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 to the registrar and division head, along with their course selection.

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 typed proposal to the registrar and division head, along with their course selection. All students should speak with their advisor and the department head before submitting a proposal. Proposals should include the following information:

• Student’s name and grade level.
• Course title.
• 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 (three to four hours per week of additional class time and approximately two to two-and-a-half hours per week of additional homework for a major course).
• A list of courses the student is requesting in each semester.
• Approval by the student’s parent/guardian via a signature on the proposal or an email to the registrar and division head. 

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 made and approved 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. 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 two minor courses in the same semester will indicate in their petition and on their Course Selection Form which is the additional course.