Academic Recognition

Grade Point Average

In all cases of academic recognition, a student’s grade point average (GPA) is of fundamental importance. GPA is the sole criterion in all cases except National Honor Society. Induction into National Honor Society considers scholarship, character, leadership, and service.

Honor Roll 

Honor roll academic recognition will occur at the end of each semester. Four categories of academic achievement will be recognized on honor roll:

  • Honor Roll (H): Students with a 3.5 or higher weighted GPA on the previous semester’s course work, including at least 25 graded credits (not including S/U).
  • Honor Roll with Distinction (H+): Students with weighted GPA of 3.750 to 3.999 on a 4.00 weighted scale.
  • Honor Roll with High Distinction (H++): Students with weighted GPA of 4.000 to 4.249 on a 4.00 weighted scale.
  • Honor Roll with Highest Distinction (H+++): Students with weighted GPA of 4.250 and above on a 4.00 weighted scale.

Academic Letters & Pins

Students in grades 9-12 are eligible for a Lincoln Southeast Academic Let­ter when they have earned a 4.0 GPA or above on a weighted grade point scale for 2 consecutive semesters in 25 credit hours of graded course work each semester. Students who earn a 4.0 GPA or above on a weighted grade point scale in two additional consecutive semesters will earn an Academic Pin. Note: courses taken pass/fail do not apply towards an Academic Letter or Pins. A student will not earn an Academic Letter or Pin if a grade of “F” or “U” is received in any class.

Due to pandemic grading during the spring of 2020, for situations where consecutive grading periods are required, the fall semester of 2019 and the fall semester of 2020 will be considered consecutive semesters.

4.0+ Award

Students must maintain a cumulative weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher.

National Honor Society

National Honor Society standards require that students qualify on the basis of scholarship, character, ser­vice, and leadership. Members are selected from the senior class when they satisfy the following criteria:

  1. Must achieve a 3.6 or higher weighted grade point average for each individual semester grades 9-12;
  2. Be enrolled in at least five academic classes each of the 8 semesters of their high school career; (special circumstances will be reviewed by the Faculty Council.) Classes taken with grades of U or S or Pass/Fail will not count toward the required five academic classes;
  3. Be involved in two or more clubs or school activities at LSE during the freshman, sophomore, and/or junior year, and 2 or more clubs or school activities at LSE their senior year;
  4. Be a student of character as defined by the National Council of National Honor Society;
  5. Be involved in service on behalf of others in the community without financial or material compensation;
  6. Compete 5 hours of community service completed at a NHS approved agency.

Following induction, students will be assigned to participate in two acts of service work as well. 

Membership is deter­mined by the LSE Faculty Council after receipt and review of a completed application by the eligible student during the fall of their senior year. 

Academic Wall of Honor

In order to qualify for the Wall of Honor, a graduating senior must have earned a 4.0 or higher weighted GPA each semester based on 25+ graded credit hours each semester, all 8 semesters of their high school tenure (grades 9-12) at Lincoln Southeast High School. (Special circumstances will be reviewed by the Faculty Council.) Note: Mid-term graduates are not eligible. Students earning this award will be featured with an individual picture and name plaque in a framed display in the Commons.

Graduation Honors

Effective for the class of 2021, the Laude Latin model will be used to recognize academic excellence at the conclusion of a student’s high school career. Students will work to compete against the criterion for academic honors – rather than other students. Graduation honors will be determined following the second to last quarter of high school, and the student is required to graduate by the end of the next quarter. The following three levels of academic honors will be used:

  1. Summa Cum Laude – “with highest distinction”: Students with cumulative GPA of 4.250 and above on a 4.00 weighted scale.
  2. Magna Cum Laude – “with great distinction”: Students with cumulative GPA of 4.000 to 4.249 on a 4.00 weighted scale.
  3. Cum Laude – “with distinction”: Students with cumulative GPA of 3.750 to 3.999 on a 4.00
    weighted scale.