The following list details offenses included in the merit system but is not meant to be all-inclusive. The administration reserves the right to make the final decision concerning the assignment of any demerits for a student’s behavior.

Offense	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th
Disruptive/talking in class	1	2	4	8	10
Tardiness to class	1	2	4	8	10
Unprepared for class / Homework Incomplete	1	2	3	3	3
Chewing gum	2	4	10	10	10
Disrespect of peers	5	5	10	10	10
Horseplay	5	5	10	10	10
Inappropriate language	3	5	10	10	10
Cheating	10	20	30	50	-
Defacing school property	10	20	30	40	-
Cursing/vulgarity	10	15	20	25	30
Disrespect of authority/direct disobedience/lying	10	15	20	25	30
Fighting	20	30	50	-	-
Leaving without permission	15	25	25	35	-
Stealing	25	50	-	-	-

The merit system is used to monitor a student’s behavior. It is designed to reward good behavior and correct wrong behavior. A student begins the marking period with 50 merit points. If a student misbehaves, demerits will be assigned which are subtracted from the student’s balance of merit points. After dropping below 50 merit points, a student will earn 2 merit points for each week he does not receive demerits. Special privileges will be granted to those who maintain a high level of merit points, and special recognition will be given at the end of the year.

When a student falls below certain merit levels, the following actions will occur:

45 merits – The student is required to serve one week of lunch detention.
35 merits – The student is required to serve two days of after-school detention.
25 merits – The student is required to serve two hours of detention on a Saturday as assigned by school administration or to serve other additional consequences.
15 merits or less – The student is suspended and placed on conduct probation. The parents are informed by telephone or e-mail, and re-enrollment for the next semester or school year may be reviewed.
0 merits or less – The student is required to serve a 3-day, out-of-school suspension (treated as unexcused absences—zeros on assignments). A parental conference is required. Re-enrollment for the next semester may be reviewed.