Honors Courses on PHAA Transcripts
PHAA BYLAWS: When the word "Honors" appears as part of a course title on the transcript, it shall indicate either: (1) special honors received by the student as part of the course, or (2) great initiative shown by the student as part of the course. Such a designation must be supported by an explanation by the evaluator in the evaluation letter which specifies why the course is being considered to be an honors course.
When "AP" or "Advanced Placement" appears as part of a course title on the transcript, it shall indicate that the student has taken the Advanced Placement exam for the test specified by the course title. The Advanced Placement test score should be added to the transcript once it becomes available.
When a college course appears on the transcript, the name of the college shall be indicated and the grade shall reflect the grade given by the college.
Whenever a course title includes the words “honors” on a PHAA transcript that designation must be supported by an explanation in the evaluation letter stating one of the following:
- The student did very well in extra things like nationally sponsored competitions.
- The student is working with materials generally considered as “above grade level,” or a curriculum that is especially demanding.
- The student has done significantly more than most students completing this type of course.
- The student´s work has been of truly exceptional quality. Quality of thought demonstrated should certainly count in judging an honors course, such as depth of thought and ability shown in writing projects, quite beyond what most good students would be doing at this level.
- The student shows special initiative in this course. Look for students developing their own original projects related to course content, demonstrating that they are going beyond just doing their “assigned work” and starting to develop their own research projects that really show deep interest and involvement, not just “following directions.”
You can note that a course is an “Honors” course when you fill in the course title on the Year’s Work Checklist . If your evaluator puts that title on the transcript, he or she will need to describe in the evaluation letter why the course earned the Honors designation. This will communicate with future colleges and competitive summer programs what the honors designation means for this student. You may want to write up a clear summary for the portfolio also. We hope that the prospect of the “Honors” designation in the course title will give students an extra push of motivation to meet higher standards, do more work, do better quality work, or show more initiative.
Return to the PHAA Home Page