WISCONSIN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP

WISCONSIN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP

po5451.01Adopted August 20, 2018

5451.01 - WISCONSIN ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP

Wisconsin's Academic Excellence Scholarship is a State supported program, jointly administered by the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and the Higher Education Aids Board (HEAB). The program offers scholarship recipients an exemption from specified tuition and fees for post high school education at eligible higher education institutions in Wisconsin.

By February 25th of each school year, the School Board will designate the appropriate number of senior(s) from the high school with the highest grade point average in all subjects as scholars eligible to receive an Academic Excellence Scholarship.

The following standards must be met to qualify for the Academic Excellence Scholarships. The student and alternates must:

  1. be a resident of the United States who is either a U.S. citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence;

  2. be a Wisconsin resident as defined in 36.27 Wis. Stats.;

  3. have achieved senior status and have been in attendance for three (3) consecutive semesters, including participation in a District-recognized foreign exchange program for no more than two (2) semesters, during their junior, and senior year(s);

  4. be selected based on the Grade Point Average (GPA) on the student’s official transcript as of the last day of the semester which ended just prior to February 25th, thirty (30) days after the last day of the second trimester.

The grade point average (GPA) computation will be in accord with School Board Policy 5430 - Class Rank/Laude System. In selecting the scholarship recipient(s) for the Academic Excellence Scholarship,  unweighted grades for seven (7) semesters will be used to compute grade point averages.

Students enrolled under full-time public school Open-Enrollment Program who qualify based on the standards identified above are eligible for the Academic Excellence Scholarship in the school they actually attend.

The designation of scholar will be awarded to the qualifying student(s) with the highest grade point average. The scholar's GPA shall be computed to the fourth decimal point as necessary to determine a distinction between the scholars.

In the event of a tie involving the GPAs:

  1. the first tie breaker will be the ACT composite score;

    The scholar with the highest ACT composite score will be selected.
  2. the second tie breaker will be the highest sub-score on the ACT Test;

    A student may select English, mathematics, reading or science to determine the highest sub-score. The next tie breaker will be the second, third and fourth highest sub-scores in that order.
  3. The third tie breaker will be the student with the highest total earned credits;

    In the event there is still a tie, the winner's name will be drawn out of a hat in the presence of those students which are involved in the tie.

Except for the limitation on the number of designated scholars, the faculty of the high school shall select the applicable number of seniors for designation as scholars and shall certify, in order of priority, any remaining seniors with the same grade point average as alternates for the scholars or, if there is no remaining senior with the same grade point average, any remaining seniors with the next highest grade point average, but not less than 3.800 or the equivalent, as alternates for the scholars.

© Neola 2016