Pass/Fail Grading Option

A student, typically in Class VII or VIII, may take a nonrequired fifth or sixth course on a pass/fail basis, if the student requests permission in writing from the department head, division head, and registrar by one week after midterm in a semester course, or one week after midterm of first semester in a yearlong course. The request should be discussed with the advisor, teacher, parents, and college counselor for Class VII and VIII students. Once a student’s request to take a course on a pass/fail basis has been approved by the department head and division head, the decision generally may not be reversed.  

Credit Overages

Any student requesting more than five major courses, one minor course, and health in a given semester must submit a written proposal along with their course selection materials by the deadline, which typically falls near the end of April.

Sixth Major Course

Under certain circumstances, a student may take six major courses. The following guidelines apply:

• Class V students may not take six full-credit major academic courses.  
• Class VI students may petition to begin a second language as a sixth major course. The course is typically Level 1 or 2 and must be taken pass/fail. 
• Class VII and VIII students may petition to take any elective open to them as a sixth major course. The option should be determined on an individual basis.

Additional Minor Course

It is typical for students to take five major courses and one minor course each semester, plus health. Students, typically in Classes VI–VIII, may petition to take an additional minor course.  

Petition Process

All students requesting a sixth major course or second minor course in the same semester should submit a credit overage proposal (using the official proposal document provided in the course selection materials and on Canvas) and submit their proposal with their course selection materials by the due date, typically near the end of April. All students should speak with their parent/guardian(s), advisor, and the department head before submitting a proposal.

Proposals, completed using the Credit Overage Petition Form (which is available to students on Canvas), should include the following information:

• Student’s name and grade level.
• Course title of the additional major or minor course the student is requesting.
• An explanation of the student’s reason for wanting to take the extra course.
• An outline of all major commitments (at Winsor and outside of school).
• An explanation of how the student will manage the extra preparation.
  • For a major course, students should expect three to four hours per week of additional class time and approximately two to three hours per week of additional homework.
  • For a 0.5-credit minor course, students should expect three hours per week of additional class time and  approximately forty-five minutes of additional homework each week.
  • For a 0.25-credit minor course, students should expect two hours per week of additional class time and approximately thirty minutes of additional homework each week.
• A list of courses the student is requesting in each semester.
• Approval by the student’s parent/guardian via e-signature, typed signature, or inserted photo of signature within the proposal. 

Please note that late petitions will be considered only at the discretion of the division head.  

The proposal will be discussed and acted upon by a group typically composed of the following people: division head, department head, class dean, and advisor. Other relevant faculty will be consulted and/or informed. Approval will be based on the student’s previous academic performance as well as an assessment of the merits of the proposal.

The student’s advisor will oversee an ongoing evaluation of the student’s performance. If the student has problems with the workload, the advisor will inform the class dean; both the student and their parents will be asked to participate in working out a solution.

The course will be given for credit (either graded or pass/fail) and will be reported on the transcript unless it is dropped before the drop deadline. Consult the “Dropping a Course” section of the Family Handbook on WiLD for the full policy

Proposals to take a sixth major course or additional minor course should be submitted when selecting courses in the spring. All rules and dates for dropping a course apply to dropping the additional course. The master schedule will not be planned around these petitions, and students will be enrolled pending approval of the petition, compatibility with the student’s schedule, and available enrollment in the course. The school will not guarantee that an additional major course taken one year can be followed by an opportunity to continue studying that subject in subsequent years. A student requesting more than five major or more than one minor course in the same semester will indicate in their petition and on their Course Selection Form which course is the additional course.