this year and start gathering information you will need. You can work on the application this year and over the summer.
- Letters of Recommendation- start thinking about which teachers to ask. You should ask two teachers that know you well.
- Get started on your college essay early. Check the websites for the prompts.
- SAT scores must be sent by the student to the colleges they apply to.
Athletes:
- Register for the NCAA Clearinghouse if you plan to play Division I or II sports in college
- NCAA has specific requirements before an athlete can play DI or DII sports in college. Research all requirements and ask your counselor if you have any questions.
Financial Aid
Start looking at what documents you’ll need to gather to apply
Military
- Recruiters from all branches of military will visit BRHS at both the college consortium and on Mondays throughout the Fall and Winter during lunch periods
- Buena holds at least two ASVAB administrations on site each year.
Trade/Vocational Schools
Interested students can view a list of local trade schools and other vocational programs on the website
Resources
Sophomore
Sophomore Conference Agenda
Scheduling
- Choose your classes wisely! Class changes are only permitted during the second week of school and will be approved if certain criteria are met.
- Level changes may be approved until mid-December
- Select alternate electives. You have three spots for electives and choosing alternate electives will ensure you don’t get a class you didn’t want.
- Consider Dual Credit classes. You can earn high school credit and college credit at the same time for certain classes. Ask your counselor for more information!
Academics
- Grade Point Average (GPA)—weighted and unweighted (See charts below)
- Class Rank/ Course Levels
- Sophomore year counts towards both GPAs and Class Rank!
Extracurricular Activities
- Sports & Clubs- Get involved!
- Credit Requirements (30 credits are required each year/15 credits each semester)
Graduation Requirements
- Accumulate 120 Credits
- 4 years of English, Health and Phys Ed
- 3 years of Social Studies (World Cultures, US History I and II)
- 3 years of Science (Earth Space & Environmental, Biology, Chemistry)
- 3 years of Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)
- 1 year of Foreign Language
- 1/2 year Financial Literacy in grades 10, 11, or 12
- 1 year of a Visual and Performing Art Elective
- 1 year of a 21st Century College and Career Elective
- All students must take the NJGPA in the Spring of 11th grade
- Once the NJGPA is taken, a student could use the PSAT, SAT, ACT or Accuplacer as a graduation requirement
- Students must also take a standardized Science assessment during their junior year that consists of Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Attendance
- No more than 10 unexcused absences from school or from a class.
- Loss of credit means that you will have to repeat the course regardless of the grade you earned in the course.
Buena Regional High Schools’s GPA System
- Weighted GPA - only includes Honors or AP level courses. Weighted GPA determines Class Rank.
- Unweighted GPA - includes all College Prep and regular courses; highest possible unweighted GPA—4.0
Weighted GPA
| Level | A (90-00) | B (80-90) | C (70-79) | D (60-69) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Honors | 4.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 |
Weighted GPA
| Level | A (90-00) | B (80-90) | C (70-79) | D (60-69) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CP | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Regular | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Tips for a Successful Sophomore Year
- Ask for help - If you are struggling in a class or with another issue, reach out to your teachers, counselors or visit the Teen Center
- Visit your School Counselor - Start planning for your future now with your counselor. It is never too early to be thinking about possible colleges or careers
- Visit the Teen Center - AtlantiCare Teen Center provides counseling, academic support, recreation activities and runs the Zen Den, a calming space for students
- Get Involved - Join a club or a sport and experience all Buena has to offer!
Start Thinking About Your Future
- Research careers and/or majors you may be interested in.
- Ask your counselor about signing up for the PSAT in October and start preparing for an SAT.
- Don’t know what you may be interested in doing after high school? Take a career assessment
Resources
Freshmen
Freshman Conference Agenda
Scheduling
- Choose your classes wisely! Class changes are only permitted during the second week of school and will be approved if certain criteria are met.
- Level changes may be approved until mid-December
- Select alternate electives. You have three spots for electives and choosing alternate electives will ensure you don’t get a class you didn’t want.
- Consider Dual Credit classes. You can earn high school credit and college credit at the same time for certain classes. Ask your counselor for more information!
Academics
- Grade Point Average (GPA)—weighted and unweighted (See charts below)
- Class Rank/ Course Levels
- Freshman year counts towards both GPAs and Class Rank!
Extracurricular Activities
- Sports & Clubs- Get involved!
- Credit Requirements (30 credits are required each year/15 credits each semester)
Graduation Requirements
- Accumulate 120 Credits
- 4 years of English, Health and Phys Ed
- 3 years of Social Studies (World Cultures, US History I and II)
- 3 years of Science (Earth Space & Environmental, Biology, Chemistry)
- 3 years of Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II)
- 1 year of Foreign Language
- 1/2 year Financial Literacy in grades 10, 11, or 12
- 1 year of a Visual and Performing Art Elective
- 1 year of a 21st Century College and Career Elective
- All students must take the NJGPA in the Spring of 11th grade
- Once the NJGPA is taken, a student could use the PSAT, SAT, ACT or Accuplacer as a graduation requirement
- Students must also take a standardized Science assessment during their junior year that consists of Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Attendance
- No more than 10 unexcused absences from school or from a class.
- Loss of credit means that you will have to repeat the course regardless of the grade you earned in the course.
Buena Regional High Schools’s GPA System
- Weighted GPA - only includes Honors or AP level courses. Weighted GPA determines Class Rank.
- Unweighted GPA - includes all College Prep and regular courses; highest possible unweighted GPA—4.0
Weighted GPA
| Level | A (90-00) | B (80-90) | C (70-79) | D (60-69) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Honors | 4.5 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.5 |
Weighted GPA
| Level | A (90-00) | B (80-90) | C (70-79) | D (60-69) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CP | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Regular | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Tips for a Successful Freshman Year
- Ask for help - If you are struggling in a class or with another issue, reach out to your teachers, counselors or visit the Teen Center
- Visit your School Counselor - Start planning for your future now with your counselor. It is never too early to be thinking about possible colleges or careers
- Visit the Teen Center - AtlantiCare Teen Center provides counseling, academic support, recreation activities and runs the Zen Den, a calming space for students
- Get Involved - Join a club or a sport and experience all Buena has to offer!
