Laude System

The KHS Laude Honors System recognizes graduating seniors who combine strong academic performance with challenging college- and career-ready learning experiences.

Students may earn one of three designations:

• Cum Laude — with honor
• Magna Cum Laude — with great honor
• Summa Cum Laude — with highest honor

Laude Honors are not based on class rank.
 

The district is updating the Laude Honors System to align it more closely with our goal of maximizing students’ opportunities to earn college credit and gain meaningful work experience while in high school.

This goal was identified as a priority through the Future Strong Summit, which helps guide the district’s strategic plans.

The updated system recognizes rigorous experiences that lead to college credit and work experience, including:

• Advanced Placement courses
• Dual credit courses
• Other college credit courses
• Youth Apprenticeship

The new system also provides one consistent, schoolwide method for awarding Laude points.
 

Under the previous system, students completed department-specific course sequences to earn an honors designation from a department. The number and type of courses required varied by department.

This resulted in inconsistencies across departments, including differences in how the rigor of eligible courses was determined.

The updated system replaces those separate departmental requirements with one consistent point system focused on college-credit opportunities and work experience.
 

Yes. Students must continue to demonstrate strong academic performance and complete rigorous coursework or approved career-readiness experiences.

To qualify for any Laude designation, a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50. GPAs are not rounded.
 

Care was taken when developing the new system and recognition charts to ensure that Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude remain equally attainable under the updated model.

A student’s designation is determined by the combination of the student’s cumulative GPA and total Laude points.
 

No. If a student registered for or completed a course after being told that it would count toward Laude recognition, that course will continue to count.

This commitment is the reason for the transitional chart for the Classes of 2027 and 2028. The transition protects the plans students made under the previous system while allowing KHS to move to the updated system.
 

The charts support a fair transition between the previous and updated systems.

• The chart for the Classes of 2027 and 2028 accounts for courses and plans established under the previous system.
• The chart for the Class of 2029 and beyond reflects the updated list of college- and career-ready opportunities.

Students should use the chart assigned to their graduating class.
 

A student must:

• Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.50.
• Successfully complete designated Laude-eligible courses or experiences.
• Earn Laude points through those opportunities.

The student’s cumulative GPA is then multiplied by the student’s total Laude points:

• Cumulative GPA × Total Laude Points = Laude Score

The student’s Laude score and graduating-class chart determine the recognition level.
 

Eligible opportunities include designated:

• Advanced Placement courses
• Dual credit courses through Fox Valley Technical College
• Dual credit courses through the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, including CAPP courses
• Other college credit courses
• Youth Apprenticeship experiences

Families should consult the course guide for specific courses.
 

Eligible one-trimester courses worth 0.5 high school credit earn one Laude point. 
The course guide, available on the KHS website, identifies Laude-eligible courses.

Students must meet the completion requirements for the designated course or experience. Any additional requirements connected to a specific opportunity will be identified in the official eligible-course information.

Students with questions about a particular course or program should check with their school counselor before registering.
 

The GPA used for official Laude recognition is the student’s cumulative GPA after the second trimester of senior year, also known as the 11th trimester.

The GPA must be at least 3.50 and will not be rounded.
 

Eligible courses completed during the third trimester of senior year may add Laude points.
However, grades earned during the third trimester do not change the cumulative GPA used in the Laude calculation. The GPA used is the cumulative GPA recorded after the second trimester of senior year.
 

Students can:

• Review their cumulative GPA.
• Add the points from their completed Laude-eligible courses and experiences.
• Multiply their cumulative GPA by their total points.
• Compare the result with the chart for their graduating class.

Because a student’s GPA, completed courses, and future schedule can change, any calculation made before the final review is an estimate.
 

Students should consider Laude eligibility as one part of their academic planning, not the only factor.
Students are encouraged to select courses and experiences that:

• Match their interests and strengths
• Support their college, career, or postsecondary goals
• Meet graduation and admission requirements
• Provide an appropriate level of challenge

A school counselor can help a student create a balanced four-year plan.
 

Course availability, prerequisites, scheduling, and individual student needs can affect which opportunities are available.
Students should work with their counselor to explore appropriate AP, dual credit, college-credit, or Youth Apprenticeship options that fit their goals and schedule.
 

 Transfer records will be reviewed to determine whether completed courses or experiences are comparable to KHS Laude-eligible opportunities.

Students and families should provide available transcripts and course information to the school counselor so that prior coursework can be reviewed.

Students should contact their school counselor. The counselor can review the student’s academic record, eligible coursework, and accumulated Laude points and help correct any verified record errors.

 A student’s official designation will be determined during the senior-year review using:

• The cumulative GPA after the second trimester of senior year
• All eligible Laude points, including applicable third-trimester senior coursework
• The recognition chart assigned to the student’s graduating class

Students and families should contact their school counselor with questions about:

• Eligible courses and experiences
• Point values
• The transition between systems
• Four-year academic planning
• A student’s estimated or final Laude status