Academic Expectations

Cheating, copying homework, and plagiarism are acts of academic dishonesty and are considered major offenses. Teachers report acts of academic dishonesty to the Dean of Academics and the Director of Student Affairs. A first offense will result in a grade of zero for the particular assignment or test.  Additionally, an act of plagiarism will result in the assignment being redone, with no credit awarded. The student will meet with the teacher involved, the Dean of Academics and the Director of Student Affairs to discuss the seriousness of the offense. A subsequent offense will result in an automatic Disciplinary Hearing.
 

Semester and yearlong grades are used for grade-point average (GPA) calculation. Points are added for college preparatory, honors, and Advanced Placement® courses.  

Class rank is determined for seniors only after the close of the first semester.  In order to be ranked, students must attend MCI for at least three semesters.  All U.S. credits are included in the GPA and rank calculations. 

At MCI, a grade of 60 is passing and 75 is college recommended. Letter grade equivalents are

• A = 90-100  
• B = 80-89
• C =  70-79
• D = 60-69

Students whose work is below 60 are failing and should seek extra help from teachers, advisor, or the Academic Office staff. 

MCI also uses a citizenship grade to help parents/guardians determine a student’s progress:

• 1 = Superlative
• 2 = Commendable
• 3 = Acceptable
• 4 = Poor
• 5 = Unacceptable
• 6 = Needs to complete missed work
   

At the end of each academic quarter, MCI announces students who make the Honor Roll, which is based on the following criteria:

• Highest Honors - average of 90 or better, no grade below a 90
• High Honors - average of 85, no grade below 80
• Honors - average of 80, no grade below 80

Honor Roll students are eligible for Honors Study if they have no citizenship grades below 2. This designation allows students to have their study halls in the student union. The Director of Student Affairs can revoke this privilege based on poor behavior.
 

PowerSchool gives parents and students access to real-time information including attendance, grades and detailed assignment descriptions, and school bulletins. Everyone stays connected: students stay on top of assignments, parents are able to participate more fully in their student’s progress, and teachers can use their grade book to make decisions on what information they want to share with parents and students.  

Access information is provided to all incoming freshmen and new students each school year. If you forget your user ID or password, or need other assistance, please contact Mrs. Cray at 487-4453.
 

All MCI faculty use eBackpack to communicate with students about homework. Assignments are listed for each class. Students and parents can access eBackpack using the iPads or directly from the internet. Some teachers use the application for students to electronically pass in materials as well.

If you forget your user ID or password, or need other assistance, please contact Mr. Toner at 487-3355, ext. 143.
 

MCI provides iPads for all students to use as a tool in their classes. Students use these devices within school for educational purposes only.

All students and parents sign the acceptable use policy, which outlines the expectations for technology use on campus. In order for students to bring iPads home, they must complete a consent form with parental permission and have insurance on the device. 
 

MCI students at MCI take a variety of nationwide and statewide tests during their four years. Freshmen are required to take the ReadiStep.  Sophomores are required to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). Juniors are required to take the PSAT, SAT, Smarter Balanced Test, and science augmentation test. The TOEFL test, a test required for college placement, is given to international students on the MCI campus during the junior and senior year.

Students can sign up for the ACT, a test similar to the SAT, at nearby locations. Resident students can be transported to tests outside of MCI with prior permission of the International Student Program Director.  A fee does apply.
 

MCI requirements for graduation include four English credits, three history credits, four science credits, four math credits, one physical education credit, half health credit, one fine art credit, and computer literacy. You must have a total of at least twenty credits to graduate and successfully complete the Manson Essay and a Senior Project. All students must take a minimum of six classes each semester.
 
If you are considering taking classes at the Somerset Career and Technical Center during your sophomore, junior, or senior years, we need to plan your schedule carefully to ensure you are able to meet graduation requirements. Students enrolled in cooperative education need to hold a minimum of four credits per semester in addition to their co-op program.

Elective courses will be offered subject to instructor availability and student interest. MCI's Academic Office staff works with students, parents, educational consultants, the English as a Second Language department and special education case managers to determine course placement. Please contact the Academic Office at (207) 487-4453 with any questions or concerns.

All first year students are enrolled in the five courses listed below, including Humanities English and History, Math, Earth and Space Science, and Physical Education (1/2 credit). Students may take eight courses (no study hall) if recommended by middle school teachers and with parent permission.

• Humanities English I CP, Humanities English I/Honors or Humanities English I
• Humanities History I CP, Humanities History I/Honors or Humanities History I
• Earth and Space Science or CP Earth and Space Science
• Math – level recommended by middle school teacher
• Physical Education (1/2 credit)
• Electives – World Languages, Visual and Performing Arts, JMG, other electives

Sophomores are enrolled in Humanities English and History, Math, Biology, ½ credit in Physical Education, and ½ credit of Health. Additional elective courses are strongly recommended. Students may take eight courses (no study hall) if recommended by their Academic Counselor and with parent permission.

• Humanities English II or Humanities English II/CP or Humanities English II/Honors
• Humanities History II or Humanities History II/CP or Humanities History II/Honors
• Biology or CP Biology
• Math – level recommended by teacher
• Health I (1/2 credit)
• Physical Education 2 (1/2 credit)
• Electives – World Language, Computer Technology, Ballet, Music, Theater Production, and Art. Additional electives are also available in science, humanities, and math. This year sophomores can attend SCTC, which would serve as the student’s elective.

Juniors are enrolled in Humanities English and History, math and science. Students should review their transcripts with an academic counselor before selecting junior year courses to ensure that all requirements for graduation are met.

All juniors complete a Manson Essay as part of Humanities English. Juniors may apply for participation in SCTC, including Cooperative Education, at the end of their sophomore year. Juniors should also take the remaining required ½ PE credit if not already earned.

• Humanities English III or Humanities English III/CP or AP English Language and Composition
• Humanities History III or Humanities History III/CP or AP US History
• Chemistry or Physics or Chemistry/CP or Physics/CP
• Math – level recommended by teacher
• Electives – Art, World Language, Computer Technology, Ballet, Music, Theater Production, Accounting, and Psychology. AP courses are offered in art, science, math, English and history. Additional electives in humanities, math and science may be selected.

Seniors are enrolled in English, math and science. Students taking Humanities English also take Humanities History except if students select AP English Literature and Composition (this class can be taken without the history course).

All seniors must successfully complete a Senior Project as a graduation requirement (completed as part of the English and History courses). Students should review their transcripts with an academic counselor before selecting senior year courses to ensure that all requirements for graduation are met. Seniors not already taking classes at Somerset Career and Technical Center programs, including Cooperative Education, may apply at the end of the junior year.

• Humanities Vocational English or Humanities English IV/CP or AP English Literature and Composition
• Humanities History IV/CP or Honors Humanities History IV, AP Government
• Science elective
• Math – level recommended by teacher
• Electives – Art, World Language, Computer Technology, Ballet, Music, Drama, and Psychology. AP courses are offered in science, history, math, art and English. Additional electives in humanities, math and science may be selected.
   

Students enrolled in one or more Advanced Placement® courses at MCI are required to take the corresponding AP test(s) toward the end of the year in May. Many colleges and universities offer college credit and placement for qualifying scores on these exams, which can help to accelerate a student’s progress through college.

Each school makes its own policies regarding qualifying scores, credit and placement: MCI’s Academic Counselors can help students to access this information. Counselors can also provide information about the fees for these exams.

MCI students may apply to take college courses at Colby College, Unity College, the University of Maine, and Thomas College. Though tuition is free for eligible Maine students, students must supply their own transportation and pay for books and fees.

Students can also take a variety of courses through Maine's partnership with AP4All.  Students interested in college course options or online courses should contact their academic counselor.

MCI also works closely with the University of Maine at Fort Kent and Kennebec Valley Community College to offer dual enrollment courses to qualified students. Dual enrollment enables students to attain both high school and college credit for courses.

In order to take a dual enrollment course, students must be juniors or seniors with a GPA above 80. Maine students do not have to pay tuition costs for these college courses, but they do have to pay for books and a small college administrative fee. Students from outside Maine pay 1/2 of the tuition cost, books, and a small college administrative fee.

This program offers tremendous cost savings for students and allows students to graduate with college credits.

MCI participates in a partnership that enables students with sophomore, junior, or senior standing to pursue vocational training in eight trades through Somerset Career and Technical Center (SCTC).

Students may request permission to apply for up to two credits through Adult Education, college courses, correspondence school, or summer school toward graduation requirements. These courses do not count toward GPA, class rank, or honor roll.  

The Dean of Academics will award credits on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the department chair. The request must be made before enrolling in a course outside MCI. The alternative credits cannot be applied for graduation credits unless students have already attempted the course.

MCI equips international students for success at American universities. Students should use these guidelines to help plan their courses with MCI's International College Counselor. The Academic and Admission Office staff provides the final recommendation based on previous grades and earned credits.
 
The following graduation plan is used for all international students at MCI. The Dean of Academics, Director of Studies, and ESL department chair may choose to design individual academic programs for students with intensive ESL needs.

• Four year plan - grade level 9: 4 credits in English, 4 credits in math, 4 credits in science (including one lab), 3 credits in history (including U.S. History), 1 fine art credit, 1 physical education credit, 1/2 credit in health, computer literacy, Manson Essay, and Senior Project. A minimum of six classes must be taken each semester. A minimum total of 20 credits is required for all four-year students.
• Three year plan - grade level 10: 3 credits in English, 3 credits in math, 3 credits in science (including one lab), 2 credits in history (including U.S. History), 1 fine art credit, 1 physical education credit, 1/2 credit in health, computer literacy, completion of the Manson Essay and Senior Project. A minimum of six classes must be taken each semester, and 15 credits must be completed at MCI in order to graduate.
• Two year plan - grade level 11: 2 years of English, 2 credits in math, 2 credits in science (including one lab), 1 credit in history (including U.S. History), 1 fine art credit, 1/2 physical education credit, 1/2 credit in health, computer literacy, completion of the Manson Essay and Senior Project. A minimum of six classes must be taken each semester, and ten credits must be completed at MCI in order to graduate.
• One year plan - grade level 12: One-year seniors and post-grads design individual academic programs with counselors in consultation with the Dean of Academics. The program will reflect consideration of the subjects studied at previous schools, the student’s English proficiency, college admission requirements and the desirable breadth and depth of study. Required courses will include English (including completion of the Senior Project), U.S. History (if not already taken), math, science (if no previous lab courses have been taken, this must be a lab science), and electives to total the six class per semester minimum.

 
GPA will be calculated based on courses taken at MCI and other US high schools for international students. Class rank is awarded only after the completion of a minimum of three semesters at MCI. International students are eligible for any honors, advanced placement, or college courses as long as the prerequisites are satisfied.

Since 1871, virtually every MCI graduate has completed a Manson Essay. The Manson Essay requires MCI juniors to be a self-directed learners who demonstrate the capacity to undertake independent study and find and use information from libraries, electronic data bases and other resources. The Manson Essay prepares MCI graduates to be integrative and informed thinkers who apply knowledge and skills in English to understand relationships among different modes of thought and methods that are associated with traditional disciplines.

Juniors research, write and revise their essays for many months and a select few are chosen as finalists by the Humanities faculty. Finalists present their essays before an audience during the public speaking event, and winners are chosen by the Humanities Department faculty and announced at the conclusion of the event.

MCI's Manson Essay was created after Dr. John C. Manson left a sum of money to MCI with the stipulation that the proceeds be used as prize money for the essays written by members of each junior class. The best of these were to be selected for public oral presentations. John W. Manson later added funds to continue the tradition that has continued without interruption.

Please click here for the Manson Essay Handbook.